Evening star., 1905-11-10
LOCAL FINANCIAL NEWS.

Plans are being considered for bringing
together in closer business connection the
Washington and the District title COM
panies. The control Of the former some
months ago was acquired by those who
are largely interested in the latter. and
now all that remains II to devise some
practical method of carrying On the busi-
ness of the two concerns with the best re-
suits.
1t Ia probable there will be no organic
union. at least for tho present. and that
tho certificates Of title will bear the names
of both companies. in this particular re-
semblins the union OF interests that have
been effected between the Real Estate Title
Company and the Columbia Title Company.
There Is a good deal Of speculation still
being indulged in in relation to plans that
are said to be In contemplation in regard
recent stiffening in the prices bid for bank
stocks In some instances In largely respon-
sible for the bulk OF the rumors, for nat
urally an endeavor Ii being made to explain
why any one Is willing to give what %
looked upon as high prices.
In the case of one bank 1t was said that
New York connection OF Importance was
about to be made. and while there are still
those who hold to that opinion 1t Is also
said that nothing of the sort Is to be done
In another case the jump in the prices on
The board were said to be due to desire TO
get hold Of a considerable block which was
believed to be on the verge Of coming on
the market, and now a further explanation
is given by the statement that combina-
ton Is proposed with another bank in this
city.
While all these rumors are OF interest.
they are not entirely satisfactory, for the
reason that they are so indefinite
For the first time In some weeks there
the stock exchange of the Lincoln National
Bank. When the stock was called the
presiding officer. who happened to be Mr..
Hieston, repeated the bid which had been
recorded for some time of 13O, and was
much surprised when he heard, the word
sold"
He quickly recovered. however. and re-
peated the bid. and got another lot OF ~
shares and also one Of g. which seemed to
exhaust the supply of that particular bro
ker. The prices then advanced somewhat.
and after call several transactions were
made, the highest price reached being 132.
At the same time the bid for the Second
National increased five points. so that In
view of the better figures for Lincoln 1t
for rumors to be started about the ANAL
gamation Of those institutions.
It may be possible to include the American
National Bank in such scheme as It's stock
sold today for 1851 which Is a high figure.
The dealing in the preferred stock OF the
Washington Railway and Electric Company
may be regarded as foreshadowing the near
approach of the time for the payment of the
semi-annual dividend of two. and one-half
dollars per share. as the sales were on a
level of 93A and 93h
The common brought 421s and 42%. which
Is about the range OF prices as Of yesterday
There was a good demand for options in
Greene Copper and 25A was paid for them
The stock sold for 251a and was to be had at
that price at the close.
Options were also salable in Lanston and
were taken at 1875. while the stock was to
be had at 155a.
broker had about 100 shares Of gas
stock for sale. and with difficulty he found
a market for the lot at 6OA and 6Ols. The
bid at the close did not go beyond 60, while
the asking price was three-eighths in ad-
vance.
Some lots OF Firemens Fire Insurance
Company's stock and also of the Arlington
came on the market and found buyers at
the market rate It Is not often there are
transactions in the stocks In this list,
which used to be one of the most active.
The companies are paying good dividends,
but 1t Is said that their earning capacity Is
not what 1t once was, owing to the Gem
petition in the fire insurance business.
1t Is still believed there will he a reduc-
ton in the number of local companies but
exactly when that will take place or how 1t
will be brought about are questions that
no one seems to be in position to answer