The Florida star., 1901-05-17
II The WORLD OF FINANCE.
Something Of the History Of tn. New Yors
- Stock Exchan~e.

'Af1--'&o-1o u 4 Nc Florfda Star.
Hs aoRk. May IA. The place about
Wnlcn the greatest interest In the me-
Sropohs has centered during the LAST
.oFtnlgnt or more has been the New
Aork stock Exchange, where the mag
nitude OF the trading has been uunrec-
edented In the history OF Wall street
ana where securities OF all sorts have
risen Oy leaps and bounds TO dizzv
nelgnts never before attained. Indeed,
the New York Stock Exchange. by
reason OF the enormous and sensation
al transactions which have taken place
on It's noor during the past two weeks.
mas Deen the focus OF attention OF the
entire civilized world. All records.
either as 10 the volume or business. the
advances In quotations or the excite
ment attending the operations, have
been smashed to smithereens. For in
stance, In the five business hours OF a
single day nearly 100000 shares or
stocks and bonds were bought and
sold. Every time the big clock above
the chairman's desk licked or 60 Sec
onds securities approximating $780,
100000 changed hands. the enormous
sum OF $3O000O.O00 representing the
aggregate transactions In the brief
space OF time between 10 a. m. and 3
p. M. which constitutes the fun work
Ing day on Change. This terrific pace
or something near IL was kept up day
after day. Never. doubtless, was there
such feverish activity on the floor OF
any money mart In the world. never
such eagerness to buy anything and
everything In sight at almost any price.
Stocks that hitherto had been counted
as practically worthless suddenly as
sumed unexpected values and ready
sales; securities that a few weeks ago
could not be moved at so or 80 were
now quickly taken at 80 or 100. and
so on. But the observant reader who
Is interested has already become IA
miliar through the daily perusal OF the
press dispatches with the passing his
tory OF this most remarkable .;bulr'
movement and the stirring incidents
that have attended 1t. He may. how
ever. be unfamiliar with and not wholly
uninterested In something OF the earlier
history and operations OF the New
York Stock Exchange. which during
the height OF this boom was removed
from the building Ii has occupied for
nearly half a century to temporary
quarters In the Produce Exchange
while a new and elaborate structure
is being constructed on the former site
for Its future occupancy.
wall street." which is fast becom-
ing II 1t has not already attained the
distinction OF being the money center
OF the world. is the designation OF a
locality In the lower end OF Manhattan
Island and not merely the name OF q
short public throughfare which runs
from Broadway down TO the East riv-
er, though that In itself is one OF the
most historic and interesting as well
as the busiest and richest OF the streets
OF the metropolis. At Its head stands.
as a fitting reminder to the mad pur-
suers OF Mammon that there Is some
thing worth seeking besides money.
old Trinity church. with Its quaint
burial plot. laden with memories OF
early New York. On the left passing
down the street toward the river Is
the United States subtreasury. which
stands on the site or the first city hall.
afterward called Federal nal. where
George Washington took the oath OF
office as the first president or the Unit
ed States. A little farther down on
the opposite side or the street is the
United States customs house. which
was formerly the Merchants Ex-
change. but which will pass into the
possession OF the City National bank
upon the completion OF the new Gus
toms house near Bowling Green. while
the street is lined on either side with
great banking houses and fiduciary es.
tablishments. among them that or j.
Pierpont Morgan. who by reason OF his
recent stupendous consolidation of rail
way and steamship lines Is now recog
nized the world over as the most pow
erful OF the money kings. The heart
of Wall street Il mean the neighbor
hood and not merely the street itself
is the Stock Exchange, which until lis
removal a few days ago occupied itS
own building on Broad street and ex
tending back to New street. WITH
side entrance on Wall. a modest anc