Evening star., 1925-12-31

movement WAS 1elL all over lNe COun-
try. Real estate men, seeing how
the developments had been managed
in the South, turned their attention
to operations nearer home.
Many sections experienced excite
mentS The Gulf Coast of Mississippi
and Louisiana made rapid strides in
this respect. So did many other sec
tions suitable for either Summer or
Winter resorts. The call of the city
proved less enticing than the call
OF the suburbs for many. The eX-
panSion of suburban population was
notable business factor in the year.
Favorable Trade Balance
steadily, due not only to better condi-
tions abroad, but also TO demand for
foreign-rnade luXuries at home. In
the first ten months of the year ex-
pared to the corresponding period OF
1924, to 1885, ,200,0 900. In the same
period the gain in imports was 16
per cent, to SO asa 900 900. The move
ment was aided by the signing of the
Locarno treaties, the arrangement for
debt payments to the United States
by several European countries and
by the placing in America Of numer-
Gus foreign loans, proceeds from
which will be expended largely in this
country for goods and raw materials.
Billions for Amusements.
Whether or not Americans had d
| good time, at least they paid nearly
! $500 900 ,000 for sports and amuse-
mentS during the year. The movies
alone accounted for more than S700.-
/ 900 600, the speaking stage was as
/ heavily patronized and as patronizing
as usual. and the appeal Of the circus
| was maintained.
! Base ball had a remarkable season,
since the pennant races were sharply
! contested. The receipts of the world
| series, amounting to $1,182,S54, We're
/ the largest ever known. exceeding the
! previous record, made in 1924, by
| S89,705
! The feature Of the sport year was
! the popularity of foot ball, including
+ both the intercollegiate and the pro
/ fessionaI contests. Over $l3 0G0 900
was spent by spectators at the sea-
sons games. The hold the profes-
sionaI game gained seemed due in
! some measure to the resentment Of
\ the general public that undergradu-
ates and alumni should practically
monopolize the tickets for the inter
! collegiate matches.
Advertising Was Heavy.
Many business men frankly attribute
I their success during the year to ad-
! ver1ising, which was extraordinarily
/ heavy. Volume of newspaper adver-
/ tising gained approximately per
/ cent. as compared with 1924, ard was
I ahead even of the boom year of 1920.
( A Of MI ri ]
I advertising was done. and apprOpI'i-
ations for national advertising We're
| sharply increased by some producers.
II was, however. from the local re
! tail stores that the main bulk Of ad-
/ vertising came. And il was the retail
trade which really demonstrated how
prosperous the country has been. The
year ended with burst of buying.
( 1t was indicated that when final fig
! ureS for Recember were compiled
sales would be found TO have exceeded
those for any her month in history
I by almost 10 per cent.
! The aggregate earnings of ten retail
trade companies based on invested
! capital for the year are estimated at
sl4.60 on each 500. In this compila-
. ton invested capital Is assumed to
consist of the par value of each COM
pany's stock and bonds outstanding
/ plus surplus.
! One of the features of retail trade
was installment-p plan buying. This
I was introduced into the clothing in
! dustry, which had somewhat un
! satisfactory year. as we'll as into many
/ others. Automobiles and radio owed
much to this system. The policy OF
buying frequently and in small guam
/ titles was maintained in practically
! every avenue of trade. As 4 result
many merchants were able to do busi
ness on less capital. This reduction IN
some lines amounted to as much as
! per cent.
/ The policy apparently obviatec
many costly mistakes. Incidentally
! it left many buyers out of jobs. For
merly buyers could make but two mis-
| takes a year. but now they may make
| 10 or u. Most employers, however
| no longer let them make more than
| one.
| The weather, as is usual, was de
! cided factor. Drought in some sec
| tions affected live stock and crops and
curtailed industrial production through
| curbing hydroelectric power. RoaG
] building went forward at fully as brisk
| a pace as in 1924 with more thar
| 81 1000. 900 expended for such work
| Paving of streets also was active.
The new roads built were not suff
| cient to solve traffic congestion, but
1 the situation was improved materially
| through the building Of additional ga
| RACES. widening of highways. better
| traffic regulation. speeding up of traffic
| movement and better driving. Prog
ress was made toward simplifcatior
and unification of traffic signals.
Commodities Show Trend
| The preponderance Of evidence a.
| to the prosperity of 1925 is shown by
/ a glance at the commodity list. Auto
| noble makers and dealers had ban
| ner year owing to lower prices, quan
| tity production and avoidance of ex
| cess stocks. Steel profits were steady
| and satisfactory with consistent bet
| terment as the year progressed. The
development of demand for household
| electrical equipment was a distinct
| feature of the year and aided electrical
| companies to splendid profits in con
| junction with the big development OF
| central station power plants. Railroad
| equipment companies, with the eX
| ception of the signal concerns, saw
their business fall off. The develop
ment Of the Deisel-engine operated
electric locomotive was of considerable
| Importance both in the machinery anC
| electrical businesses.
Food Producers Prosperous.
The farms yielded more than Sl2,
900 ,000, 900. and all in all the position
of the agriculturist was improved
Handlers of food products found nc
cause for complaint. Live stock men
did better than in the previous year
| Wool was sold at satisfactory prices
cotton yielded more than in 1924 and
fruit and vegetables sold readily and
ladyantaReOuSlV Gamers and pre-
servers had a healthy year. Agricultu
raj equipment sales We're remarkably
heavy.
| Tobocoo CrnuarS had tbeir- ms md