Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-07-26
ACTIVITY IN STOCKS
Local Railway and Electric
Power Values Increase.
NoTIcEABLY CONSPICUOUS
Has occasioned Much Discussion in
Stock Exchange.
EXPLANATION OF WIsEACREs
Due in Large Measure to "drsater
Washington" Boom-Advan-
tages Of Established Plants.
NOTlcEABLY CONSPICUOUS
EXPLANATION OF WIsEACREs

u
The activity and demand for
local street railway stocks and
bonds has attracted no little atten-
ton in the past few days. A va
riety of reasons is assigned for this
condition, but the opinion prevails
in some quarters that factories OF
a desirable character are to be at
tracted here and that these COM
panies will furnish the power. In
this event their earning capacity
would be largely increased.
The activity in local railway and electric
power stocks has been so conspicuously
has excited no small amount of interest on
the floor of the stock exchange and among
traders generally. Especially has this been
true OF the Washington Railway and Elec-
trio Light Company. Nearly $4,000 Of the
per cent bonds OF this company have
changed hands in the past few days at a
price at once healthy and Interesting. The
stock has been latent for some time and
the recent activity has occasioned much
comment.
Prominent traders say the taking on of
new life In the common stock and bonds
is due to a variety of causes. On the first
of June the present trusteeship is to be
concluded and an earnest effort Is being
made to obtain local control OF the road.
The property Is just now said to be In q
very healthy and sound condition. but some
stock exchange hold to the opinion that
this Is not the most salient reason why
local traders are making such earnest eff
forts to obtain blocks of the stock. Yes
terday a prominent local banker offered
to buy any part all OF 100000 worth OF
the bonds at the market, and today an
other bid for $4,000 Of the bonds was made
on the floor OF the stock exchange.
Reason Behind Demand.
That there Is some reason for this In
creased demand is patent. Some Of the
wise ones while cknowledging that the
very healthy condition of the property has
something to do with the demand for its
stocks and bonds say that Is not the sole
reason for the present activity.
That the new shippers association is IN
earnest about attracting capital and new
enterprises to Washington is already to be
clearly seen on the surface, and they de-
clare that In the event that they do come
here the Washington Railway and Electric
Light Company Will be one OF the strongest
bidders to furnish them with power.
When the new power house is completed
this company will be In a position to supply
power In abundance for such purposes.
AS soon as the new shippers association
gets under way efforts are to be made to
attract capital here for the purpose of cre-
ating manufactures carrying machinery Of
the lighter character, the same class OF
concerns that have made Paris and Berlin
famous manufacturing centers. and yet
have not Swamped them with the smoke
nuisance.
Lighter Factories Suggested.
These lighter grade OF factories which
have made Paris more especially. and in
part all of France. famous a nation of
shopkeepers and mode creators, could be
easily attracted, and with any number of
them here 1t would not be necessary for
Washington to rest under the pail of clouds
of SCOT and coal dust. Glove factories
manufacturers of lingerie, neckwear and a
multitude of other similar concerns can be
brought here, 1t is thought, and of course
the railway companies, more especially the
Washington Railway and Electric Com
pany, would be In position to supply the
power for such concerns much cheaper
than they could possibly create 1t and
without putting themselves under the ban
of Washfngton's very strict ordinances in
regard to the smoke nuisance.
The idea that Washington must rest un-
der a cloud of SCOT to have certain needed
business concerns is pretty well exploded.
and the Capital Traction, the Great Falls
line and the Washington Railway and
Electric Company will all come in for a
share Of this business. both as to traffic
and power.
Sites for the Plants.
The Great Falls Railway Company will
have sites as well as power to put In the
market and It Is anticipated that the COM
pany will have to take care OF the con-
Germs requiring very great power and
large tracts OF land for sites. The capital
proper. however, 1t is held. should get d.
rectly the lighter factories and jobbing
houses requiring skilled labor and sales
manship-fhat Is, IL there is no nuisance
in the way of smoke or heavy noisy ma
chinery as an accompaniment. The reve-
nue. to the local railway companies and
the Great Falls line. in the event OF such
factories and concerns being located here
would be very great, 1t Is stated, and for
this reason 1t Is not regarded as at all
strange that there Is wholesome market
for the securities of these companies, which
even as/matters stand are now operated on
a sound. basic prosperity.