The Washington times., 1908-12-20
HOLIDAY DIVIDENDS
WILL BOOST STOCKS
ReinveStment of Disburse-
mentS Expected to En-
liven the Market.
GAS STILL GAINS
IN SPITE OF LAW
Shares Reach 7O-Banks Earn
Good Profits, and Bonds
Are Firm.

Local securities are likely to become
more active with the re-investment Of
disbursements, after the holiday season.
AH reports that can be obtained indi-
cate that the traction companies an1
the gas companies are making good rec
ords in the matter Of earnings.
That there has been a disposition 10
sell both Capital Traction and Wash
ington Railway shares, and that both
are lower today than they were a week
ago, doesn't mean much OF anything.
Our market IS unaffected by the things
that most influence other markets. The
very fact that the holidays are at hand
has probably been responsible for the
selling OF traction shaUes. With the
floating supply exhausted, the invest
ment demand win advance values again
Gas Mounts to 7c.
Washington Gas has been the strong
est stock on the list for ,saek or
more, but it did not assume the strength
until Congress had jOlced Il with an
So-cent gas law, or rather the House.
Ior the Senate has nto acted on the
matter set. Immediately on the pas
sage OF the measure IN the House. the
shares OF the Gas company started ID.
S1e price, and the bid figures vve-e
raised until 20 was reached. There
wasn't much stock offered even al thar
The theory is plain enough. The Sea
ate is expected g permit The Scent
sas bin 20 60 by the boaris. IL il
doesn't, the Gas company viii tr1u on
the air. ana Il VIII not make much dlf-
ference. Moreover, the shareholders are
expecting belated present IN the near
futur-- The Gas company makes the
money and holds it-but some time It
will be distributed 10 the SHAREHOLDERS
Rumors About Bank Shares.
MTch Interest centers in bank stocks
these days The street is Just all y
rumors, many OF which center around
the American National Bank, which
seems ID be entering on career Of en-
larSed opportunities, now that all =
harmony within the ranks or the share
holders.
Interesy also is felt in The MetropoIi,
tan National WCther tile tv.o banks
named viii IEI3l Eamate remains FOR .he
outcome OF regotiatious going ON at
this time Tho resignation OF NJ Par
ker as president OF the MetrOU0li.,u n
was in line with new policies bv those
IN control OF the Metropolitan. as time
Will develop.
" dSnluSNon pdUkS nave made
money during the last year. and the
dividends declared indicate this fact
clearly The National City. Bank will
increase its dividend with January
payment, per cent being one divi-
dend, the Bank Of Washington has
declared 3 per cent scmi-annual. and
other banks viii make either the
regular or slightly increased distrIbu-
ton United States Trust and Union
Trust shares are making fine gains.
Bonds Unusually Strong.
one Of the features Of the week has
been the good demand for bonds.-es-
pccially the 4's Of the Washington
Railway and Electric Company. The
price has improved and will likely rise
Still higher Capital Traction SIS have
eased off. but there is no reason why
per cent bonds of this character
should not sell on the same basis as
IN New York around 30.
\ better investment demand for
small lots OF fractions, Gas, and
Mergenthaler. and also for bank
stocks. should develop in the near
future.