Show STOCK MARKET VOLUME RISES Averages Advance Slightly Slightly-as as Prices Firm in M Many y Divisions I By ELMER C. C United Financial Editor edItor- NEW YORK Dee Dec 27 Trading 27 Trading On n ho the stock exchange picked up to around shares Thu Thursday one ne ot of the largest sessions since sinca late July Prices firmed in many issues and nd the averages which the include leading stocks rose slightly Much of the business was traceable to o tax selling since Thursday was he the last day to sell for tax losses In Inthe he the regular way Any tax selling Inthe in he the remaining sessions of the year must be for cash and immediate de livery very of stock Railroad equipment shares picked up with New York Air Brake ing ng a new new high high for the year up 2 points The rise was based on lopes hopes the new congress would aid he the railroads financially and enable them to buy equipment Railroad shares were firm with fains ranging to a point Consolidated Gas Gas common common declined to within one eighth point of its te ord low made yesterday and then finned to a fractional gain Directors tors cut the dividend from 50 cents a share to 25 cents a share but this was good news since traders had expected ex tx- peeled the dividend would be tUrn mated A statement by George B. B Cortelyou president of Consolidated Gas indicated taxes for 1935 for the Consolidated system would be equal to a share on common stock Other utilities firmed finned although some of them met early selling Laclede Laclede La- La clede Gas preferred appeared at a anew anew new low of 27 off 7 Gains were noted in United Corporation issues United Gas Improvement and North American Columbia Gas made a anew anew new low and then carrie came back to the previous close Steel shares firmed especially the independent companies several of which are arc now operating in the black Inland Steel made a new high at 54 up 2 and several others rose fractionally U. U S. S Steel was airly active although it did not participate participate par par- in the buying Automobile issues were active and firm Motor equipments and tire shares also were better Electrical equipments had a big turnover es especially es- es Westinghouse Electric which gained more than a point at its high General Electric selling dividend ex-dividend was unchanged Chemical shares slipped off as ss did dd some of the special issues Oils were barely steady taking Profit reduced prices of a a few of the mercantile shares after their recent gains Mail order issues however were firm featured its division di vision in activity rising fractionally while other wet w t stocks were mixed Silvers were up moderately Tobaccos Tobaccos To To- strengthened notably Philip Morris which gained more than 2 points |