Evening star., 1917-03-02
STOCKS NOT ACTIVE,
BUT MUCH Stronger
Shorts Are r un in Freely, With
Gains of One to Three Points
in Values.
Oils, Steels and Shipping Shares
Lead-Reading Strongest Of the
Rails-Others Soft.

NEW YORK. March 2-wal1 street
was in a much better humor this morn
Ing and gave an exhibition Of strength
and stamina entirely at variance with
the indecision and sporadic weakness
SO characteristic of the stock trading
for a week or two past.
There was not the backing and fill
ing. none of it in the first three hours:
it was all one way, and that in the di-
rection of higher prices.
Giving reasons is sometimes a diff
cult matter. Every little fluctuation
must have reason all its own. The
street does nothing without an inf1u-
enCe, and yet it would appear as II con-
ditions We're against the rising trend
in valueS-were against investment
buying.
1t seemed as If the days squirt was
without reason. was more or less spas
the National City Bank in it's March
circular that actual war would not
have any effect on business for some
time. except to further stimulate activ-
ity and to keep the factories at higher
efficiency, may have influenced some
buying.
1t is Furthermore a fact that the
stocks are in strong hands: that the
bears have been quite active the last
few days. and that a moderately long
The time seemed ripe for their running
in. with money abundant and easy and
with a patriotic wave objecting to bear
tendencies.
Prices Distinctly Stronger.
Whatever the cause. the effect was
prominent, and prices were distinctly
stronger
Bethlehem Steel showed a fine ad-
vance. and the igher prices for the
rights. with statement that INSIDE
interests in the company Mtend 70
avail themselves of the privileges OF
buying new stock. was a strons factor
in the betterment.
Coppers, Motors. Steel. Shipping
shares and Oils were prominent In the
advance
az points: Mercantile Marine preferred
nearly 2 Steel common, which closed
last night at 104as, sold up to 1868 for
high during the noon hour Cruclple
Steel gained Ia Bethlehem Steel
moved up to 1071s. as compared with
yesterdays final sale at 1887.
+. Mexican Petroleum was 213 better ana
Texas Oil nearly points higher.
Even Industrial Alcohol. weakling
for couple of days, acted much better
advances characterized the action In
MANY minor shares, but there were but
few stocks that did not gain over
point.
The rails were soft in the early hour,
but stiftened in sympathy with the rest
of the list.
Reading was the only one that made
an important advance. scoring point
net Improvement
Chesa peake and Ohio was distinctly
easier by & of point. Baltimore and
Ohio eased half a point.
Closing Is Very Firm.
The market maintained its pace
throughout the session without the
usual profit-taking rush for recessions.
Even higher prices were established
in the final hour Steel common extend
ing its advance to A, while average
Improvement extended to about 3
points in the industrialS to points for
Atlantic, Gulf and West Indies. and the
feeling was so bullish that even the
rails were favorably affected.
Reading extended it's improvement to
H. points New Haven was b better
and Union Pacific was decidedly
stronger while the weak rails made