The age-herald., 1902-02-07
STOCK MARKET
 GAINS STRENGTH Dealings Better Distributed Than for Some Time Past SOME STOCKS STILL HALT There Was a Feeling That the Inn proved Conditions Were Due
 to Some Development Not
 Generally Known.

New York February 6.-The stock market showed considerable access of an- imation today and the dealings were ~ much better distributed than for some time past There were stocks which hung back and some which fell away on profit taking after recent considera- Ible advances, but the general tone of the market was strong and speculative sen- timent seemed much more confident. There was a feeling that the improved conditions were due to some development pot generally known and the professional Traders who in fact did not know what they were among the largest buyers on the supposition that others who did know were in the market with them.
 These surmises had to do to a large eX- tent with possible developments in the euit against the Northern Securities Com pany. Confident expressions were heard, but on an anonymous authority that the decision of the Supreme Court was made up against the admission of the suit to argument. The supposition also found ex- pression that the projectors of the great merger have an alternative plan to fall back on in case of the declared illegality of the present company. It was argued that a foreign corporation might hold the securities of United States corpora tions and be outside the jurisdiction of the United States laws. The reported for mation of leasing company to control Metropolitan Street Railway on a guar antee of dividend was not much bene- fit to that stock but the evidence thus given of continued planning on the part of capital toward development was an Influence on speculation. A social gath ering of millionaires in Philadelphia was also made much of, especially as men rated as antagonistic were reported to be present on affable terms
 The importance attached to such unsub- stantial conjectureS in the real predom1n- ance indicated the continued prominence of professional operations in the market. The traders also made much of the re- duction in the discount rate of the Bank of England as promising relaxation or the pressure upon New York for gold. The very strong return of the Bank of France pointed in the same direction. Of the days movements in detail Southern Pacific was largely in the hands of the same specula- tive interest which has been dealing in 1t recently, and the movement in Pennsyl- yania was also attributed to this opera tion.
 The Vanderbilts as a group were all strong and the Toledo, St. Louis and Western stocks moved in sympathy with the group on rumored absorption in the Vanderbilt interest. The gains in these stocks reached up to points. Lake Erie and Western preferred showed the latter figure. United States Express made a further advance of 7%. The rise of 71s in Third Avenue was due to comparison with its price with that Of Metropolitan, with an ultimate guarantee of per cent. Illinois Central was also strong on the general consideration Of US price level as compared with other dividend payers. There were a number of lower priced and less prominent stocks, whose special strength was attributed to increasing div ldend prospects. Profit-taking made the closing somewhat irregular, but the in- roads upon prices were not extensive.
 The bond market was active and broad and showed general advances. Total sales. par value $4,055, GOO. United States 3s de- elined A per cent on the last call.
 New York Stock Market.
 By Private Wire to Murphy & Cn