The Washington times., 1914-04-04
RAIL WAY STOCKS
FEATURE TRADING
By GEORGE H. GALL.

Again railway securities were the
feature of the trading on the WASH
ington Stock Exchange today, all OF
the sales made with the exception OF
Two. being of public utilities stocks and
bonds. Both Capital Traction and
Washington Railway and Electric were
stronger. and the increased demand for
The stocks and bonds OF those OrEani-
the session.
Capital Traction. which has been the
center of trading for days. remained
1iTTn- Both during the regular session
and on the after call It sold at lois
and 1Ol, the latter figure prevailing in
the transfer of three blocks of the
stock.
The per cent bonds of the Washing
ton Railway and Electric Company
brought 81, while the per cent bonds of
the Capital Traction Company changed
hands at I0SlS Railway preferred. so
shares, brought 81.
There was a better demand for Gas
than usual. but the demand was not
sufficient TO cause a marked change in
the prevailing price Four shares in all
were sold. one bringing S2s4, while the
others sold at sc.
Lanston was the only other stock
which came in for trading. five shares
having been sold at S4ls.
The net debt of the United States on
April was s1.0S2 261 .345. an increase
CURING MdTCn OF sl-S1d.aof
X. G Dun & Co.'S weekly review to-
day says: Current movement Of mer-
chandise continues somewhat below
normal, particularly in the East; in the
West and South there is more activity,
and business sentiment is quite conf
dent because Of the generally promising
agricultural outlook. Some betterInent.
however, is still manifest in copper. a
stesdier tone was developed in practi-
cslly all dry goods markets, with ad-
vances named on general lines of fall
woolens and woTsteds. Buying of print
cloths and convertible has expanded
somewhat. but at certain manufacture
ing centers part Of the machinery is
idle: Conditions in wool reflect sus-
continued firmness in the raw material.
Quietness in footwear has resulted in a
general slowing up in the factories, and
new business in leather is irregular.
Trading in certain lines of cotton
goods has been broader. and prices on
print cloths and cOnvertibles have re-
covered somewhat. There is still a
general disposition, however, to re-
and the margin of profits to manurac-'
iurers remains narrow because of the
nigh cost Of the raw material.
Evidences of curtailment OF output in
iron and steel are multiplying, specif-
cations not being in sufficient volume
TO maintain operations at the rate OF
d month ago. The larger consumers are
still deferring important purchases, and
the price situation reflects increasing
ease, further concessions being noted on
certain products"
Bradstreet's today says: There is a
eood deal of irregularity in current
tra,ie reports. The nub of the various
complaints now heard is found in the
tendency patent to buy IN small lots
for immediate use. Withal, there is a
good volume of business passing in the
shape indicated. Trade exhibits signs of
Improvement, and in the Northwest as
well as in parts of the South. there is
more doing than there was at this time
last year. But in the East considerable
repression is in evidence, largely be-
cause buyers persist in making pur-
casses frequently and in small parcels
Moreover. trade in the country districts
is light. because the roads are in Door
ConGftlon, and this fact also affects road
sales. Retrenchments by some railroads
and unsettlement in Western bituminous
coal helds invest the labor situation
with a less favorable color. Latest re-
pores ot railway earnings, those for Feb
rua'y for the most part, are strikinglyI
nni2Norable, at least as regards net
revenue. but car loadings on Western
linss for March, in conjunction with
economies in operation. indicate better
results for that month. i