Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-15
CAPITAL TRACTION
IS MARKET LEADER
ON D. c. EXCHANGE
High Asked Price on Base
Ball Stock Reflects Optimism
in Pennant Chances.
PEOPLES DRUG CHAIN
IN FURTHER EXPANSION
Annual Report Reveals Excellent
Years Business-Huge Bond
Sales Held Good Sign.
BY EDWARD c. STONE.

In an active Saturday market Capt.
tai Traction closed the week at $35 a
share on the Washington Stock Ex-
change. The stock is now selling ex-
dividend, the regular quarterly pay
nent of 81 a share having ben author
lied a few days ago. The stock, which
opened at $3.50, led the days trading on
the exchange, 124 shares changing
hands.
Federal-American National Bank &
Trust Co. figured in five 10-share trans
actions at so. This stock has been con-
siderably more active in recent trading
sessions. Lanston Monotype was an
other of the more active stocks in yes
terdayis trading. Washington Railway
q Electric preferred also making its
daily appearance on the board.
Bond trading was confined to Wash
ington Railway & Electric As and Ma
tional Press Building SIPS. The un-
listed issues were called of as usual
on Saturday and very few changes
made in the quotations. That the
Washington ball club has an excellent
chance of winning the pennant this
year is indicated by the quotations on
the stock. 1t is now quoted so bid
and 30 asked, the spread of 20 points
indicating that holders believe gate re-
eceipts are going to run very high during
the coming season. Yesterdays sales:
Washington Railway & Electric As
$1,000 at 8815, $1,000 at $685..
Capital Traction Colo at 1854, 4
at IS, 100 at IS, 10 at 35
Washington Railway & Electric pfd.-
10 at 98la. 10 at 981s.
Federal-American National Bank &
Trust-10 at SO, 10 at so, 10 at so, 10
at so, 10 at so.
Liberty National Banks at I85.
Lanston Monotype-1O at los, 10 at
los, 5 at 1852, 4 at 1861.
National Mortgage & Investment pfd
loo at 47s 500 at 47s.
Peoples Drug Stores pfd.-10 at 1907
10 at 1907. to 1o0A, z at 1907.
Capital Traction $500 at 8I3a.
washington Railway g. Electric pfd.-
National Press Building 5Izs-s2. 900
at go. $4,000 at so, 81 900 at go.
Peoples Drug Still Expanding.
According to the annual report of
Peoples Drug Stores, Inc, lust made by
the president, M. H. Gibbs, the company
Is planning further expansion during
the coming year. On December 81,
1880. the company was operating 1I8
retail stores, as compared with liz at
the close OF the previous year, a gain
Of six.
Expansion planned for 1881 is being
developed in satisfactory way, three
NV stores having been opened In jan
uary, while two Others are being fitted
up and viii be opened in the near
future. Mr.. Gibbs says. He reports
that the new warehouse and office
building constructed in this city has
already contributed materially to the
eheciency of operations
AS already noted, sales at retail for
the year amounted to $16,759, 665. "a, as
compared with sales for the y:ar 1929
OF SIS 3,208.07, an increase of SI,216,-
457.s7, or 1888 per cent
Net profits for the year. after all
charges, amounted to S67I. 7O2.Ol and
after providing for dividends on 24,25O
shares of preferred stock outstanding at
December 81, 1880, there remains the
amount Of S514,077.01 as the earnings
on the common stock. which is equal TO
S4l2 per share on the 124,55O shares
outstanding at December 81, 1880.
compared with $5.7l a share in 1929.
"a Billion Dollar Corporations.
The list Of billion dollar CORPORA
lions" in America. selected on a basis
OF total assets, now numbers "a. and
includes z railroads, 5 public utilities,
banks, 4 insurance companies and 3
1ndustrials. according to a compilation
made by American Trustee Share Cor
poration. They are:
American Telephone 81 telegram.
q. S. Steel, Southern Pacific, Pennsyl-
vania Railroad. Standard OH Of New
Jersey, New York Central, Canadian
Pacific, Atchison, Topeka g. Santa Fe;
Union Pacific, Consolidated Gas of New
York, Baltimore g. Ohio, Cities Service,
Commonwealth & Southern, U. S.
Electric Power Corporation, General
Motors. Chase National Bank, National
City Bank Guaranty Trust of New
York, Continental Illinois Bank g.
Trust OF New York, Continental Illinois
Bank g. Trust. Transamerica Corpora
ton, Metropolitan Life ms. Co, New
York Life, Equitable Life and Pruden-
tial Insurance Co. of America.
The first 10 of these have combined
assets exceeding $l7,500,000, 900,
Investments Need Watching.
Sold! For nothing a share and the
seller paid the tax and transfer charges
1t sounds absurd, says the Magazine Of
Wall Street, but this is apparently what
happened on the London Stock Ex-
change when a 100-share block of what
was once a gilt-edged investment stock
was lately disposed of at the low figure
OF zero II is true that an adverse
legal opinion concerning shareholders
liabilities temporarily frightened the
sellers. Nevertheless, here was a COM
pany, the Royal Mail Steam Packet,
long regarded as meritorious invest
ment in days gone by, sunk to levels
which brought total loss to many who
had invested their funds in its shares.
1t Is striking example Of the need
Tor constant scrutiny over investments.
Because company is a leader and
a strong Garner today does not signify,
the Magazine adds, that 1t will occupy
so enviable a position a few years
hence. 1t is an example in which the
old counsel to buy sound stocks, put
them away and forget about them"
is open to serious questioning. Can
any investment be forgotten with i'm
punity? We do not know Of any.
Financial District Comment.
Quick absorption Of approximately
100000 900 in new bonds, marketed
during the past week, was considered
a favorable sign by many local bankers
Others feel that It is not the right time
70 place too MANY big issues on sale.
lSsmgeste6 issues were big factor in
rrir 1913 market crash
Word has reached here that the
Connecticut General Assembly has ac-
cepted an unfaYorable report from its
banking committee on q bill which
4 would have permitted branch banking
under certain restrictions. Branch