New-York tribune., 1919-10-25


the owner demands it?--A. L.
Answer--He does.
Wishing to invest some
money IN stocks or bonds and not
knowing how to 60 about it, am writ
ing TO ask II you will please tell me
wAere } could get book or something
giving general information on this
subject ?-I. 0.
Answer-Ihe best way to familiarixe
yourself with Investments would be to
reputatlon--for example. any New
York Stock Exchange house advertis-
ing in The Tribune-who would be glad
to assist you. There are so many sta
tist!cal volumes, all of which arc sub
scribed to by we'll managed houses,
that it would not be practical for you
to attempt to purchase them.
Question: On October /, 1919,
purchased some shares of Reading on
margin. If I sell this stock on Octo-
ber rs, 1919. am l entitled to ST. divid-
end payable to holders of stock of
record on October "a, 1919, which I
understand is payable November 49,?
J. H. T.
Answer: You are entitled to your
dividend II you sell stock at any tins
after it sells ex-dividend.
Question. Will you please give mo
such Information as you can concern
ing American Light and Traction Com
mon, earnings, etc. s hold some,
bought at 375. Have heard rumors Of
melon to be cut.
Answers Surplus after dividends on
common stock of American Light and
Traction Company for the year end
ing June 80. 1919, was SSl6.723 against
$l,970,32S for previous year. Profit
and loss surplus is now s1l,i5O, ,696.
Year 19l8-1919 showed earnings equal
to 1855 per cent on common. In
creased cost of operations was respon-
sible for decrease. But company is
we'll managed and conservative. We
have heard of no prospective melon,
though that does not prove one is not
contemplated by any means.
QuestionWill you kindly favor me
with information regarding the invest
ment status of Ohio Gas, and oblige
E. N.
Arswer-Ohio Cities Gas Company Is
both holding and an operating corr
poration. 1t was organized in 1914 and
has grown to large proportions. For
the year ended March 81, 1919, gross
earnings were $47,422,890, equal to
over s6 on the common stock. against
S39,929, l35 for the previous year. The
company paid dividends of 1915 share
on common stock in 1914, $5.25 In 1915,
$3.50 in 1915 and a stock dividend of S
per cent, S4.81H In 1917 and S. In
1918 and a stock dividend, of per cent.
There are now outstanding $4,000, 100
cumulative 5M per cent preferred
stock, par sl00, and s45,937, 500 common
stock, par S25. While the oil business
is more or less undertain, this company
appears to be conservatively managed,
but We should not say the stock is an
investment Issue, even though 1t has
merit rs a speculation.
Question-Please advise me regard
ing investment features of East Coast
Fisheries Company, preferred stock:
The company has offered preferred
ferred to be retired in two years or
thereabouts. The company is under
|. M. Taylor 4 Co., and as far as their
quarterly bulletins GO they are pro-
crossing very fast and are the largest
fish construction company in the United
States. I would like to know what you
think about it. c. J. F.
Answer--We have nothing to guide
US in determining the value of East
Coast Fisheries preferred stock. Un-
derwriters issued a statement of esti-
mated net operating earnings for
twelve months of s2,O00,0O0, or equal to
five times per cent dividend on pre-
ferrcd stock. But the company has not
been opertting long enough to class this
stock with seasoned investments.