The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-04-12

dation and some bear pressure following disappointing cables from the English mar ket. After the opening range was estab- lished there was quite Q line of selling traceabie to commission house interests, and as the demand was only moderate and widely scattered there was further loss in prices. Room shorts were inclined to buy on the breaks. however. and the demand from this source became quite active as the day wore on Promises of light re- ing by shorts. The receipts to-day were rather small, and the advices from the South, while mixed on the whole. had c slight leaning to the bull side. Exhaus- offerings on actual cotton were small The crop reports continued rather mixed. but tn all instances there were intimations Of in- creased acreage. The trade generally was quiet, the professional elements being in charge of the operations for the most part The private cables lacked special feature and the foreign houses had few orders of consequence. New Orleans was a buyer of the old crop months on all soft spots. The late market was quiet and devoid of spe- cial features. The estimated port receipts for the day. 1000, against 12,017 for the same day last year.
 CHICAGO GRAIN AND PROVISIONS.
 CHICAGO April i.-Alarming reports of damage to the growing grain in the Southwest caused firmness here to-day in the Weat pit. Compared with Saturday g close. final figures to-day are Ac higher on July. Corn and oats are each down Ac and provisions 7h 022hc.
 Sentiment in wheat at the beginning was the general situation. Among these were liberal worlds shipments. a considerable increase in the amount on passage, warmer weather and lower Liverpool cables. In quotations showed only slight losses from Saturdays final figures, July being shade to kc lower at SsM 4ss% to s8%. Un- certainty as to the character of the gov ernment crop report issued later in tho day restricted trading to a considerable sx- tent and was perhaps the main influence early in support of the market. Toward the end of the first hour a firmer feeling developed. The change was due largely to precautionary covering of early sales. tho reason being fear of a possible disappoint- ment 10 bears from official figures on the condition of the crop. From S6R July ad- vanced to s7H. Reports by a prominent trader who had just returned from c trip through the Southwest had perhaps more to do with the improved sentiment during the latter part of the session. According to that authority, wheat losses in Oklahoma. Ransas and Nebraska were much more so- rious than the majority of traders realized. There was a good commission house de- mand late in the day and, although prices did not hold at the high point. the market closed firm with July at s6A GS6H. May ranged between s3 and s4k and closed at s3M. Ciearances equaIed assoc bushels Primary receipts were 415.2 200 bushels against s57,so0 year ago. The amount on passage increased 1.192,o0o bushels. and the visible supply decreased 547,0 Minfe- lapolis. Duluth and Chicago reported 33T cars. against <1s last week and 341 year ago
 The feature in corn was heavy Iiqui- dntion of May and a consequent decline of 1hc in the price of that delivery The market opened firm influenced by the cables. Soon after the opening num- Der of longs began to sell May and as a result prices started downward. Stop loss orders came out on the decline. causing additional weakness. After May had dropped from 53h to b2 the market re- eeived support from big bull interest, which resulted in firmer tone. Distant deliveries were influenced by the action of May. July opened shade lower to a shade higher at SIX @55%, sold between 60& and 51M and closed at 50M. May closed at 52%. Receipts, 1s6 cars. 25 con tract.
 Trading in oats was light and the market held steady throughout the day. Improve ment in weather conditions was the prin- cipal factor and created some disposition to sell on the part of pit traders. Offer- ings were taken by shorts July opened Mc higher at 37k, sold between a7M and 37% and closed at s7%. Receipts 1ss cars.
 Provisions were firm at the start under the influence of higher hogs. The open ing frmness. however. was subsequently, lost on realizing sales. the market being supplied. Local packers were the principal purchasers. The close was easy with July down 7hc at e.S6 and ribs 1oc lower at s.so9s.62h.
 The leading futures ranged as follows: