The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-08-17
STOCK MARKET IS SPOTTY AND UNEVEN Vas Broad and Inactive at the
 Opening PROFESSIONALS ARE BUSY There is Revival of Stories of Deals and Combinations, But They Are
 Surrounded With
 Mystery.
PROFESSIONALS ARE BUSY

New York, August ls.-sThere was preponderance of gains again today in the movement of prices on the stock ex- change. and the stocks affected had more influence by sympathy on the gem eral list than those which moved yes terday. The market nevertheless con- tinued spotty and uneven, and showed moderate improvement in the volume of trading.
 For some time after the opening, in- deed, there was a broad and active mar ket. which enabled traders to operate in and out with facility and which swept up further large volume of sales to realize profits without any notable effect on the price level. This was the period of the trading which demonstrated the growth of the outside interest in the market, such as 1t Is. London discounts hardened again today and buying for &C., count of that center was not in evi- dence in the absorptive power of the market There was marked decline in animation after the working off of or ders accumulated over night in commits sion houses.
 The market then relapsed Into it's pro- fessional character, and gave evidence of renewed operations by that element to get up prices higher. and to serve as sustaining points, while similar meas ures were extended to other portions of the list. The encouragement to continue these efforts to get prices still higher. comes largely from the contemplation a..A n0t Ia of the country. There is some revival, however. of stories of deals apd of com binations surrounded with more or less mystery after the manner of the sto- res which are most effective on senti- ment at times of speculative excite ment
 The vitality of such rumors regarding the Northern Securities group seems proof against all delays and disappolnt- ment. Its renewed influence today was seen in the rise in Union Pacific which would benefit largely from the enhanced valuation of Great Northern and Nor thern Pacific. The revival of specula- tion in Reaulng up to new record level had notable effect in encouraging spec ulative spirits, the prolonged advance Tn that stock offering room for possible analogy in other stocks all through the list that present brilliant hopes of the imagination. ne ulIilliulioh III eh0 iiS" yellow fever cases at New Orleans was of cheerful augury for the southern group which has, however, been singu- larIy indifferent heretofore to the pos sible harm to the earning capacity from the yellow fever outbreak. News from the crops showed, no change in the fa- vorable progress in the grain region with the exception of some professed uneasi- ness over the effect on corn of low tenn perature and possible frosts. in the nor thern portions of the belt.
 Strength in wheat was attributed to unfavorable prospects for Russian and French crops, rather than to any condi- tions in the domestic crop. The slump Tn National biscuit which is supposed to be due to differences of opinion over nnan- ciaI administrations which threaten rupture, was of a disturbing character but was without effect on the mar