Evening star., 1909-05-14

The market was not quite as active to-
day at the meeting of the Stock Exchange
as was the case yesterday, but the level
OF prices then reached was maintained.
A record was made In the case OF
Capital Traction bonds. when a block Of
three thousand sold for 1.19 and the bid
was repeated for $3.50. The broker
buying. evidently had an order to fill and
that was the best he could do, although
he remarked that that was an awful
price to pay. However. the bid was con-
tinued on that level by another broker
bonds. They were offered half q point In
advance.
With the bonds soaring at heights never
before attained in their history, the stock
continued on the lower levels reached re-
Gently. The best bid for the stock was
1874, while the asking price was 134A. the
latter being the same as that Of yester-
day. However. there did not seem to be
any demand and but little attention was
paid to 1t.
Not much more was done in the securi-
ties of the other traction system. The
bid for the bonds, which has been hang
ing about IS for some time. today rose
bonds we're for sale at a quarter Of a
point In advance OF the bid. The only
transaction was the sale Of g bond at 81.
The bid for the common stock, which
for a number Of days has shown q ten
dency to sag away from current prices,
today was stronger from the start, and
the opening figures were half q point
better than was the closing bid Of yes
terday; 42h was the bid and a lot Of ten
shares sold at that price. and other lots
an eighth OF point higher The ad-
vance In the quotation caused one OF
the brokers to observe: Must be divi-
dend in sight"
This remark had reference to the gos-
ject Of the prospect of the payment OF
a dividend on this issue within short
time. Opinion has been divided, although
1T one time the notion was quite gen
eral that a beginning would be made
probably by the first of July Of the pay
least per cent year.
Then 1t was stated the idea Of such a
payment had been abandoned, but now
1t is rumored that the subject has been
revived and with q favorable prospect
OF something OF the sort being done.
1t Is said that the pressure for an early
payment Of such a dividend comes from
large holders of the stock. who naturally
want to be relieved-in part at least-of
the carrying charges Of the stock. After
the call the stock sold at 42h.
There was not much change In the pre-
ferred stock. A number OF broken lots
were taken at 92ss, as well as two lots OF
fifty shares each. At the close the bid
was 92h
For the first time in many months-in
fact, since the stock Of the Great Falls
and Old Dominion trolley road was list
ed on the exchange-there was a bid
for the stock. When 1t was reached a
broker bid $40 per share and another
one bid 10H for fifty shares, and before
1t was passed 10f was bid for the
stock. None was offered for sale. al
though the total Issue is one million
In shares OF the par value OF $50
The entire issue was taken by John
r. Mclean and s. b. Elkins, and the
proceeds were used In the building of
the road. which runs for fourteen miles
from the Aqueduct bridge to the Great
Falls. There has been no transaction
In this security, and as far as known
the two original owners Of the stock re-
tain their holdings No dividends have
been paid.
The interest In Lanston was languid to-
day. as compared with yesterday. A few
sales OF quotation and other lots were
made at 15A and 15N, and the closing fig
ures were 153s bid and 15H asked.
Only one transaction took place In gas
stock, when twenty-five shares sold FOR
88H. and then the bid was 6S1h and the
asking price, 69h. Yesterday 6sA was
bid and 691t was asked.