The Washington times., 1908-08-16
WASHINGTON STOCKS
AT LIVELY PACE
Local Market Takes on I'm
wonted Activity for
Summer.
COMMON
AND GAS ACTIVE
Here Most Promising for
Coed Business During the
Autumn Months.

The Washington Stock market during
the week has shown unwonted activity
for dog days. A majority OF the mem
bers OF the exchange are on their vaca-
tons and II is only a "CorporaTs
Guard" so 10 speak, that assemblies
each day at the meetings. August Is
usually the time for little business and
perfunctory calls OF the stock snd bond
lists.
Last week, however, some of the
younger brokers, aided by two or three
Of the older heads, thought il would
be a good time TO record some trans
actions in Washington Railway and
Electric common, Gas and a few other
issues just 10 let the heavyweights of
the exchange, who may be reading the
papers a DAY or so after date in the
mountains. by the lakes and at the sea-
Gho-e, that the stay-at-homes know how
to do business without the counsel or
ADVICE Of those who make and unmake
values on the Washington Exchange
Furry in Railway Common.
The fun broke loose early Ia the week
with a furry in Railway common. after
1t had been quiescent for months and
months. The price OF this stock had
been carried down to a pretty low point.
II being taken for granted that there
was none Of it for sale or that no one
wanted il for the present One Of the
brokers woke things up by raising the
bid ard scOOping in several hundred
shares of the common stock, The price
was bid up 10 80, around which figure
most Of the sales were made. The stock
had some sales later in the week at
slightly lower figures. the weeks trans
actions being well up TO the average
when times are lively and the stock ac-|
live
The furry in common stock did not
have much effect on the preferred
shares This issue has been for months
one OF the active issues on the board.
II is bought largely for investment pur-
poses. paying ( per cent on the par
value. II is regarded by mary as a
good buy below So. and the sales of the
week have been around and below So. -
Gas Comes to the Front
About the middle Of the week Wash
ingtOn Gas Weakened from a long sleep
and nearly 1900 shares changed hands
in one OF two days. The sales were
started after the price OF the sleek had
been bid up from 81 10 O.. A few shares
were sold at the top figure, but the
trading has been on a declining scale
during the week. and stopped Friday
with the bid price down nearly to where
II started
The old standby, MergerthaIer. has
recorded few sales during the week.
Following the lead OF Boston. the price
has been gradually rising. but the adj
vanced bids have brought out little OF
the stock. the trades being all in frac-
to1al lots, obtained after much bidding
and usually above the official recorded
price
Laaston has been quite active during
the week. several hundred shares hay
ing been sold. This stock is now selling
between 81 and Sl2 a share. There is a
good call for 1t at those figures, the
accumulation of the stock going on
quietly from day to day. usually in 100
share lots.
Bonds have been neglected during the
week, few sales having been made
There Is less can than fer time after
the distribution OF the July dividends
aud interest. Probably most Of The in
vestments for the summer in this class
OF securities have been made. though
the bonds OF the local corporations
never go begging for buyers when they
are for sale.
Bank Shares Neglected.
Bank shares outside OF Union Trust
United States Trust, and Merchants and
Mechanics Savings Bank cut no figure
IN the trading. There is literally none
OF the shares On sale, and some Of
themi like the Riggs Bank. have NOT
been quoted for several weeks.
on the whole. the Washington stock
market is IN excellent condition. Money
Is plentiful foaall desirable transactions
ana business goes on in fair volume
Inc Washington Stock Exchange grad /
ualiy increases its business. as the in
Yestment of money in stocks and bonds |
grows with the public. Every. year new
enterprises and institutions are launched I
ana a new issue Of securities aDDears I
Inc latest TO be recorded was the /
Georgetown Gas certificates which are
nov selling at about 50 premium.
Inc outlook for the balance OF the |
year is specially promising and members |
OF ere Exchange are expecting good |
business through the fall months, II &c |
a TACT that the political CamDaipn is |
cutting almost no figure in stool, trans /
actions as yet, and brokers are begin |
ning TO nope that the fate of the p,aTl-a4 |
Will not be much affacfad .T--st-N