The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-01-30
STOCK MARKET HOLDING WE'LL DESPITE ADVERSE CON
 OPTIONS.
, Special to Farmer.J


 New York. Jan. 30.--There is much that is amusing to a sober minded per- son who has a sense of hunor, in the antics of the stock market these days.l For weeks New York Central was strong and was advanced out of pro- portion to the remainder of the mar ket, because of the rumor that E. H.! Hartman was to enter the board of directors of the road. This week he was elected director and the stock advanced three points and then pro- ceeded to loose more> than three.
 On Thursday some one started the report that E. H. Hartman and James J. Hill were at war, in fact that they were glaring at one another. Immed- lately the market became weak and was helped along by the report that the coal miners of several coal regions were likely to go on a strike. Stocks tumbled for a few minutes and traders and spectators who have been figur- ing that prices were too high reaped a small fortune.
 \. Early in the week, the Consolidated Gas directors put out statement that the company could not earn more than per cent. with gas at 30 cents thou sand and the next day the stock broke nine points. Then came the announce ment that the attorneys had petitioned the court to reopen the case which acts as a stay to the distribution of $9, GOO, 600 of money due consumers. The possibility of the company finally keeping this, sum caused the stock to regain about one-half of it's loss and on Thursday when the remainder of the market was weak, Consolidated Gas was strong as was Peoples Gas which advanced three points.
 The Southern Pacific report was made public. 1t was complete and showed the company to be a remark able one with exceptional earning pow CTS. In the face of depression, its gross earnings decreased about two per cent. and 1t earned about 71-2 per cent. on the common stock.
 The United States Steel Corporation. made its report for the third quarter of 1908 and it was considered poor. The earnings showed a declining tend ency and there is every reason to be- lieve that the present month will be bad one in the matter of earnings. Another thing that did not please Wall Street was the small tonnage of un- filled orders. This was about one half what the Street had been led to crease of more than 100000 tons over the tonnage reported for the third quarter, this was overlooked.
 The market has stood up well under many adverse conditions. The fall ing off in business in the steel trade, LIiS ldCh Ol OOS1iIcSS III LuG COPpcI trade, the tariff agitation, the Japan csc war talk, the troubles of the Erie and the constant talk of assessment on all local traction stocks have stopped buying so that the business on the ex- change for the most part has been traders and speculative members.
 During the week MT. Hartman promised to spend $10,000.000 on Geor- gia railroads if hostile legislation stop ped. James J. Hill spoke optimistic ally of the future and the change in the administration drew nearer which is considered bullish factor. On an average the price of stocks at the end of last week was 11S.26 and this week 118.33. The market is in an interest ing position and may jump sharply either way. There is, however, no danger of a. long decline, if precedent counts, and on any sharp fall, the fu- lure is so bright, that one can safely buy.
 J. R. BURTON.