National Republican., 1883-02-23
LOCAL SECURITIES.
The Growth Of the Capital as Shown by the
Increase in Their Values.
The Gas, Bank, Street Car, Electric Light,
and Insurance Stocks.

The dealers in local stocks had respite
from their labors yesterday, the members OF
the stock exchange attending the bench show
and engaging in other amusements and en-
joyments unknown to them on business days.
One Of the heaviest dealers was cornered by
n REPUBLICAN reporter out for points
points, we'll stocks rs far a3 local are con-
cerned, some are booming and some arc per-
fectly fiat"
The recent discussion Of
THE GAS QUESTION
has stirred up the holders of the gas stock
pretty lively, but although the atmosphere
for while seemed very blue, but very small
quantity was shaken out, and If the purpose
of the incOrporatOrs of the new gas company
was only to scare the holders of gas stock
they have only had their labor for their
! pains. Yes, some Of the stock has changed
! hands lately, but the new gas company syndi-
cate did not get it, for hardly any of them have
| margins of sufficient size to handle much of
! the stuff. There is in the hands of the gas
company very ! argc surplus OF nearly
! 81 100000 in government bonds, and II is Tor
| pieces of this undivided cake that these nun
! CRY youths are after. The brains OF the gas
| company are carried under the hat of one
man, and investigate him rs they will, If the
| house committee were to add to their report
! on the theater ticket business the fact that
/ without him there would have been dozen
| uuarroling gas companies here, none of them
| giving satisfaction, and all Of them in-
/ cessantly cutting up our streets ana SIDE
/ walks, the truth would only be told. BY the
| way when the report of that committee Is
made and congress adiourns, look out for gas
! stock lcaping up into the iiitics, for | believe
/ the gas people are tired of having this sur
| plus standing Us II temptation to every hungry
! jobber and charter grabber and Will soon
! distribute il in huge dividend. The gas
/ company can hereafter reduce the price Of
| gas to 81 n thousand feet, and believe they
! will find il to be their interest to do So
"As TO ELECTRIC LIGHTS
well, we have had two companies in opera
tion here, but of their prospects there seems
[ to be some doubt. ! see that the appropria-
ton bills have been so changed as to permit
the district authorities and those in charge OF
the public buildings to use either gas or cleo
tricity. If this should become law it would
/ hclp the electric people, who have shown sur
prising enterprise and overcome innumcrable
obstacles. Your REPUBLICAN is cndcavoring
to revolutionize the south side of the avenue,
and If the electric lights are put ON both sides
of that noble thoroughiare, the desire of THE
REPUBLICAN will be accomplished as far MS
the light question is concerned. No sales OF
the electric light stock have been made, to
my knowledge, for some time-the last
could be got hold of.
"As to
INSURANCE STOCKS,
we'll now and then a share is put upon oul
exchange. and II sale Is actually recorded by
our youthful secretary. Yet very little car
be had. | do not believe that better manage
ment can he found in any of our local corpor
atiOns than in the insurance companies. Al
of them have been admirably managed, YET
they have kept in the background somehow
and there are hundreds yes thousands, of res
idents and people doing business in this city
who hardly know of any local fire insurance
, companies, and have all their risks takel
by foreign companies The splendid building
now being completed for the Fircman's In
! surancc company, on Seventh street. boldl.
facing Pennsylvania avenue will do much T.
advertise this branch of our local business ant
be bonanza to the Fireman's. IL is II pity
that the Metropolitan company did not sclec
an equally prominent corner on one of on
streets. The proximity of their new build
, ing to the Fircmans will do the metropolitan
company injury, arChitCCtually and iinaI
cially. The new Columbia company, on
street, has been well managed, and its stoc
is in great demand. / believe they will pa
a dividend next summer. This only depend
, upon their reaching the desired extent {
/ surplus, and this, am told, is daily increa'
: ing.
, "As to
, BANK STOCK
very little of this changes hands. The dcfa
cation of Bigclow hurt the Bank of the X,
| public only for moment. The Second M
Q tiOnal bank stock, for II long time below I'll
s ninetics, Is now above par, and will continu
p to got up. Tho National Metropolitan ban
!. stock is in demand, but it cannot be had
"a "As to
: STREET CAR COMPANY STOCK,
l. they are all fiat at present. The Belt stoc
IS will be helped by the passage of the bill gi
/. ing them the privilege of extending the con
:. pany's track to Ninth street, down around Il
O Centre market, but it will be many years b
7. fore the company can pay dividends and
1, the same time put their enormous extent
If track in repair, keep their cars from shabb
J. ness and their horses from starvation. The
J. should stop paying dividends and put the
v cars and track in good condition. and
ie three or five years it would be OF
ir of the best properties In the cit
n The Washington and Georgetown (avenu
ii and the Metropolitan (F street, lines a
4 daily adding TO their terminal facilities, al
+. every dollar spent on these shows wise for
sight, for the city is bound to grow, and y
tho limits ofthis growth are within the servi
of these two corporations, for they can ha
no competitors in the near or distant futul
ie The character of the street pavements Of t
o. city make it every year moro and more dii
- cult for new street car lines to be laid, as W,
- rs pipes for new gas companies, and,with Il
g. in view, the stocks of these compan
o, arc us good an investment as 60
IA crnment bonds. When the litigati
at now pending in regard to unpaid i
as provement taxes is settled-and the co
o., panies have very strong equities in I
re matter-the stock of the Metropolitan will
%. to par, and that of the avenue line to tw
Nv that amount
u "The Hcrdc company, am told, are abe
y. to build $4,000 stable, which looks Ii
as successful opposition TO the avenue line ;
III l am told that cOmpany's receipts are larI
e- than ever before in its history another instaI
of the wisdom of small profits, for the 3 CO
bobtail avenue car do an enormous business
would the street line If it had similar ia
for short distances.
ct THERE ARE OTHER LOCAL STOCKS
an that are worth attention; for instance,
telephone company stock, for which $50
A, now refused the Great Falls Ice compa
o. stock, a clear, wellmauaged business
I'D Centre Market company stock, which, If
company ever gets out of litigation, will
th very desirable. The present selling rates
as these stocks will yield about 8 per &C
Ial to the buyer. As to local mining com
for nies, the IvanhOe is showed under, wi
ng several small organizations having pr
IA; critics connected with Gov. Shepherd
rer Mexico are receiving handsome diyiden
nd On the other hand am told there are seve
las organizations yet waiting for their choC
IN, The phenomenal success of Gov. Shepherd
Il. his mining ventures in Mexico gives gT
a.. delight TO all our local brokers and busin
IL men, for they hope that his return to
on city will be marked by extraordinary actiy