The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-02-04

by the company could not only raise its stock to par, but place it at premium whereby the company could become 8 monopoly and extend it's business to meet the growing demands of the city and become again : per cent divi- dend concern, capable of piIing up again q tremendous construction sur pius On his own responsibility he had gone to the organizer of the rival new company and had babored with him for hours to persuade him to come to this meeting and lay before it a rather nov el but life saving proposition Would i the stockholders permit him to intro duce the eminent promoter and organ izer, MT. Bozzam, who would present his proposition in person?
 fThe stockholders would. They said so, with so yociferous and almost tear full clamor that President Marley could scarcely make himself heard to obtain formal vote on the proposi- tion.
 MT. Bozzam entered, with <his hair not too smoothly brushed nor his clothes not so immaculate, but he look ed businassIike and sat down quietly in the seat courteously offered him by President Marley He was a wide
 
 tenance and a good forehead, who look ed as if he had muscles under his coat. and he was well liked by the con- course Little Henry Peters judged that he was keen business man, but square and said so.
 'EWagh.'' nasaled the tow haired neighbor. q wouldn't trust anybody
 How many shares of stock have F.oI1 o1ot ?' asked little Henry
 Three. boasted the wattle necked one. My brother-in-law give 'em to me-
 MT. Marley introduced the caller fin few, neat aseptic words. He had met Mir Bozzanl socially and only hoped that he would prove as pleasant pmmerciaIly.
 Laughing gracefully at this clever urn of speech, MT. Bozzam continued he introduction himself, stating exact y who and what he was-an organizer, representing a group of eastern capi- a1ists~s devoted to the promotion and xtension ofNthe street railway indus -ries. Back of his packers were cer- tain huge electrical, steel and car building industries. It had been his pleasure to organize and to put in shape for immediate construction op- erations a new coIpany in their own thriving city. They were ready to be- gin laying rails at once, but it had been earnestly represented to him that the manufa curing interests of his group of capitalists would be just as well served by permitting the new lines to be erected by the old company, and after conference with his principals it had been decided that if the Ring City Street Railway company wished to monopolize their legitimately an- ticipated profits this could be done by the purchase of their franchises and good will at purely nominal figure.
 A buzz of satisfaction followed this magnanimous offer, and little Henry Peters was for purchasing the fran chises immediately. N
 's1'd have. lost all my years of sav- ing if I'd sold my stock at thirty-fve,' he told his neighbor. @ q don't understand it, but it's a skin game'' announced the crooked nose man. ttWho. is this felow, any. how?''
 Mr. Marley turned to MT. Bozzam with the frank smile of gentleman.
 And how much would your company consider a merely nominal fgure?'' he WILL SulOOLAA0SS.
 1.-TWO hundred and fifty thousand dollars cash" stated Bozzam lightly.
 Young Daniel B. Atkins immediately moved to accept that price.
 ''No!' hotly yelled Bert Glider.
 t'I second the notion announced At torney Tucker.
 Tt has been moved and seconded that we purchase the franchises and good will of the street car company represented by MT. Bozzam for the sum of i$25O, O,OOO cash,'' stated Presi- dent Marley, looking about him with cool aIoofness. s'Are there any re- marks ?''
 There were4a perfect pandemonium of them-and out of the battle Presf- dent Marley recognized Attorney Tuck CT.
 Attorney Tucker begged leave of the chair to ask MT. Bozzam just one ques- tion and received it.
 Have you named your bottom fig ure?'' he wanted to know.
 stPositiyely.'' declared MT. Bozzam, with vast f1rmness-
 "One more question. Are you em- powered to close this deal?"
 q am.'' replied MT. Bozzam. s'I have a free hand''
 Sledge almost looked at the genial promoter. < '"Then we must pay the price, fer vently asserted Attorney Tucker. E'This is gleam of hope in the darkness, a way out of our difficulties, a solution to our troubles. We have the cash 1 to purchase these franchises, which will give us a practical mohopoly of the city's street car business. We can ei- ther increase our capitalization or issue bonds to pay for our extensions, and, in the meantime, the moment we con- clude this deal our stock jumps back to pax Loud cries of question: came from all over the hall, and little Henry Pe- ters, after the demand had started, shouted louder than anybody.
 Young Daniel B. Atkins wanted to make a speech and was granted that