Evening star., 1927-05-01
BY /. \. FLEMING.

llio1SE the ttAti hCSS az Att .
Charles Howe, treasurer of the Amer
lean Security g. Trust Co. we are in
possession of a valuable record.
1900 Investors Handbook Of Wash
ington Securities, Banks, Trust Com.
panies, Insurance, Gas, Telephone
and Title Companies, Street Railways
and Miscellaneous Securities. Re
vised to February /. 1900
This is the full title of a history of
the Washington Stock Exchange pre-
pared by Albion X. Paris and VIII
liam A. Mearns. These gentlemen
have long lseen identified with the Sc
curity and financial interests of the
Capital. Although both have prac-
ticalIy withdrawn from daily busi-
ness, both have held high office in the
local exchange.
Subsequent issues of Washington
Securities the last in 1913. were
published by Eugene L. Thompson,
the present dominant member OF the
firm of Crane, Paris & 80.
In the year 1913 the membership Of
the exchange was not very large. nor
was the trading important, True,
there were spurts of activity and I'M
portant developments in utilities, out
the required support Of the publca.
seem to be forthcoming.
Record Sadly Needed.
Every one in any way connected
with local stocks. bonds, investment
corporations, banks, etc, realizes that
the absence of records for the inter-
veninp wears is a serious inconven-
ience and that a record of the various
cornorations listed on the local eX-
change. with earnings, price range,
etc. is sadly needed.
With the larger list of securities,
the increased number of active mem
bers. including, as it does, representa-
tiyes of many banks, 1t may be that
, some one will undertake the compila-
tion of another history before long.
The 1900 history had the advertls'
ing support of the West End Bank,
American Security & Trust Co, Guriey
& Johnson, Riggs Fire Insurance,
Ralph w. Lee, National Savings &
Trust, Union Trust & Storage Co,
Citizens National Bank, Columbia
Phonograph Co, Chesapeake q Poto-
mac Telephone Co. American Bonding
q Trust Co. Washington Gas Light
Co. District Title Insurance Co, Real
ty Appraisement & Agency Co
Foulke & Co. bankers; Second Ma
tionaI Bank. Westcott, Wilcox & HES
ton. Columbia Fire Insurance Co,
Arms & Drury, real estate: Firemen's $
Insurance Co, Lewis Johnson & Co,
Crane. Paris & Co; w. 3. Hibbs < Co.
James NJ. Green, Fl. RoZier Dulancy,
the Columbia Title Co, d. AgneW
GreenIess. Reed & Wilson, Washington
Loan e. Trust Co. and the Riggs Ma
tional Bank.
Many Of these firms and corpora
tions are still doing business in Wash
ington, but the majority Of the men
who founded the exchange have
passed on.
The Formation OF the Exchange.
Several attempts were made prior
to 1881 TO establish a board of bro
kers," quoting from the 1900 history
"but none survivedsfor a longer period
than a few months. and principally
from these causes: First, that they
had not the substantial support of
the banking interests, and secondly,
the list of securities traded in Is years
ago was extremely limited.
"On October "a. 1881, five gentlemen
connected with banking and brokerage
matters met at 1929 r street north
west, formulated plan and issued a
call for the organization Of stock
exchange.
Those present at the preliminary
meeting were D. w. Middleton. Fl, u.
Cooke. A. e. Bateman, John w Cor
son and Fl, K. Offiey, all of whom
have long since passed on.
"At an adjourned meeting held Oc-
tober 20. G. II. r. White, Charles T..
Bradley, G. p. Williams, f. G. Middle
ton, w II Barnard, J. w. kaer.
Charles &. Glover. Jay Cooke jr.; Les
ter Bartlett, j. Stanley Brown and b.
II. Warner were elected to member
ship. and at subsequent date Albion
X. Paris and r. r. Middleton were ad-
mitted"
OF this entire group Charles C.
Glover and Albion X Paris are the
only members who are alive today.
The Official Roster.
The original officers were George b.
White. cashier of the National Metro.
politan Bank. president; II. d. Cooke,
vice president; Jacob w. Kerr of the
National Bank Of the Republic, treas
urer, and A. f. Bateman. secretary.
A Model of an Address.
6. III. b. White, first president of
the exchange, delivered an address on
the occasion Of the first call on the
new exchange, November s. 1881
which was a model for future speakers
and few there have been who have
in any manner followed it.
The president said:
Gentlemen, your speaker stands be.
| fore you today in the Aonored posi-
/ tion to which he has been assigned
by your choice, as the president of
| the Washington Stock Exchange
He is modest enough to make very
| little claim to ability for the office,
! less for adaptation to its parliamen-
| tary requirements and none for ex-
! perience. He throws himself upon
| your courtesy, patient indulgence and
| generous assistance.
His aim will be to discharge his
duties with dignity, impartiality and
/ fidelity.
"The Washington Stock Exchange.
composed of well known, enterprising