The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-04-28

Electric Company reports that TO
the first three months of 1915 its ne
earnings are $353,9S7 larger thar
during the first three months o
1914.
70. B. Thomas, president of the LIE
high Valley Railway Company, an
nounced on Thursday last that ow
ing to improved business conditions
that company was about to award
contracts for approximately $1,000.
900.
1t is stated that this week French
and English buyers have purchased
from dealers of the United States
100000 tons of raw sugar to be
shipped during April, May and June.
The F. w. Woolworth Company
reported that for the three-year per-
iod ended December 81. 1914, which
period includes the years of 1912,
1918 and 1914, it had paid dividends
to the amount of s9,12O.093, bought
! for amortization and cancellations
81, 100000 par value. preferred stock
and had added $S,367,391 to surplus
account, all out of earnings.
That is splendid record for a
business dependent upon the patron
age of the masses of the people, and
this in so-called dull years.
The Western Union Telegraph
Company for the first three months
of 1915 reports an increase in total
revenue of $747,S95 and an increase
in net revenue of s622,2S7, as COM
pared with the first three months
of 1914.
The state banks of New York re-
port an increase in deposits since
December "a, 1914, of more than
$26, 100000.
Last October a seat in the New
York Stock Exchange was sold at
$4,000. The highest price that any
seat in the exchange was sold at
during the year 1914 was $4,000,
but that was during the spring of
1914. Three weeks ago the quoted
price was $4,000 with no buyers.
To show the complete change in
conditions here and the absolute
confidence now felt in the future of
business throughout the Union and
the subsequent activities that will
prevail in the exchanges I present
the following facts:
Sale of Exchange Seats.
On Monday, April IL, one seat was
sold at $49,5OO, and one at $4,000;
on Thursday, April 10, four seats,
were sold at $4,000 each, and one
brought 100000.
An advance in price of $10,5O0 in
four days time shows the complete
revolution in the sentiment of the
street as to business affairs in the
United States. The bankers views
on business are not accepted with
the credence and faith of former
times, as this quotation from the
financial column of a leading COM
mercial journal, of this city, in its
issue of April 16 evidences:
Bankers have little influence at
present because they have been alb
solutely wrong in every prophecy
they have made for year.
IF they had known the was was
coming they would not have been
caught short of sterling exchange
last August.
They were wrong again when
they predicted food of foreign
liquidation to follow the reopening
of the New York Stock Exchange.
They have been against the rise in
the stock market, but it has broken
all records.
Now, that Consolidated Gas, In
terborough, Metropolitan and other
public utilities are booming even
gloomy New York City sees hope for
itself in spite of Albany.
"Oil stocks are now in the lead,
both on the stock exchanges and the
curb, and mining shares are follow
ing them close"
I quote the above to show how
public sentiment here has broken
away from those who for years were
in absolute control Of it.