Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-03-10
LOCAL FINANCIAL NEWS.

The advance Of Mergenthaler q couple OF
points at today's meeting OF the stock ex-
change was not q sensa tional affair. one
reason being that q steady advance in the
price Of this stock has been going for sew
eral days. and the expectation has been
and 70 that II win continue. Another rea-
son such an occurrence created no special
stir in a market that otherwise was devoid
of interest was because 1t was done 30
easily. There was not much stock changed
hands In the process, and In fact 1t was not
until the bid had advanced to 1893 that .
single quotation lot OF ten shares was dig
half point higher. and that closed the trad
ing Tor the day.
The bid. however. continued on that level.
but there was little disposition shown to
trade. although toward the close the ask
Ing price was only separated from the bid
price by an eighth Of q point, and the
asking price was then 1893.
During the past week the advance in tho
figures on this stock amounted to about
5h points, when the bid price of last
Saturday is compared with the selling price
Of today. No special cause 10 assigned
for the rise except the general one that
the business that is being done is so good
as to warrant the paying OF better prices
Tor the stock.
OF course. the quarterly dividend is near at
s. per share, but beyond that considera-
ton is the conviction that the stock Is
scheduled for one Of those periodical move
ments upward which has marked tho
course of this security.
There seemed to be quite a good deal OF
gas stock for sale at 81. Not only was a quo
tation lot Of twenty-five shares to be had
at that figure. but also one block, at least
Of 100 shares. The best bid for the larger
lot was COZ. There was transaction OF
twenty-five shares at 6Oa4.
A fair demand developed for telephone
stock and some lots were secured at 6l1s
and 62, with further offerings on the latter
level AT no time does any quantity OF
this stock appear on the market. but the
occasional times that 1t Is to be had seems
always to find customers, and al some
what higher price than the preceding sales.
although the upward course has not been
rapid.
The improved business of the company
finds reflection in this enlarged market
for the stock. and no doubt If there was
more of what might be called floating
stock, the business In 1t would run into
larger volume. There has been no definite
announcement Of the plan that Is to be
adopted in refnancing this company In or.
der to make provision for the expense OF
the recent improvements in the plant, and
that fact together with the character or
the holding here of the stock does not give
TO Il very general interest.
There was a change in the bid for Wash
ington Title Company stock from to 51e
but still the latter figure Is greater than the
one that has usually served as bid In the
daily quotations. There is no explanation
Of the change that has recently been made
except that since the two companies have
come together under one management the
business has improved to such an extent
that It is estimated the present rate or
earnings will be equivalent to a per cent
the end of the present year. The entire
capital stock with some exceptions. II now
owned by those who are in control OF the
District Title Company.
A further working out of the community
interests plan is among the probabilities
of the future in the bringing together of
interests that now control the Columbia and
the Real Estate Title Companies and the
two above mentioned. At any rate IL such
plan is not found to be feasible 1t Is
thought some adjustment Of the present
system of fees charged for title examina-
ton can be made.