Evening star., 1924-04-04
UN|F ORM UPTREND
IN BUSINESS SEEN
Financial Survey Made for
April-Standard National
to Move Main Office.

Inc standard National Bank will,
tomorrow. remove it's main office to
l4O9 II street northwest. where the
present branch is located. and there
after maintain its present home at
9Th street and New York ayenue :
the subsidiary institution. This ac-
ton was voted on and approved by
direc tors of the institution last night.
and has also been sanctioned by the
Treasury Department
This change was decided upon after
lengthy delfberation as the most ef-
rective step in rendering greatest
service to the banks clientele. 1t was
pointed out that the new home is in
the very center of Washington's big
eSest business and financial field, and
concentration of force in this terri
tory would offer unlimited advan-
tages.
Increases Office Facilities.
Then, too, the spacious quarters on
ID street will give to the clerical and
! other departments of the bank not
directly engaged in the handling Of
money every facility conducive 70
accuracy and dispatch.
! The quarters of the present branch
! are we'll situated well lighted and
ventilated and amply spacious, hav-
! ing been constructed several years
ment and real estate operations.
winch failed TO materialize.
/ Remodeling of both houses to meet
the demands of the new movement is
being planned. but this work is not
/ broad in scope, it is understood.
/ Slight Decline in issues.
| 4 slight decline in stock of the Cap
! Ital Traction and Washington Gas
| Light companies, accompanied by the
| continuance Of the low level for pre-
ferred stock of the National Mortgage
! and Investment Company. were the
ruling features of trading on the
! Washington Stock Exchange this
morning. The carrier security opened
at g3@i, but subsequently eaSed off to
! SO y on odd-lot sales. while the fuel
issue declined to 49%i, after opening
unchanged at 80; \ total of I2O
shares of National Mortgage and In
vestment changed hands at Si2.
| Washington Railway and Electric
! 4 per cent bonds enjoyed brisk de-
mand. n total of s35,500 selling at ~.
! The majority of these sales were in
! $4,000 denominations. a sale of $500
| Riggs Realty long 5s at 80 concluded
! the session.
Business Survey for April.
Healthy and fairly uniform inn
provement in business chara cteriZed
the month Of March" says the Fed
eral-American Rusiness Survey for
\
dustrial output, wholesale and retail
! trade and financial conditions gener-
ally have registered Improvement
! over the first two months of the year.
| Trade and employment conditions
| have been distinctly good pretty much
J throughout the country.
Even the agricultural outlook has
/ Frightened a little, mainly owing TO
the expectation of helpful legislation
! the fruits of which it will be inter
! esting TO observe"
/ The prospect of continued high
/ building activity is noted as one of
| the more favorable factors. Contracts
! awarded during February were { per
cent in excess of contracts let for
| February year ago.
Decrease of Unemployment.
| There has been decrease of un-
Conditions in the middle west are re-
ported as being as satisfactory as at
any time in years. There is no con-
siderable unemployment in any
trades, nor are there marked cases of
labor shortage with the possible eN-
ception of skilled building workers.
Only three important industries re-
port any material curtai1ment OF en-
ployment, namely: the tire, railroad
| equipment and car building INDUS
! tries"
| In commenting on the foreign sit
uation. concern is expressed lest the
| French may miSconstrue the purpose
| of the loan which has served to sta
/ biliZe the price of the franc.