Evening star., 1925-05-28
W, B. & A. COMMON
IN AMAZING R|SE|
Stock Scars From 6 IL to
II Ia in Three Days.
Merger Talk the Cause.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

Spt'idi DlSpatcn TO The Star.
BALTIMORE, May 2S.-Despite
denials of officials of the Washing
ton. baltimore and Annapolis Electric
Railway Co.. as well as of the West
ern Maryland Railroad and j. E.
Aldred. chairman of the boards of
the Consolidated Gas, Electric Light
and Power Co. of Be ltimore and the
Pennsylvania Water and Power Co.,
reports still persist that deal in
volvinS change of control of the
electric line may soon develop.
Common Stock Touches I2h.
The common stock of the company
touched 12A on the Baltimore ex.
with 6l2 on Saturday last and 57s a
few weeks ago. Bidding for the
shares was spirited, and 1t was re-
ported that some siZable blocks
changed hands without records. AS
on recent days. buying was chiefly for
out.of-town account. although local
operators continued to add to their
holdings. New York interests are
said to have started the buying of
both the common and preferred stocks
of the company last week and have
continued to accumulate them.
Some persons in the finance dis.
tage the W.. +. & A. would be TO
Mr.. Aldred,' said one well posted finan.
cial man. They have evidently over
looked the fact that the Consolidated
Gas and Electric Light and Power Co..
which Is controlled by Mr.. Aldred and
associates, is shut out of Anne Arun.
del County through u ruling of the
Public Service Commission of Mary
la nd.
W. II. & f. Might Buy Road.
THAT territory is served by the An
napolis & Chesa peake Bay Power Co.
which is part of the W.. B. & A. sys
tenn. The district is building rapidly
1t is known that the Consolidated
company would like 10 invade 1t. 1t is
pointed out that the quickest and
easiest way TO accomplish this purpose
would be the acquisition of the W., 8
Il A. railroad.
The suggestion is made that prob
ably Mr.. Aldred. if he acquired the
property, would not wish to retain the
traction end of the business. In tha,
event he might dispose of 1t to the
Washington Railway and Electric Co.
with which the W.. B. & A. has an
agreement to use the formers tracks
into the heart of the National Capital
Most Profitable Division.
The Annapolis and chesapeake BAY
Power Co. is the most profitable
dix ision Of the W. Il. & a. system
The power company operates under
Il 50-year franchise and its business
IL eEpa nding at a rapid rate. Ii il
pointed out that the CONSOLIDATED
Electric Light and Power ca, with
its modern facilities ana ample power
large part of which is supplied by
the PENNSYLVANIA Water and Power
Co., also controlled by the Aldred
Sroup. could develop the territory
more rapidly than the Annapolis and
Chesapeake Bay Co. can.
Bankers say the logical thing for
the local company to do under the
circumstances would be to broaden its
field of activities. They add that a
step in this direction would be the
acquisition of the power business OF
the Washington, Baltimore and An
ma polls Railroad. though. of course
this could not be done without OBJ
tanning control OF the system as a
whole and then disposing OF the
traction end to the Washington com
pany or possibly to the Western
Maryland Railway"
Western Maryland's Rights.
The Western Maryland now has an
agreement to use the tracks of the
Washington. baltimore and Annapolis
Railway in and out of Washington
during certain hours. 1t Is known
that the Western Maryland has fol
years desired an entrance into the
National Capital and also into
Annapolis.
In the event the Western Maryland
Railway is allocated to the New York
Central in the railroad mergers, con
solidation of the former and the
Washington. Baltimore and Annapolis
would give the New York Central en-
trance into Washington and Annapolis
as well as Baltimore.
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