The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-02-25
Stock Market Seemed to be
 Highly Artificial
ROGERS GRAVES SYMPATHY
Says He Is Tired of Being Assalled. Hsinzes Really Got Only $11,- 100000 for United Copper.
 Wall Street Gossip.
BY W. G. NICHOLAS.

New York, February 24-(Special.)- Pool manipulation has been much in evi- dence this week Clique stocks were put to the front and given market leadership. Although there was a reaction later un- der pressure, prices were marked up the first of the week in direct conflict with news and influences of pronounced bear ish tenor. This was conspicuously the case with Reading and to lesser degree with other coal roads, which would nat urally have been adversely affected by the supreme court decision and by threatened Congress investigations. The excuse given for pool activity in these stocks was that a tacit compromise agreement had been reached between the coal opera tors and the miners under the terms of which peace would be assured for an- other two years. Industrial stocks were also given whrl and then followed the standard railroad stocks, and lastly some of the low-priced issues. Altogether the market had a most unnatural aspect and seemed highly artificial. The Hill group was boomed energetically on the strength of the deal for turning over MT
 
 on a royalty basis No cash is involved in this transaction. but under it's opera tions the trust is to come into possession of some hundreds of millions of dollars worth of cheap iron and MT. Hill's rail- roads will derive direct compensation and largely increase its tonnage. In as much as 1t Is high treason for any of MT. Hills followers to ever sell any part of their holdings, the floating supply of his stocks ic IObf nd ic n to mark up quotations to seemingly ab- surd heights. Everybody who has bought into the Hill stocks and stuck by them has made money That has given him a great following which is loyal almost to the point of fanatieism. There Is no length to which they will not go in blind obedience to what they believe has the proper inspiration. This Is a remarkable testimonial and endorsement and places MT Hlll in a position unique in the an- nals of Wall street. The devoted orators and historians enlisted under the Hill flag are trying to make 1t appear that their hero has been indulging himself in the pleasure of colossal self-sacrifice in turning over his ore lands to the Steet Trust for the benefit of his railroads ore lands that cost him originally less than 900 and according to actuarial re- claiming possess A value of several hun dred millions under the terms of the new deal, official details of which are looked for with curiosity. It might be mentioned in this connection that MT. Hill is turning over to the Steel Trust only a part of his ore lands. The area which he retained will be in the position of a vacant city square which is about to be surrounded on all sides by sky scrapers, the construction of which will multiply his land a thousand fold in value It will be seen, therefore, that MT. Hll's wise generosity in the interest of his railroads contains a clause con ferring a gift of fabulous value to his own posterity When MT. Hlll is be- trayed into the commission of an act of seeming prodigality 1t is sometimes well to take little peep behind the cur tain. Any jury will acquit MT. Hill of a charge of needless charity