New-York tribune., 1908-03-25
SEX dividend
STOCK MARKET OPERATIONS.
changes. follow:

Strength and activity amounting almost to
huoyancy marked the trading in stocks yes
terday. the total sales being about $4,000
shares. with transactions in 164 issues. un
usually large number for even active bull
market. and with net gains at the close for
practically all Of the issues many Of the ad-
vances being in excess OF points. The most
important influence in the advance again
the reassura given TO investors by the de-
cisions Of the Supreme Court OF the United
States on Monday in the Minnesota & North
Carolina Railroad cases. which have gone far
toward quiering the apprehensions aroused by
the 'anti-rairOad" legislation in various states
within the last wear or SO Beyond this, how
ever is the growth of the conviction that the
worst of the bad times has been witnessed and
Of the optimistic feeling that the country is
henceforth TO make steady progress in the di-
TectiOn of renewed prosperity. That sentiment
was helped yesterday by the statement of Mr..
Lane of the Interstate Commerce Commission,
regarding the results of operation OF certain
important railroad systems for the last six
months OF 1907 compared with the CORE
spending period Of 1906: his conclusion being
that the railroads of the United States have
not suffered very seriously from the panic aud
the loss of traffic which followed it. 1t should
be borne in mind. however. that the effects
OF the panic covered only small part Of the
six months selected by Mr.. Lane for the COM
parison. and that although signs Of slow re-
Vival of business activity are apparent, tfe
stagnation is still serious to bring the
The roads we'll under the figures for
this time a wear ago Here and there freight
rates are being advanced in the case of the
rates on grain from Buffalo to tidewater: but
the movement in that direction hardly be
come general until the general Industrial situa-
ton shall show real Improvement and prices of
commodities shall begin once more to advance.
The money market no less easy than
usual Yesterday. time funds being in larger sup
DIV than demand and the tendency being toward
even greater ease. The foreign exchange mar
ket was dull. demand sterling declining five ID
ten points Commission house buying of stocks
appears to be increasing although not yet
important feature of the market The heavieEt
transactions of the day in United States
Steel common. which sales Of more than
100 600 shares advanced to 36h. closing with
A net gain of q per cent. at 50 =, while the
rreferrad touched par for the first time In
months and closed point up at 995s- Further
advances were made in quotations for'copper
in -his city and London, but ANA lgamat ted Cop
Der did not gain more than fraction. Con-
solidated Gas rose points 70 Il, retaining
3I, points Of its advantage at the close on buy
sngu reputed to be inspired by the Supreme
Court decisions of Monday. as that tribunal is
hv and By TO decide the question whether or
not the so cent gas law of this state Is to he
allowed to stand. and in the bond market the
feature was the maximum advance Of 2l2 points
i'm Consolidated Gas 6s Extremely heavy profit
close under the best Of the session. but. al
ready noted. final prices showed handsome gen
eral net gains. The close was strong