Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-02-05
Unsettled State Of Sentiment
Marked Dealings.
A NUMBER OF DECLINES
Days Total Transactions Fell Below
Averages.
GREAT PRESSURE AT OUTSET
Markets General Drift After Depres-
sion Was Irregularly Toward Re-
covery-Coa1 Strike Comment.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
NEW YORK, February Sat the OPEN
ing of business in the stock market this
morning the dealings revealed quite I'M
settled state of speculative sentiment, and
number of the active issues in various
departments declined abruptly from one ito
two points. The trading at the time was
in quite large volume but there was
steady falling off in respect OF activity
subsequently,, and the days total trans
actions fell far below recent averages In
fact, after the animation of the first hour
there were long periods of practical stag
nation.
On the other hand the really most eff
fective pressure to which the market was
subjected during the greater part OF the
business session was observed right at the
outset of the dealings.
1t appeared at the time as If heavy and
more or less conccntra ted selling orders had
been distributed In various directions, pre-
sunably for the purpose of making as low
a range Of prices as was possible
Market Was Irregular.
The markets general drift after the en-
suing At of depression was irregularly
toward recovery. Some active issues no.
tably Union Pacific and Amalgamated Cop
per- had by the noon hour recovered the
whole of the quite extensive losses made
earlier. and the same was true of Northern
Pacific Great Northern and some other IN
dividual securities.
AS a whole, however, the days dealings
displayed higher irregular appearance,
and reflected plainly great confusion of
speculative sentiment. 1t would probably
be correct to say that the foremost subject
in the days general discussion was the
prospect that a general strike might bs
ordered by the leading figures in the
United Mine Workers of America in both
the anthracite and bitumincus fields
Miners Trouble Serious.
This mornings newspaper advices re-
lating to the subject place it unquestionabiy
In a very serious light. Underlying the in
terest taken in the matter, however, there
appeared to be strong conviction that a
strike of the anthra cite mine workers would
eventually be avoided. particularly as it
would appear that the operators are at the
present time in the strongest Of positions to
stand pat SO far their contentious are
concerned.
The exceedingly mild winter which has
prevailed heretofore has. together with
other circumstances. led to large accumu-
lations Of anthracite coal both in the hands
of the original producers and the middle
men, and suspension of work at the mines
would probably not be regarded by the pro-
ducers as the most serious of all possible
contingencies
h1N Sii VIII tHe great interest which was
however, taken in this situation, the Sc
curities concerned moved pretty well in
line with the market at large. The def
mite information received from Washing
ton that the interstate commerce com
missioners, in their reply to the Gillespie
Pennsylvania railroad Investigation reso-
luton of last week, have reported their
inability to take any action in the prem
Uses, was fayorably received although Off
set to some extent by other Washington
advices pointing to the prosecution Of the
same general subject along somewhat diff
ferent lines.
Official combinations of the various
deal rumors' which were current last
week. and some additional reports which
attained circulation today, were not forth
coming.