The evening times., 1900-03-19

The beginning OF the week in The stock
market was in most WAYS entirely salts
factory. be railway list generally advanC-
ed well in price during he frs, hour Of the
day and seemed inclined to make better
prices still before the end Of the session.
The traction securities were weak al the
opening with declines averaging from two
10 four l-oints, but before II 0 clock they
seemed inclined 70 react in sympathy with
the general list. Business was more brisk
and the buying Of a better character,
clique and public purchasers being notice
eble in addition TO the covering ia all parts
of the list. London was strong and pur
chases of American securities were in some
volume. The London spectators are op-
iimistic regarding the early satisfactory
outcome of he Boer war on his side the
better bank statement the hope hat mon
ey rates Will soon be easy az result of the
opera ton of the new Currency law and the
succession of hullish developments during
the past week have produced much the
same feeling X cannot be predicted that
a permanent advance viii begin at any
particular time. or that any squirt Of
prices such as that Of This morning will
nct be followed by The usual realizing
sales. but buying OF the railway securities
on al reactions is advised
Atchison. preferred. sold quickly at ~
this morning. St Paul before ] l o'clock was
al ia and seemed likely 10 go higher. Bur-
lingtoG sold within fraction of l2S early
in the day. Rock Island was inactive at
first but AT higher level than any reached
recently This record is an index OF the
railway list generally during the early
trading though perhaps the grangers were
on the whole the most satisfactory group.
Talk in The Street is particularly Optimis-
tic regarding the grangers. on their earn
ings and the prospect of easier money
rates II is said that Rock Island is likely
90 become a speculative faYorite in the i'm
mediate future. II is selling comparatively
lower than any OF the others
The January gross and net earnings OF
the railways OF the country have been com
piled with fair completeness by the Fl
nancial Chronicle" and the showing made
Is said by railway men of experience TO be
the best on record. In brief the gross earn
ings given show an increase over those of
January. 1899. of Il per cent The net
showing is much better. which msy be con-
sidered especially a matter of surprise in
view of the general prediction that net
earnings would show a falling of of some
magnitude on account of the higher prices
Of materlales. The increase is Is per cent
Baltimore and Ohio common stock was
buoyant this morning with an advance 10
g. in the first few quotations. Other trunk
line securities were also well held up and
Il was predicted by careful observers that
IN the first good advance in prices this
group will be one of the leaders. The
recent earnings statements of New York
Central, Pennsylvania. and Baltimore and
Ohio have shown unprecedented increases
In business and profits and the close alli-
hat he gy,ga
these properties makes il certain that in
net earnings especially there will be con-
unuance of this gratifying showing.
Tennessee Coal and Iron declined al the
opening on realizing by people who bought
the stock TO discount the declaration OF
the dividend Later il began to advance
again in satisfactory way
The gross earnings OF the Wabash for
the second week OF March show an in
crease OF s29,46 and since January sp
increase of 81, 63S, ,664.
The Traction securities. as had been ex-
pected, were the weak features of the list
at the opening. Brooklyn went to 63 ana
fraction, and Metropolitan declined be-
low 15S. Much bear talk regarding the
franchise law was the cause OF the selling.
though it cannot be said that much OF II
was realizing on long stock. There was a
good recovery early in the day.
Wnsbfupfou Sso.xr rxop.