The Washington times., 1901-12-29
Plans Agreed on for join
ing Of Forces.
WILL BENEFIT REALTY INTERESTS.
More Equitable Arrangement Of
Fees for Examination and Insur-
ance Contemplated - General
Real Estate News Outlook for
1oo2-OmcerB OF the Exchange.

The coming merger Of ihe title insur-
ance companies Cf the District. described
exclusively in The Times yesterday. is
not only an indication Of the present
prosperity of he real estate market. bui
a promise Of conditions IN the title ek-
nmining and insurance business that will
be most beneficial 10 the market in the
future.
The merger Of the companies was dis
cussed six months or more ago, but fell
through at that time. or rather was
temporarily abandoned. owing 10 the poor
condition of the realty market largely
Since that time the business of all the
companies has been increasing steadily
and they are now in a prosperous condi-
tion. This has suggested to many OF the
chief interests In the business that the
Joining Of forces will tend to continue
the prosperity OF the companies and to
make them better able to do business
on a paying basis hen times are bad
again.
On the other hand. it is believed that
The real estate situation in general will
he improved by the changes in methcds
contemplated One of these plans is for
a grading CT TstCs fer examination and
insurance according 10 the value OF the
property. At present the owner Of q
$50 piece cf uuinproved realty in the
suburbs has to pay as large a fee for
examination OF tiiie and Insurance as the
nwner of a big block Of business property
on 4 Street worth Sido0e This has
been recognized as an injustice TO the
small owner and IN unfair advantage to
the valuable property cvRer. 1t il said
10 he probable that In future the rates On
snall properties may be somewhat
smaller than at present and that ap-
preciahly higher rates than the pres
cnt viii be charged where the value Of
the property involved is large In other
words, there will be an approximation
40 n percentage system similar to that
in vogue among DEoIse-s for the sale Of
property.
The Plan of Consolidation.
The new company may he called the
Columbia. simply. or it may incorporate
the names of beth the Columbia and the
real estate companies In its title. No de-
cision has been made as yet regarding
Ibis detail
The plan decided on by the commit
ices that have been working out the
merger is that the Columbia Company
shall increase its capitalization from
$4,000 to sl.o00.G0O. OF 10000 shares OF
per of 500. The new Columbia will
then purchase the entire capital OF the
Zeal Estate Title Company. at par. $780,
up6. The combined capital Of the two
comna1ios at present is $3.50 eco. and
there will remain s65U.vvp ~ u, s-,,-
scribed Of the new stock. This VIII be
offered TO the present stockholders at
par. and any portion not subscribed by
them VIII be sold to the public. The
new concern Will have a very large cash
capital. as the plants of the two present
concerns are not valued in their assets
al more than Sl50 Coo
other Concerns May he Controlled.
1t is proposed that after the formation
of the new concern an offer will he made
to purchase the other title companies
OF the District. or majority Of thcir cap
ital stock. II is understood that large
holders Of the stock O. these companies.
the District Title. the Washington Title.
and the Lawyers Title-have signiied
their willingness TO join the merger in
this way. These concerns may thus re-
tain their present Identity. but be con-
trCiled by the new company.
VIII DO bonding Busincss
A prominent feature of The new plan is
that a general bonding and Eurety busi-
ness will be done. At present there is
no local bonding company in the District
and large sums have beer paid yearly
10 New York. Baltimore. and other out
side concerns. il is believed that this
branch OF the business will be a very re-
muneratiYe one. The other chief benefit
10 the company will be that the business
of both cid concerns can be done p-ac- ,
tically for the operating expenses Of one. I
TBc committees that have been work 4
ing on the merger plan are; President |
John T. Arms, Charles J. Bell. and George (.
W. Brown for the Real Estate Company. 4
and President ". L. Edmonston. Vice |
Presidents William 4 Gordon and James 1
NJ. johnson, OF the Colrrzibia Thcsc com
mittecs have decided On the plan above |
described and viii submit il 10 meetings
OF the stockholders OF the tWo corpora I
tions IN the near future. The large stock ]
holders generally. however haze agreed 4
to the plan and IL is said that there IS 4
no doubt Of It's early adoption.
Rosy uE,Iook for I9y2.
with the approach of the end CT the |
year. the real estate men are beginning 1
TO 90 over their books for the past twelve |
months and to look forward to 1902. The |
most conservative men in the business ex-
press their opinion that the past year /
has been the best for the realty market |
since 1893 They look forward. however,
TO more active coming year.
The transactions recorded from week 10
week The great amount OF building in
progress. the crowded condition Of the
title Insurance companies, the scarcity
OF vacant houses, and the busy condition
oi the brokers oficcs. filed win en-
Gurers and prospective purchasers. All
show conclusireiy that the rosy opinions
held by the brokers are not simply the |
Thought that is fathered by the wish.
The long period OF depression has given
way TO The prosperity that came to other
lines OF business a year or more ago. |
Real estate is almost always the last com
modify 10 feel the revival OF good times.
The compensation fer this Is that real
estate prosperity usually outiasts the
general good times by year OF two at
least
one Of The predictions made Is that the
large January disbursements OF dividends
and interest will make the latter part of
January and early February especially
active. The past Two years have been
particularly prosperous in the stock and
bond markets, and prices have advanced
10 the highest level on record There
are large amounts Of dividends and in |