Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-04-21
DEAL TAKEN FOR GRANTED
Stockholders in Washington Gas Company
Ooncede Sale of Control.
Negotiations in Progress I'm PhiIa-
delphia - Speculation ms TO the
Disposition Of Dividends Earned.

The stockholders of the Washington Gas
Company take 1t for granted that the con-
troll of that company has been disposed Of
and that only the details of the transac-
ton remain to be settled. No official an
nouncement, however, has been made that
some of the leading stockholders have
agreed to dispose of their holdings at a
stipulated price which is said to be 500
per share.
However It is pretty well understood that
the negotiations which have bean in pro-
gress for several months as noted in The
Star from time to time, are about con-
cluded.
Among stockholders the natural inquiry
is what is going to be done about the divt-
dend which was shown to have been earned
the 18th of this month, and which has not
yet been paid The books for the transfer
Of stock. which were closed Saturday last.
and which Mr. John c. Bullitt OF Philadel-
deiphia, a director in the company and the
representative of the holdings of stock in
that city. directed to be reopened, have not
again been closed.
The question which is agitating the mind
of the average stakeholder is whether he is
to get the regular dividend of 30 cents per
share, which is now due, or whether the
price offered for the stock is looked upon
as of sufficient size to cover the amount of
the earned dividend.
Awaiting the Circular.
Inquiries along this line at the office Of
the company elicits the reply that If they
wait for the circular which is to be issued
to stockholders announcing the offer that
has bean made for the purchase of the
stock, they will then know all about it.
AS this circular has not yet made its APP
pearance, the stockholders are still in the
dark as to the fate of the money earned by
the company In the past three months
Some have thought that in addition to the
price offered, either the regular or an extra
dividend will be declared, and in this way
the surplus would be paid over to the
stockholders of record before the deal is
consummated- The opinion is also held that
no dividend of any character is to be de-
clared, and that the price offered includes
everything the company now owns
Finances in Philadelphia
The transaction is to be financed at the
4th street National Bank of Philadelphia
which is the bank Mr.. Bullitt is interes ted
in. 1t is stated that the money to be paid
for the stock is to be deposited in that bank
and that stockholders in this city will be
obliged to send their stock to Philadelphia
1t is said that Mr.. Bullitt is very careful
man, and also one who has ideas which
he likes to see carried out, and for this
reason 1t is thought probable that the deal
will be closed in his own bank where he
can oversee everything that is done.
The indications are that the money which
will be used for the purchase of the stock
will come from Philadelphia. The bulk
of the funds, which have been used in the
extensive purchases of railroad, electric
lighting and gas plants in this city has
come from New York city. Some. however
was raised in Baltimore, and now ii seems
that Philadelphia capital is TO be given
chance.