The Washington times., 1901-12-29
TITLE COMPANY STOCK BOOM.
Advance Knowledge of Merger PInn
Causes n Sharp Demand.

The most Interesting feature OF the past
week in the local stock exchange has
been the advance in the prices Of the
title insurance securities Sales Of ihe
stocks have been almost rothing, but the
bid price has advanced rapidly. The bid
yestcrday on Real Estate Title Insurance
steel. was SO ex-dividend. and no stock was
offered under par. The price bid for the
stock on Saturday 4 week ago w&s only
SO. and it was offered at 95. Columbia
Title stock VAS rot offered under yes
;erday and a bid OF as was made for it.
A week ago me pest bid was 42., anG it
was offered 1T rs. The bid for District
Title has advanced dui ing the week IRON
6ls TO s. and no stock has been offered at
any Price.
The meaning OF the sharp advance in
prices in this group was explained yes
icT7iay whcr Tie Ti;nes published the
exclusive story Of the plan for the merger
of the title insurance companies. This
plan provides for the purchase of the
Real Estate Title stock at par ami natu-
rally the knowledge OF the plan among
the insiders has tended to make the price
of the stock advance rapidly toward 100.
In the same way the prospective ~elue of
Columbia stock has aivapced.
II is noicd that no Columbia stocl. is
offered cvcn for par. The suggestion OF
L Street regarding this TACT Is that the
insiders of the company believe the stock
Of the new concern will be worth more
than par.
An especial reason Tor the increase in
the price Of District title stock is given
in the street. II is stated that the stock
holders OF the company have paid vol
untary assessment Of a ccnride able iI'rm
into the funds of the company. and that
-ho s-------.sv,f PrfUr represents this ID
dilional value.
Lighting Company Rumors.
1t is said that the local market has
tcen entirely denu5ed OF Washington Gas
stock by the recent persistent demand 4
small lot was purchased yesterday for c.,
a new high record price. and no more
was offered for less than 6flz. The de-
mand for Gas comes from parties that
should be Informed OF the plans of the
company. Indeed. large part Of the re-
cent purchases have been made for the
company itself it is said
The cnly gossip regarding Gas affairs is
that there viii probably be an attempt
this winter 10 secure the passage oil a law
the company to purchase the
other gas and electric lighting concerns
of the District. Such a bill was intro
duced last year. but lailed of passage 1t |
is thought possible that The insiders may
have knowledge OF a better outlook for
the Law this year.
Greene cSpper on the y. y. ..Curb.o
The local exchange has watched the
large buying OF Greene Consolidated Cop
per On The Kew York curb" and the
b. s,-.,-o ~ ,r,r ,.rfr. .l.,. iii -,..-h -
terest. Sales have been about 1000 shares |
n day until yesterday. when the amount |
traded in jumped up and The price with it. |
IL WAS said that there was sudden and \
eager demand for the stock from several |
brokers. and that little seemed 10 be for
sale TO meet the demand.
Locally the amount Of business done |
hiss been comparatively small and the |
price has followed The New York quota
lions closely. The representative of the /
company here continue TO bid the market |
price for the stock at all times.
hcrErnihnlnr sellers Turn Buycrs.
The people that seemed anxious TO push |
lewn The price Of Mergenthaler week
go have turned buyers during the past
few days and there has been a sharp ad-
.anc2. sales were made yesterday at III. |
with some transactions at buyers option
II is2. The course OF the stock aud the
harrc of front OF number OF brokers'
turing the week have borne out entirely
he sugges ion maas regarding Mergen-
-haler in This column week ago. The
ak OF the possibility that typesetting
will be introduced in the Gov
rnmcnt Printing Office is stlll heard.
Innston Price OF.
There seems TO be determined effort
n some quarters to sell Lanston Mono
ype stock al as low price as possible.
The price shows one of The few declines in
he local market during the past week.
Riggs Bank Stock.
The bid price for Riggs Bank stock con-
inues to advance rapidly. II was at Gi0
esterday. Before the stock was listed
ew months ago it was generally supposed
o be worth about 500. The first bid was
above that price, and II has
ontinued to advance steadily ever since.
The Capital Traction Report.
The enquiry for Capital Tractinp and
he bid price for Il on the local ex-
hange continue to reflect what seems
0 be a general belief that the annual re-
,ort Of the company 10 Congress, to be
nade next month, will make wonder
ully good showing. II is known that the
arnings OF the company have increased
n the ueighbOrhood OF $50 600 during the !