The Washington times., 1914-02-14
GOOD BOND BUYING
ONLOCAL EXCHANGE
Prices Are Firm-PubIic UtiI-
ity Stocks Stronger-Bank
Celebrates.
By GEORGE H. GALL.

A good volume of bond buying re-
suited from today's session of the local
stock exchange, $1,000 in all. Prices
also were firm. There were only two
transactions on the regular call, the
bulk of the trading coming after call.
There was a good demand for Wash
ington Railway As, and 5000 Of the
bonds were taken at g. This price was
still bid for any part of $25, 900, but no
more was o. .ffered under S1k. Potomac
consolidated IS also sold higher, a 5000
lot going to 1904. The other bond sales
were 81 200 of Washington Market IS,
1927, and $1,000 of Washington Market
Cold Storage IS, both at 9S.
The only sales Of public utility stocks
today were one Of three shares of
Washington Railway preferred at 81
and forty-seven at S7k- The figures on
Capital Traction weer raised to 106kq
uo with no sales.
Fifty shares of American GRAPHIC
phone common were sold at 90 and ten
shares of Mergenthaler at 261z.
Although bank clearings and railroad
gross earnings were lower, general
trade has been improved the past week,
due in some measure to the cold wea-
ther, according to the weekly reviews
cf the mercantile agencies today. R G..
Dun & Co.'S review says, in part, as
follows:
Distribution Of seasonable merchan-
disc has been stimulated by zero tenn
peratures, which have accelerated the
movement of heavyweight apparel and
fuel. Recent stormy weather also
broadened the demand for footwear, and
the general business situation reflects
gradual betterment That conditions In
January statistics, which, instead OF
showing the expected accumulation OF
surplus stocks, sctually revealed ma
terial reduction in supplies
Returns of bank cIeartngs are some
what less favorable than heretofore,
there being decreases of rs and 80 per
cent, respectively, as compared with the
two years Immediately preceding, while
gross railroad earnings in January were
3.6 below those OF 1913.
There are accommodating evidences OF
Improvement in iron and steel, and the
price situation shows increasing
strength. The current demand against
specIncations Is enlarging, while future
business is being placed with greater
freedom.
contracts for cotton goods is manifest,
owing to the fact tnat firmness In the
raw material at the South is not re-
fiected fully on the exchanges. 1t is
conceded generally that the present crop
is of low grade, and cotton OF the bet
Persistent selling OF cotton at the out
set brought a lower range OF Values,
but some recovery occurred later on.
The movement of the crop continues
large, and sentiment Is rather beartsh.
Failures this week numbered +S IN
the United States, against $40 last year
and 81 in Canada, compared with %
year ago."
Bradstreet.s review is in part as fol-
lows:
There has been a shifting Of activ-
tiles in trade and industry, but no ap-
parent abatement of the sanguine SEN
timent hitherto in evidence Activity
has been noticeable chiefly in the larger
primary markets, where good reports
as to past business have been and are
being confirmed. and in the ranks of
fnal distributors who have felt the
beneficial effects Of a full week of cold
weather upon retail trade in heavy
wearing apparel In iron and steel and
in cotton and wooden manufacturing the
effects Of good January ordering are
visible in larger outputs and increased
capacity employed.
IN the financial market something
like a readjustment Of activities also Is
apparent. Quieter dealings and some re-
in Rr'Ces are in evidence In the
markets for securities. Good bonds arc
in more favor.
Honey is still casing"
The officers and directors of the
Farmers and Mechanics National Bank
declared open house" at the close oi
held a reception in celebration Of the
Tooth anniversary Of the founding oI
the bank. There was q continuous
stream Of callers during the afternoon
| offering congratulations. Charles H
Cragin's history of the institution, re-
viewed exclusively in The Tines yes
| terday, was given to visitors as a sou,
NeQlT OF the occasion