Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-03-25

nouncement should be made of a merger
between the interests that have acquired
the property of the Alexandria and WASH
ington Ferry Company and the Norfolk and
Washington Steamboat Company.
1t is known that several years ago. at the
time the wharves In this city OF the ferry
company were destroyed by fire. the
purchase of the ferry property was seri-
ously considered by the steamboat COM
pany. The plan was not carried out. but
now 1t is believed the conditions are such
that copbination can be devised that viii
be attractive to both parties
Inc capital Of the steamboat company Is
%SV.oO and there Is no bonded Indebted
ness ana on the basis of the dividend paid
which Is IL per cent, the stock at its pres
emf market value Of $50 per share. yields
nearly per cent.
The capitalization of the proposed ferry
company is $4,000 In stock with a bond
issue OF q similar amount. In the event
union OF interests is brought about a
Gompany with capitalization some there
Is probable.
In any event the revival of the Alexandria
Terry. with Its promised modern eouipment
and traffic arrangement with the Wasb
ington Railway and Electric Co,,n.mr g,
pelieVed will bring into the field n com
petltor for the freight and passenger busi
ness between the two cities that will result
IN great Improvement I'm the service OF
the electric railway connecting this city
and Alexandria
Provision has already been made for a
pond issue OF s2,5o0O0o by the electric rail-
way, and If anything like that sum is ex-
pended in the equipment of the road II Will
become modern, up-to-date railway
Members of the stock exchange. espe-
clally those who are, active would Ike to
see continuation of the large volume of
business that has been done for several
months past Some are inclined to think
"a nanf flf 10. 49,. IT.
and the introduction OF new blood would
nave tendency in that direction. In that
connection comes the suggestion that IL
seats are sold at present rates by the ex-
change to ten additional members a fund
would De secured which could be used in
carrying out the much discussed project
vi erectins building for the use of the
Ihere is, however. decided objection to
increasing the membership. One main rea-
son being that there are now on the rolls
the names OF some ten men who make M
use of their membership, or at the best to
very limited extent. The substitution
OF active men for these inactive members rs
iooked upon as a better plan than enlarg-
Ing the membership.
The transactions at the meeting of the
STOCK exchange today would not have been
either interesting or important If 1t had
NOT oeen Tor the dealings In the securities
or the Gas Light Company. The same ten
uency marked today's trading as has been
observable Tor several days past, namely a
demand at high prices for the certificates
or bonds, with weakening market for the
STOCK and gradual decline In its price
The certificates sold at n bipbar es,,-a
than ever before, and when a 81 600 lot
and 500 lot was offered at 123. goth were
promptly taken. There was no more to be
rlsa on mat nat, level. but an offering was
ceased and the bid was 122sl
AS usual there Were offerings in the
Two other classes of securities issued by
tnls company, namely, the per cent GER
tlncates of series A and b. 1t was stated
by a broker, however. that he still had for
sale a $500 certificate, series A. which no
was willing to sell for 115-the same price
asked yesterday. He added that he had no
other price SO that the bid of 40 made yes-
teTday was not renewed. The usual bid of
loS was made and there were no offerings
when 1t came to that stock however IL
was soon found that there was some for
sale; Instead of selling on the level of Is
the bidding began below that of yesterday
and the best price that could be secured for
the first two lots was 67.
From that point and at the close II was
onered at 661a. and the best bid was $751;,
the stock sold steadily downward, to 66lx
which was soon withdra wn and 66as s,bsti-
tuted. AS the result of that dealing 3f5
shares changed hands on range from 67
to 661s, and, the closing bid was fust one
point below that of yesterday. 2
Ihe sales of the preferred and common
stocks of the Washington Railway and
Eiectrlc Co., were limited in quantity but
the prices showed a slight advance as
compared with that of yesterday The COM
mon sold at 34k and BAN and the bid at the
close was 341s and BAN offered.
The prices paid for the preferredhc vtas-
s31s and 33ss and then the stock was for
sale at ats. a3*4 and then at "a, but the best bid
was 933s. - - - -
The bid for Riggs bank stock ran up to
co., but there was no stock offered for sale
at less than 200.
There was no disposition manifested to
trade in Mergenthaler and II was nassed
over after recording q bid of 1861 and an
offering of 1851. -.A -
A couple of lots of Lanston sold for 15sI
and that remained the bid, and the asking
price was 15Is.