Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-02-20
Grain, Provisions and Cotton Markets
LOCAL FINANCIAL NEWS.

Whatever there in what is known
as the Gas boom that has been the fea-
ture of the local stock market for the
past week oozed out to a considerable eX-
tent today. The process, however. really
began day or two ago, although Ii was
not so clearly recognized it was today.
The volume OF trading in this security 90
day was not large-less than 800 shares
but the transactions made were on "A con-
stantiy shifting level. that tilted down
ward every time a block of stock was
showed toward bidder. At the close the
asking price was 66s. and the bid was 6Gtz.
Saturday there were those VINO were win
ing 10 give Ssls for the stock. which, how
ever. was offered at 6SL
A week ago last Friday when the ac-
tlvity began III Gas, or at least when 1t be-
came noticeable. the stock was selling at
64ls. and that was the bid for 1t and the
asking price was 81. The next day there
was good deal of trading in the stock and
II sold up to 651s with 81 bid and 65is
asked
During the past week the highest point
reached was 60. an dthen the decline be
gan which has been practically a continu-
Gus performance up to the present time.
Today the stock sold from 6Sis to 66ss,
and while the volume of the transa ctions
was not large still the market was evil
oentiy not strong enough to support the
selling orders at current prices At the
very outset. when 6S1s was bid for the
stock. bid of 66 was made for loo shares.
which. owing to its distance from the then
prevailing rates. did not appear to have
much to do with the current transactions
However before the trading ceased the
stock was selling point and three
eighths less than the early bid. and there
were bids of G6 for at least three lots of
100 shares each.
There We're no one hundred-share lots
offered for sale and no great disposition to
trade in quotation lots, even when the
stock was offered at 66s. This was to-
ward the close and the bid was then 66Js
AS there was no definite information as to
the cause of this movement in gas stock
SO or course there Is nothing known as to
the reasons why the little boomlet should
have apparently collapsed after a weeks
existence. Such fluctuations. however are
not uncommon In the stock market and are
usually attributed to speculatiye inhu-
enceS
A good deal of trading was done In the
4 bonds of the Washington Railway and
Electric Company, and at better prices
All the bonds that were for sale at SS1s
were taken, and subsequent transactions
were made at SSl. and $3.50.
The largest volume of trading in any
security on the list took place In the pre-
ferred stock, and most of 1t was done after
call During the call. however, the stock
sold half point better than the bid price
of Saturday, and a bid of 81 was made
not only FOR a quotation lot, but for 800 or
1000 shares or any part.
After call some 400 shares were dealt
In. and the range of prices was from 81
to 6I12.
There was nothing done in the common
stock. which was offered at 29% when the
bid was 29as.
An offer was made to buy or sell ten
shares of National Safe Deposit stock at
1856 which was not accepted.
The bid for Washington Loan and Trust
COmnaDv stock advanced tp an bar
was stock offered for sale.
The stock of the American Security and
Trust Company was offered for 24I ~, but
the best bid was 246
Fractional lots of the stock of the Union
Trust Company were sold for 125. The bid
for ten shares adyanced to 125A. and the
stock was offered for 126. These figures
were withdrawn and 1854 was bid and no
stock was offered for sale