The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1917-11-27
WATSON'S WEEKLY
MARKET LETTER

during the past week. by important
war news. The fact that 1t has re-
peatedly Of late responded to good or
bad developments OF that character
may be looked upon, we think. as re-
flecting a feeling that America is at
! last fully ''in it." Unfavorable fea-
I lures OF the readjustment of the ma
tton to. war basis are looked upon
an having been largely discounted by
the recent decentralization. Hysteria
has disappeared and there is ten
d1ncy to consider and weigh real
values. The recovery from sharp de-
preston Is a natural reaction. From
now on fluctuations should be along
. more stable lines. There may be fur
Their liquidation, but we think it will
Be more of leftover character. 1t is
good time to rest. think and take
bear1ngs. We do not expect bull
market at present But a series Of
favorfng developments Is not unlike
H. We hope they will be beneficial
10 the railroads. for If confidence in
i the Investment position of the carriers
oan be restored 1t will go far toward
hringfng about a recovery of prices in
N 9sneral. The danger of strike is ap-
parently avoided.
An idea as to what the railroads
have to contend with may be had
when it 10 observed that freight cars
which formerly cost around $1,000
! each are now selling for $2.000-Just
double. This is only one feature of
f1ncreased expenses. Labor cost has
materially advanced-and without in
creased efficiency; rather has a slow
Or percentages been experienced. Steel
supplies have gone up SO that re-
ql1iremcnts have been cut down to the
home. Higher freight rates and gov
ornment credit may safely be said to
BE- imperative. Vice-President Sisson
0f the Guaranty Trust Co., is quoted
&s saying that the value of railroad
stocks had declined In six months ST.
4 GOO, 100000, and the same amount in
railroad bonds over q period of ten
months. Yet the shippers who op-
posed the railroad relief can see no
)>eason why rates should be advanced.
"A 1nancier II quoted as saying that
ANY suggestion of a receiverships for
New Haven need not be entertained
for . moment
President Frank A. .Vanderlip of
the National City Bank says that in
the 126 years of it's existence the Uni
ted States spent see, 800, 600, 900, only
81, soc, 900 900 more than it proposes
to spend In one year of war. Moth
Ing ts surer," he says. in an interview
regarding the necessity for proper dis
trfbuticn of labor, than that this
country must be completely organized
Tor war" Mr.. John A Sleicher, writ
ing In Leslie's Weekly, urges that
e,capftal be employed at a good profit
20 that there may be guaranteed the
neceasary resources with which to
meet fully and promptly the heavy
burden OF war taxes" Copper Gossip.
an authority in the copper trade. says:
eft II OF the utmost Importance just
now that production be enormously
stimulated. Expansion will be more
pronounced when the price permits
reasonable profits and the payment of
the higher wages" There are predic-
fiona in some quarters Of the street
that when the proceeds from the gov
ernment loans become fully employ
"a In industry there Will be an Gin
Missionary upward movement in
6tocks.'
A feature of the stock market has
bpen scarcity Of offerings during the
rscovery- This was especially notice
able when the news of the great Bri-
flsh victory came to hand It had
much to do with helping to bring back
some Of the confidence lost in the re-
cent decline St Paul stock is no
longer pressed for sale like it was. 1t
- finding more friends because there
IL strong belief that the troubles
OF the road are being cured Money
rates show tendency to harden fol-
lowing the reported dissolution of the
money pool" It ia probable that they
viii not be easy until after December
rs, when the 40 per cent instalment
ON the second Ldberty-loan will be
paid. There is a strong expectation
In speculative circles that window
dressing toward the end of the year
viii result in some market improve
mem Such a recovery would not re-
Quire SO large an amount of money
a. is needed in financing bull mar
ket. It may be safely asserted that
stocks are not only cheap at prevail
ing prices in many cases, but they are
IN strong hands.
MDTTdW m TnTN0