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two, particularly in the case of gilt-edged
and other low-yield stocks, in the control
which it exercises over the realisable value
of securities.
That a third influence of some sort does
exist is easily capable of demonstration. Let
us take an irredeemable Trustee Debenture of
an English Railway paying a fixed rate of
interest. Here we have an investment which
is so fully secured as to capital and income
that its value would be incapable of fluctuation
if there were no third influence to consider.
For example, the perpetual 4|- per cent.
Debenture of the London, Brighton & South
Coast Railway.
This Debenture stock can never be paid
off without the consent of the Debenture
holders ; no new capital charge can ever be
created to rank in front of this Debenture.
The Debenture is fully secured by mortgage
upon a railway the total value of which
is seven times larger than the total of this
Debenture issue. The Debenture interest is
at the fixed rate of 4J- per cent., and the
nett earnings of the line are sufficient to pay
this annual interest nearly seven times over.
It is obvious, then, that both capital safety
and income productiveness admit of no ques
tion in the case of this Debenture, which can