New-York tribune., 1919-09-26

FINANCIAL EDITOR, The Tribune,
Io1 nassau street New YORK city.
Question: hold some bonds in the
South Carolina Light, Power and Rail
ways Company, of Spartanburg, S. c.;
United Fuel Gas Company, Pittsburgh,
Penn, and l. r. r., of New York The
the Fuel Gas is per cent bond and
the !. +. I. is a per cent. What do
you think Of these securities. espe-
cially the |. X. T.? DO you think that
company is going to survive its tinan-
cial difficulties and that an increase
in fares will be allowed, and should it
be thrown into the hands Of receiver
what do you think will be- the result as
to these bonds? Regarding real es-
deal IN, dc you consider such securities
rs safe vestmentS &C. e.
Answer-Nearly all public utilities
have had more or less difficulty dur
ing the last two years and this has
been reflected in decline in their Sc
curity issues. The South Carolina
Light. Power and Railways per cent
bonds are probably TO more affected
although the bonds do not enjoy very
close market (being quoted 20 bid, Of
fered at SOY, the last analysis of in
come account showed bond interest
earned about - times. The United
Fuel Gas per cent bonds show far
wider margin of safety and appear to
pc safe enough investment. The I.
X. i. position is problem. The
bonds are first lien subject to The
city's interest in the propcrty. # the
lnter5Crough Company succeeds in Sc
curing an increased fare the bonds
would undoubtedly recover some of
their recent loss.
Question-~Kindly say in your opin-
ION whether or not Standard Oil of
New Jersey, preferred, is liable to soar
IN the neigh borhood of its parent, now
quoted at $6TS, or does tine fact of it's |
being a cumulative. non-voting stock,
liable to be redeemed at S1l5 after
three years, Drecluded that possibility? |
! cannot afford to speculate, having so
little money | cannot afford to lose |
dollar.-L. c. l.
Answer-As the S. o. of N. ]. pre-
ferred stock is limited to per cent
dividends, there is no likelihood of it's
attaining the heights of the common
may be considered a good industrial
investment.
Qucstion-"ill you kindly give me |
some INFORMATION concerning the pres
cHt condition Of Buttcrick stocko It |
mas been three years since they de-
c!ared the last dividend. Is there pros
pect Of !. dividend soon A. B.
Answer-Several rumors have been
circulated recently concerning tho re-
sumption of dividends on Buttcrick
COMPANY stock. One vas that inter-
es's All fiillated with large trust com
pany had bought control at private
sale and that the shares would be !
placed on a 81 dividend basis before
autumn. We have no copy of recent
earnings but it is said that the re-
turns from the company's magazines
are large and that the prospects are |
brighter for dividends than for some
time past.
Question VIII you kindly advise me
what you think Of stocks in United
Alley Steel Company and Texas Range
7. x. Company? bought the former
at 56ls and the latter Con tho curh1 .
at 81. and as both have gone down in
price, J do not know whether to hold
on 70 them or sell at r loss ?~J. D. B.
Answer United ALLOW Steel like
other similar stock, Huctuates from day
to day, being affected by news of all
sorts The company manufactures
NIGH grade steel largely used in auto
mobiles. The stock pays per cent.
and at present prices yields about
per cent. 1T is not pleasant to sell a
stcck you have bought after drop of
or points, but hat fact does NOT
necessarily mean that the companv's
business has been affected Texas
Ranger is one of many oil companies
fioated recently, and as oil stocks are
probably more speculative than any
other class of securities you must be
prepared in buying them to stand
few Shocks
QuestionIWill site, YOU kindly advise me
regarding the following: | bought some
shares o. common stock Of Rooth F;ch.
cr'es, around 10. Please give me YOUR
OPINION Of the investmcnt.-E c. W.
Ans"er-Booth Fisheries is not to
DC considered an investment. In July
OF this year the usual dividend of 50
cents was passed in order. according to
the directors, to conserve cash for
working capital. 1t has been stated
that while the food administration
hAed the price Of fish the company did
not fare SO well, and that now that
government contr"l has passed there is
good reason 10 expect the company tn
s swing back TO its normal earning status.
the company secured 81 900, 900 recent
~ ny the sale of preferred stock and it
is said current earnings are four times
those of 1915. when S1.S9 a share was
earned on the common stock.
stion-Bought 200 Cresson Con-
so.idated Gold on the 9th of this
month. Thought had a wonderful
buy, as 1t would pay me $50 month.
understand now the dividend has been
passed. WIN you kindly let me know
what you know and think about
Cresson ?-W. H. K.
Answer-Some mines last longer
than others, You know, and some com
panies are not so quick about the nav.
mcnt of dividends as others. This com.
paTy paid an aggregate of 5S4 per cent
from 1908 to 1918, on CAPITAL of
Si,220.0OO, and sometimes when work
ing. capital is needed it is difficult to
find.
Question-Will you please tell me
what is being paid for Manhattan Rail-
way capital stock, and whether could
sell my shares at he. NJ O.
Observation-Disclosures Railway stocL :.