Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-05-28
FINANCE AND TRADE
Stocks Were Dull, With a
Strong Undertone.
MORE STRIKE RUMORS
PEACE PREDICTIONS HELP THE
COAL ROAD SHARES.
American Sugar Was Strong on News
of Favorable Legislation
by Congress.
Special dispatch to The Evening Star.

Special Dispatch to The Evening Star.
NEW YORK, May 2S.-Today,s market
reflected an undertone of decided strength
In spite of the fact that there was nothing
of interest in the news developments and no
Increase in the volume of commission house
business. The triple holiday at the end Of
the week was responsible for some covering
of short contracts and buying of this char
acter helped the general list.
Coal strike developments were about in
line with those of previous days, but in
certain interested quarters more cheerful
atmosphere was noticeable Advices from
Philadelphia predicted a favorable turn in
the contest within the next forty-eight
hours. Vague as this statement may be,
there was demand for all the coal stocks
Immediately following it's publication.
Reading issues advanced over l per cent,
and there was more decided gain in Della
ware and Hudson.
Prices were well sustained in the coal
group but there was little buying outside
of the banking interests identified with the
recent accumulation.
st. Paul. Union Pacific and the western
issues generally were moderately higher
under mixed buying. in which the short ac-
count was prominent. Atchison was steady
under a fair demand, attracted by the con-
tinued good earnings of the company and
official assurances that the wheat crop
along the company's lines had been less
damaged than originally reported.
1t is highly probable that Atchison Will
lead any activity that may come into the
market as the result of favorable crop re-
ports.
The low-priced railway shares were dull
and neglected, except In a few instances In
which pools were disposed to display their
wares in the hope of making trade. Some
buying of Sugar by the lower Wall street
or trade contingent was noticeable fea-
of the industrial list The progress OF
legislation at Washington Is looked upon
as being likely to favor the speculation in
this stock.
The steel shares and the-various railway
equipment issues were moderately steady
under small dealings. AN attempt to mar
ket a small amount of Peoples Gas met
with minimum demand which resulted in
concessions in price.
During the last hour the volume of bust
decreased. to the smallest proportions
of the week, and the price movement be-
came Irregular within fractional limits.
Business was wholly confined to traders
and was whollytdacking in significance.
The desire to teyensup contracts over the
holiday, especially since the strike order
to the anthracite pumpmen goes into effect
on Monday. was the one incentive to the
selling during 1hisf period. The strength
of Hooking Valley during the late trading
and rumors of an INCREASED dividend were
taken to indicate confidence in the inten-
ton of the soft coal operators to live up
to their contracts. II
Should operators in the soft coal region
refuse to join ip, a sympathetic movement.
the original tie-up could be handled so to
bring the matters in dispute to final Settle
ment without working hardships upon in
nocent victims COT the radical element in
Pennsylvania. A testtof strength will come
on Monday unless the unconfirmed rumors
of today, predicting peace should turn out
to have more foundation than is now be-
lieved they have. "a
The decreased p speculation helps the
money market. t0days, loans being made
at ) per cent and under. If the period of
labor disputes is utilized by the banks in
strengthening their resources and earnings
keep up to present standards the investor
will have cause for Immediate satisfaction
once the handicap is removed