Evening star., 1937-01-03
EXCHANGE VOLUME
NEARLY DOUBLED
HERE DURING YEAR
Number of Shares Traded in
1886 Hits Highest Point
Since 1929.
PRICES RISE SHARPLY:
TRANSIT MOST ACTIVE
Bond Total Declines Because OF
Holders Unwillingness to
-
Sell-Demand Strong.
BY EDWARD C. STONE.

BY EDWARD C. STONE.
Trading on the Washington Stock
Exchange in 1886 revealed an increase
in the per share turnover in stocks,
which was nearly twice as large as the
volume in 1885. The number of shares
bought and sold was the largest in
seven years, or since the Wall Street
crash in 1929, which gave the smaller
exchanges such severe shaking up.
During 1886 there was a turnover OF
24,533 shares of stock on the Exchange
compared with turnover of 1885
shares In 1885. In the bond division,
however, the total value of bond trans
actions in 1896 was not quite equal to
that Of 1895. an aggregate Of $895, 800
in the senior issues changing owner
ship against total 81 ,117 900 in 1885.
The moderate difference, however,
was not due to lack of demand, but to
the fact that many bondholders were
unwilling to part with their holdings
at the prices offered. Exchange men,
bers had many orders on their books
which they were unable to fill.
Prices Advanced in 1886.
The total volume in stocks and
bonds was highly satisfactory. Price
ranges were also substantially upward
throughout most of the IL months.
Capital Traction SIS, 1947. were the
most active bonds on the list, piling up
q turnover of $414,500 during the year
and closing at SO. Washington Rail-
way & Electric As came next in popu-
larity with sl28,5 500 turnover. closing
1886 at 1867, while Anacostia & Po-
tomac River Railroad moved to the
extent Of $4,000 and ended the year
at rs.
Capital Transit was the liveliest
Issue among the stocks. figuring in a
turnover of 1852 shares and winding
up the year at $13 share Second in
the list was Mergenthaler Linotype,
which moved to the extent of 1900
shares and closed Thursday at SO.
Washington Railway & Electric pre-
ferred recorded sales involving 1850
shares, closing at Ill. Another issue
very active in 1886 was Real Estate
Mortgage & Guaranty preferred,
which registered sales of 2,671 shares.
The records kept by w. B. Hibhs
d Co. show that many other much
higher-priced issues figured very
prominently in the total dollar volume.
Among these were Potomac Electric
Power 51z per cent preferred and
Washington Gas Light, bank stocks
made a phenomenal comeback.
d. C. Trade Well Above 1888.
A year-end survey of leading Wash
ington department stores by the De-
partment of Commerce revealed sea-
sonal declines from the previous week
but sales in the shopping days right
after Christmas continued to run we'll
ahead Of last year. It is believed
that Christmas trade was 10 per
cent better and perhaps little more.
Ten per cent is the average figure
for the whole fifth Federal Reserve
district, some stores in the area ex-
ceeding that figure.
The Commerce Departments week.
ly review announced yesterday that
Washington bank clearings for the
four-day week ended December 80
amounted to $1e,767 ,009, as compared
with $24,733,453 in the previous week
and $14.491,117 for the five-day week
q year ago. The high spot In clear
ings, however, was the report from
the Washington Clearing House As
sociation that clearings for the full
year 1896 were more than $192, 2,000,-
600 ahead of 1885.
Nineteen building permits were is
sued during the past week for a total
valuation Of $345, 800. in comparison
with IA permits, valued at $193, 800,
during the comparable week a year
ago. A large number of applications
have been approved and sharp in
crease in permits issued is expected
early in 1886.
The Commerce report shows that
holiday visitors to Washington in
creased over last year, as evidenced by
Smithsonian Institution records.
Cleaned in Financial District.
Washington brokerage houses found
board rooms crowded yesterday for
the first New York Stock Exchange
session of the new year. The first
stock to appear on the Translux was
Omnibus Corp, which came out at
1873. same as the 1886 close. The
opening saw more fractional decreases
than increases.
Charles e. Brewer, jr., Mutual Ben
eft Life, New York. will address
Washington Chapter, Chartered Life
Underwriters, at the Cosmos Club,
Tuesday at 6 pm. A very large in
surance producer. he will discuss
Good Nature in Business"
Ten real estate issues in Washing
ton made q gain Of 9.5 per cent dur
ing 1896. according to q review by
Eli T. Watson & Co. An increase
Of 16 per cent in the average bid
price for $50 real estate issues located
all over the United States was re-
ported and an average gain Of 1856
per cent In the past four years.
The Enterprise Building Associa-
ton reports that 1896 was one Of the
most successful years experienced
since the company was organized in
1892, with q gain Of 20 per cent in
new savings members and II per cent
in loans on real estate. There was
Q marked falling of in loans in ar
rears.
President r. H. Caben Of Armour
b Co. announces that the concern
plans much heavier advertising ex-
penditures In 1897 than in 1886 In
81 different cities.
1875 BUSES ORDERED.
NEW YORK, January 2 @.-A
subsidiary Of Public Service Corp. OF