Evening star., 1898-10-28
Some Of the Current Gossip Today on
This Subject.
ABOUT THE PHILADELPHIA INTERESTS
Mr. Mclean, Mr.. Letter and Mr..
BuIIitt Said to Be in Harmony.
FEW LARGE HOLDIN G S

The deal in the stock of the Washington
Gas Company, which was announced in
The Star yesterday, was again today the
main topic of conversation in local finan-
cial circles. The full significance Of the
transactions referred to is not fully un-
derstood. but the purpose, as outlined in
yesterdays Star, is believed to be substan-
TALLY what those have in mind who nave
just acquired large blocks of the stock.
1t is not thought that the control OF the
stock, which involves the ownership Of
more than $1,000 shares, has recently
changed hands, but it is the opinion that
certain large interests have come to an un-
derstanding in regard to the property. ana
that those who have by the recent pur-
chases increased their holdings are acting
in harmony with stockholders VINO own
considerable blocks, and in that sense it
may be said the control of the company
mas been secured.
Moore and SchIey Stock.
1t is now known that the principal block
of stock which sold recently through
Mr.. w. B. Hibbs is what is known as the
Moore and Schley stock, owned by the
firm of New York brokers. 1t is said that
it comprised nearly seven thousand shares,
and that the purchaser was Mr.. L. q.
name, it is said, over thousand shares
of stock, Independent of the holdings of
his wife and other members of the fam
lily. He is now believed to be the largest
individual oWrer of gas stock, although
Judge Pacious Ord of this city is credited
with the ownership of between five and six
thousand shares. 1t is understood that
other holdings were secured in the same
interest.
The Philadelphia Interest.
In addition, W. B. Gurley & Co. have been
buying gas stock for some time whenever
they could pick it up in the market and
elsewhere and, according to current report,
their total purchases amount to about nine
hundred shares. By the same authority,
this stock was purchased on orders from
Philadelphia.
This latter piece of gossip opens up an
Interesting phase of the subject of the fu-
ture control of the gas company. AS every
one is aware that is at all acquainted with
the history of the gas company, the hold
ings of stock in Philadelphia since the day
of the late Mr.. Bartol, who was the pres
ident of the company and at the same time
a resident of Philadelphia, have been large.
Mr.. Bullitt's Holdings.
The Philadelphia interest has not only
been retained, but has actually been in
creased and there is also a good deal of
the stock held in Wilmington, Del. The
representative of the Philadelphia interests
is generally recognized to be Mr.. John C.
Bullitt, one Of the prominent financiers of
that city. He is said to own and control
some ten thousand shares of the stock, and
the general belief is that he is acting in
harmony with Mr.. Letter, and will continue
to do so In the future. 1t is also said that
the president of the company, Mr.. John K.
Mclean, is in line with these interests. 1t
is not known exactly how many shares Mr.
Mclean holds in his own name, but it IS
G W. ha
exaggerated estimate of his individual hold
ings, or at least what he control in
the immediate circle of his family.
In this connection there is some interest
ing gossip to the effect that the views Of
Mr.. Mclean and Mr.. Bulitt in regard to
some Of the details of the management of
the company have not always been tden-
tical, and that there has been some friction,
which, 1t is thought, was rather increased
by Mr.. McLean's attitude on The silver
question On the other hand. it is asserted
that neither or both of the causes if they
existed at all, will prevent an entire and
complete understanding at the present
]uncture between these gentlemen.
Many Stockholders.
Some people scout the idea of any set of
men being able to get the control of the
gas company. This view is based on the
fact that the 1900 shares of stock are
widely distributed, 1t being asserted that the
individual stockholders number $500, and
that the individual holdings are, as a rule
in small blocks. AS far as can be learned
those mentioned above comprise about all
the large holders of the stock. which would
go to show that the stock is generally
speaking in the hands of what are known
small holders.
Some sixty shares of this stock were sold
today at the Washington Stock Exchange
and the price obtained showed an advance
of one point over the highest price quoted
yesterday. The selling price today was
5112.