PREFACE TO 1895 EDITION, OUTLINE OF CONTENTS & INDEX TO COMPANIES LISTED IN 1895 By 1895 the Stock Exchange Official Yearbook had settled into a format that it was to stay with for the duration. We reproduce the Preface, Outline of Contents and the Index to companies listed in 1895 to give readers an idea of the typical organisation of a yearbook, and of the great variety of companies covered in this and in future volumes. PREFACE. The year 1894 has not proved so favourable to business as was expected. This is chiefly due to the further considerable decline in the prices of natural products, and to some extent to the difficulty in bringing to a conclusion the tariff and other reforms in the United States to which President Cleveland had put his hand. But the year closes with a nearly complete absence of disturbing causes, though the prices of produce are still at their lowest, and the return to commercial and agricultural prosperity is in all parts of the world proceeding at an abnormally slow rate. But it is generally admitted that the worst is now more than over. This is an immense gain in itself, especially as regards Stock Exchange securities, amongst which selling from fear or necessity no sooner ceases than an upward movement on some scale sets in. A year ago we had to report a further considerable fall in the aggregate of Stock Exchange values; but for 1894 there has been a rise in prices which more than outsets the decline then reported, and to all appearance the upward movement is still in progress. Moreover, the ascending tendency is widespread. Almost every class of security is participating in it. High­class investments, such as the National and Municipal issues, high as they were a year ago, have risen considerably – as much as 4 and 5 per cent, being quite common. Foreign government securities of the second and third class have much more advanced, Chilean being as much as 10 up, and Brazilian 15 to 20. The rise in British Railway stocks is also important. The same has to be said of Indian railways, but Colonial railways have had an unfavourable record, while in the American railway section there have been important movements both ways, Atchison and some other large properties having found yet lower levels of degradation, at the same time that good properties have yet further advanced. South American railways have in most instances improved – in some cases considerably. In the various other sections the movements have been numerous and considerable, and a large proportion of them have been favourable. The formation of joint­stock companies under the Acts of the United Kingdom has proceeded on a somewhat larger scale than was experienced last year, the one conspicuous feature being the great number of West Australian mining companies. 1 For ten years up to and inclusive of 1893 the record was as follows:­ No. of Companies Authorised Registered. Capital 1893 ……………………… 2,617 ……………………… £96,654,161 1892 ……………………… 2,607 ……………………… 103,403,331 1891 ……………………… 2,686 ……………………… 134,261,673 1890 ……………………… 2,789 ……………………… 238,759,472 1889 ……………………… 2,788 ……………………… 241,277,468 1888 ……………………… 2,550 ……………………… 353,781,594 1887 ……………………… 2,050 ……………………… 170,172,674 1886 ……………………… 1,891 ……………………… 145,850,702 1885 ……………………… 1,482 ……………………… 119,222,961 1884 ……………………… 1,541 ………………………… 138,491,428 The total number of companies actually existing, and the total amount of capital paid thereon, were at the respective dates as follows:­ No. of Companies Total Amount of Existing. Paid­up Capital April, 1894 ……………… 18,361 ……………………… £1,035,029,835 April, 1893 ……………… 17,553 ……………………… 1,013,119,350 April, 1892 ……………… 16,173 ……………………… 989,283,634 April, 1891 ……………… 14,873 ……………………… 891,504,112 April, 1890 ……………… 13,323 ……………………… 775,139,553 April, 1889 ……………… 11,968 ……………………… 671,870,184 April, 1888 ……………… 11,001 ……………………… 611,423,371 April, 1887 ……………… 10,494 ……………………… 591,508,692 April, 1886 ……………… 9,471 ……………………… 529,637,684 April, 1885 ……………… 9,344 ……………………… 494,909,862 2 THOMAS SKINNER 1, ROYAL EXCHANGE BUILDINGS, LONDON, E.C. December, 1894 CONTENTS PAGE PREFACE ………………………………………………………………………………… v INDEX ……………………………………………………………………………………… ix GOVERNMENT SECURITIES – HOME, COLONIAL, AND FOREIGN (INCLUDING MUNICIPAL) ……………………………………………………………………………… 1 RAILWAYS – HOME, COLONIAL, AND FOREIGN ………………………………… 118 BANKS …………………………………………………………………………………… 390 INSURANCE COMPANIES …………………………………………………………… 447 LIGHTING AND WATER COMPANIES ……………………………………………… 501 MINING, EXPLORATION, AND SMELTING COMPANIES ………………………… 572 IRON, COAL, AND STEEL COMPANIES …………………………………………… 680 LAND, INVESTMENT, TRUST, FINANCE, AND DISCOUNT COMPANIES …… 715 TRAMWAY AND OMNIBUS COMPANIES …………………………………………… 850 TELEGRAPH AND TELEPHONE COMPANIES …………………………………… 879 DOCK, CANAL, HARBOUR, AND SHIPPING COMPANIES ……………………… 895 ROLLING STOCK COMPANIES ……………………………………………………… 933 PLANTATION COMPANIES (COFFEE, TEA, AND TOBACCO) ………………… 940 HOTEL, TAVERN, BREWERY, AND DISTILLERY COMPANIES ………………… 955 MISCELLANEOUS BONDS …………………………………………………………… 1021 MISCELLANEOUS COMPANIES ……………………………………………………… 1033 ADDITIONAL NOTICES AND AMENDMENTS ……………………………………… 1235 3 I N D E X A. and F. Pears, 1033 African Exploration and Investment, 565. A. and J. Stewart and Clydesdale, 680. African Gold Recovery, 566. A. and R. Thwaites and Co. 1033 African International Flotilla, 895. A. and S. Henry and Co., 1033 African Investment, 716. A. F. Stoddard & Co., 1034 African Steamship, 896. A. J. White, 1034 African Transcontinental Telegraph, 879 Abaris Mining, 564 Afrikander Gold Mining, 566. Abbot, John and Co., 1130 Agency Land and Finance Company, 716. Abbotsbury Railways, 118. Agnes Block Mining, 566. Abbott’s Gold, 565. Agra Bank, 390. Aberdare Railway, 119 Agricultural Company of Mauritius, 717. Aberdeen and Northern Heritable, 714. Agricultural Hotel, 955 Aberdeen Commercial, 1034. Agricultural Savings and Loan, 717. Aberdeen District Tramways, 850. Airdrie and Coatbridge Water, 501 Aberdeen Gas Annuities, 1 Aire and Calder Glass Bottle, &c., 1035 Aberdeen Glen Line, 895. Akroyd James, and Son, 1127 Aberdeen Heritable Securities, 715 Alabama Coal, Iron, Land, &c., 717 Aberdeen Jute, 1034 Alabama Great Southern Railroad, 119 Aberdeen, Leith, &c., Steam, 895 Alabama Great Southern Railway, 119 Aberdeen Market, 715 Alabama Midland Railway, 120 Aberdeen, Newcastle and Hull Steam, 895 Alabama, New Orleans &c., Railway, 120 Aberdeen Steam Navigation, 895. Aladdin’s Lamp Gold Mining, 566. Aberfoyle Slate, 565 Alagoas Railway, 121. Aberlady, Gullane, and N. B. Railway, 119. Alamillos Mining, 566. Abingdon Railway, 119. Alaska Mexican Gold Mining, 566. Abney Park Cemetry, 715. Alaska Treadwell Gold Mining, 567. Aboukir Company, 715 Albany and Susquehanna Railroad, 122. Absolute Life Assurance, 447 Albany Shipping, 896. Abstainers and General Insurance, 448. Albert Gearing, 955. Accident Insurance, 448 Alberta Railway and Coal, 122. Accrington Gas and Water Works, 501. Albion Brewery, 955. Accrington Tramways, 851 Albion Fire Insurance, 448. Achilles Goldfields, 565. Albion Gold Mines, 567. Ackroyd, William, 713 Albion Steam Coal, 680. Acme Package Company, 1034 Alcoy and Gandia Railway, 123. Acme Pneumatic Tyre and Brake, 1034 Aldridge Colliery, 680. Acme Wood Flooring, 1035. Alex Macdonald and Co., 1036. Acton’s Swaziland Concession, 565 Alexander Bassano, 1036. Adam Steamship, 895. Alexander Pirie and Sons, 1036. Adams, Thomas, and Co., 1217. Alexander, R. F. and J., 1188 Adams, Thomas, and Sons, 1217. Alexander Thom and Co., 1036. Adelaide, 1. Alexanders and Co., 718. Adelphi Bank, 390. Alexandra Estate and Gold Mining, 567. Advance Corporation. 715 Alexandra Hotel, 956. Adventurers of Mexico, 716 Alexandra (Newport), &c.) Docks, 896. Aërated Beverage and Buffet, 1035 Alexandra Theatre, 1036. Aërated Bread, 1035 Alexandria Water, 502. African and General Exploring, 565 Algeciras Railway, 123. 4 African Association, 1035. Alhambra Company, 1036. African Banking, 390 Alicante Waterworks, 502 African City Properties Trust, 716 Alldays and Onions, 1037 African Direct Telegraph, 879 Allegheny Valley Railroad, 124. Allen and Hanburys, 1037 Anglo­Paraguayan Company, 724 Allen Everitt and Sons, 1037. Anglo­Portuguese Gas, 503 Alliance and Dublin Consumers’ Gas, 502 Anglo­Portuguese Telephone, 880 Alliance Assurance, 448 Anglo­Romano Gas, 503 Alliance Dairy, 1037 Anglo­Saxon Mining, 569 Alliance Economic Investment, 718 Anglo­Spanish Gas, 503 Alliance Financial, 718. Angular­Hole Machine, 1041 Alliance Investment, 718 Angus, George and Co, 1104 Alliance Land and Dwellings, 719. Animal Charcoal, 1041. Alliance Marine Assurance, 449 Annuities (British), see British. Alliance Mortgage and Investment, 719 Ansell and Sons, 956 Alliance Trust, 719 Anstruther and St. Andrews Railway, 125. Allsopp, Samuel and Sons, 1005 Answers, Limited, 1041 Allynugger Tea, 940 Antigua, 1. Almada and Tirito Mining, 567 Antioquia (Frontline) Mining, 569. Almeria and Alhamilla Railway, 124 Antofagasta and Bolivia Railway, 125 Alsing and Co., 1038 Antrim Iron Ore, 681 Alton and Co., 956 Antwerp Tivoli Brewery, 956. Alton Court Brewery, 956. Antwerp Water Works, 503. Altrincham Gas, 502 Apollinaris Company, 1041 Aluminium Company, 1038 Appantoo Gold Mining, 569 Amalgamated Water Gas, 502 Appleton, French and Scrafton, 1041 Amana (Westworth) Gold mining, 567 Aragon and Catalonia Railway, 126. Amatongaland Exploration, 568 Arauco Company, 126. Amazon Steam Navigation, 896 Arbroath and Forfar Railway, 127 American and Continental Sanitas, 1038 Ardrossan Harbour,