The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-10-24
CAPITAL TRACTION GOSSIP.
Advance In The GfocIx Cauaex Runsnrs
Of "a Large Dividend.


Of "a Large Dividend.
Recent activity and strength CT Capital
Traction stock and bonds on the local
Stock Exchange and in private sales in F
Street have attracted attention to them
and to the company among business men
generally. 1t has been known that the
inside interests were buying both the
stocks and bonds, though to what extent
cannot be learned. This buying has
caused some covering by the few people
that. have had the hardihood to sell the
STOCK snort.
A Humber OF rumors have been set
afleat by the advance in prices and by the
buying for officers and stockholders of
the company One of these is in relation
to another advance in the dividend rate
on the stock. The rate is now per cent,
and it has been suggested that probably
1t could be advanced to IL per cent in
the near future. and leave a surplus.
The statement was made in The
Times a few days ago that the surplus
for the first nine months of the present
year has been about S34. 600. This is at
the rate of searly 1000 month or
nearly $4,000 5'or year 1t is believed
by officers OF the company that the sur
piuS IuI d year Will De $0UyVVo-
The extensions of the lines of the COM
pany Will be soon completed. II is be-
iieved that the one at the Capitol will
be ready TO operate by January L. That
on G Street northwest, running to the
west of the State, War, and Navy build
ing, will be completed soon after These
additions to the line will add to its rev.
enue an appreciable sum- which is va
riously estimated One officer of the
81 Mt hat will t~nf sa HI b.a
at least S10e, 900. The growth of the
traffic OF the system aside from thssa ad-
ditions has been steady in the past, and
it is figured by those that talk OF an in
creased dividend that 1t viii add $4,000
to the gross receipts during the coming
year
On this basis there would be $3.50 600 10
add 10 the gross earnings In the year 1901.
According 10 the present ratio Of opera
ton so per cent of this, or $75, 96e. would
be net II the. present surplus be added
II viii be seen that according to these en-
thusiastic friends of the system ii VIII
earn surplus over per cent on about
Sl25. GEO or more than another / per cent
in 1901.
1t has always been the policy Of the
company TO pay cut in dividends all the
earnings leaving only a small surplus.
Therefore, say these people, it is reasona-
bic TO suppose that ar least one-haH per
cent increase in dividends is to be expect
ed This increase, they say, viii probably
begin next April, after the additions to
the systems are running and have begun
10 demonstrate their earning ability.
Another story that finds believers is that
there is again a bidder for the system in
the field. II will be remembered that a
few months ago representative Of a pros
peetive buyer was in the city and went
over the books Of the concern to see what
its condition was. The negotiations for the
sale OF the system were dropped at that
time because tbs price set by the compa-
ny officers was too high to suit the ideas
OF the inteG>3ing purchaser Now il is said
this purchaser Is again making tentative
proposals for the system. One interesting
rumor, almost necessary at this time to
preserve the harmony of things, is that this
bidder bases ali his talk On the election OF
President Mckinley