Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-12-12
STOCK EXCHANGE
OPENS FOR TRADING
Wall Street Comes Into Its
Own Today When Active 0p-
erations Are Resumed.

NEW YORK, December 12.-Wal
street came into it's own today The
stock exchange, closed for nearly four
and a half months, except for limited
trading in bonds during the past two
weeks, was reopened at 10 o'clock this
morning for active trading in stocks.
One hundred and ninety-two issues
were approved by the governors for
trading, and. though other issues were
barred, notably United States Steel,
activity on the floor of the exchange
revived memories of big days ten years
ago.
Not for many years has there been
such a throng of brokers on the floor
as that which waited patiently for
nearly an hour today for the signal to
resume trading. There are LOO mem
bers of the exchange, and nearly loo
of these, it is estimated, were on the
floor. Many of the others smiled down
with their families and friends from
the members gallery on the west wall.
Chimes of Church Bells Cheered.
The first chime of Trinity Church's
1G o'clock bells has long been the
signal for sounding the opening gong
on the floor of the exchange. AS the
church clock struck wave OF ap-
plause went over the exchange ana
swelled to a vast flood as the gong
clattered noisily in response. Inc
volume of sound that echoed through
the building has not been equaled 1of
many a day.
during the first few minutes OF tradlns,
for the posting of minimum prices.
The market opened with a ruSh ana an
old-time upward swing that sen. ene
the rock-bottom figures determined
upon by the committee in advance
There was one feature. however, that
was not all in keeping with the ac-
tiyity of the big days of more pros
perous times, and that was the small
volume Of single trades. Moso OF .ne ane
trading was in blocks of 100 to 200
shares, and much of 1t was IN pIocks
of less than 100 shares.
Trading in Reading and coppers.
Around posts IL and 12~on the
floor of the exchange the crowds were
thickest. At these posts Reading
and the coppers-such of them as were
not barred-wers bought and sold. Al
though the trading was most aceise
there the volume continued 10 pe
small. few single lots OF me more .t .nan
single transaction recorded during tne
early trading was a sale OF a olock OF
400 shares of Reading rms STOCK
opened at more than points above
the minimum prices.
Notwithstanding skyrocket advances
over the minimum trading seemed to as
sumo a cautious tone The greatest gain
noted was one of more than 70 points
by General Motors. Texas Company
stock came next. with a rise OF IL points
above the minimum. and many more
active issues, such as Lehigh Valley, Ten
nessee Copper. American Beet Sugar and
Central Leather showed gains from =.
to 10 points. Some stocks declined,
notably Southern railway preferred,
which went down 31s points from the
opening figures.
Trading today was only for cash. In
this way the governors sought to curb
speculation-and succeeded, though 1t
was believed at the expense of the VOL
ume of trading.
Although open trading on the floor
of the exchange was forbidden IN
United States Stel Anaconda Mining
and certain railroad stocks held largely
abroad. these Issues were traded in
privately under the supervision
of the stock exchanges clearing house
and committee of five. None of the re-
strictions on bonds, in force during the
past two weeks. was lifted with the
resumption of trading in stocks. Bond
transactions. however. were dwarfed
by the trading in stocks, as was ex-