The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-01-10

NEW YORK, Jan. 9.-There was little o
interest or significance in today's stool
market The dealings were exceedingl.
small in volume, and were almost wholly
for professional account. The foreign ar
bitrage houses had only small orders here
and the total transactions on this account
were hardly in excess of 5000 shares. The
American quarter of the London market
was shown at slight declines in comparison
with the local closing level, but the London
market was reported equally as stasnant as
the local one.
There was virtual absence Of important
news from the seat of war. and TO a great
extent the hesitation here and in London
could probably be accounted for by the
general conviction that a crisis in the af-
fairs of one or the other coniesting forces
in Africa is imminent. The progress Of the
Anglo-Boer war has unquestionably in
fused new and confusing factors into
speculative situation which was not other
wise over-clear, and it is possible only 10
await developments in that direction With
the concern they warrant.
Sugar Refining and Brooklyn Rapid
Transit continued TO occupy the foremost
place in the attention of the room traders,
and II was in those stocks that the days
widest fluctuations occurred. The railway
list, for the most part, was heavy, although
the dealings there were In very small vol
ume The particular weakness in Union
Pacific common was based upon misgivlngs
as to what action would be taken by the
directors on the dividend of that stock,
and Louisville and Nashville appeared TO
be affected by similar apprehensions in
that instance. The Louisville and Nash
1w@1r HFsd
last year in regard TO the future dividend
policy OF the company, but as their prom
Uses were not fully carried out todsy's I'M
certainty was perhaps justifable. There
was little or DO news bearing upon other
particular stocks. and no essential changes
of importance appeared in the fundamental
features Of the situation.
A despatch from Richmond this morning
telling of the progress of the suit insti-
tuted by MIR. Thomas T. Ryan TO enioin
the consolidation of the Seaboard system,
was read with general interest In wall
Street 1t is earnestly hoped that an early
decision will be reached in this important
litigation. Bearing upon the same gen.
eral matter was the information that. at
a recent meeting the Chs of Com
merce of Richmond. Va. adopted a resolu-
ton indorsing the plans of the Williams
syndicate, and declaring that every effort
which has been made TO delay. hinder, or
defeat the consolidation must be regarded
as inimical to the interests of the whole !
South
This is one more evidence of the sec
tional aspect which Mr.. Williams and his I
associates have endeavored TO give TO this /
affair. The consolidation of this system I
as contemplated by the syndicate. has been I
contested solely upon the grounds of sound 1
finance and honest dealings with the pub
lie. The Williams plan. as has already 1
been set forth. is a vicious and indefensi- I
Bile one. The Seaboard syndicate proposes,
In other words. to create securities and to |
dispose of them TO the public, the value of /
which has been demonstrated 10 be, 10 say
the most, problematicsl. Nor can any add
ed value be given to these securities by
resolutions OF the Richmond tEa.l Cham
Der OF Commerce. which body may later
On have reason TO regret its action in vir- !
iuaily commencing the securities to in
festors