The Washington times., 1926-02-09
D. c. BUSINESS
HOLDS GOOD
BY RICHARD HATTON
Is business in Washington good
: f,tat n,odif,,,19

BY RICHARD HATTON
Is business in Washington g1oG
or Just medium?
An effort to answer the above
question leads to the consideration
of a number of elements which must
enter into a conclusion upon the
subject and which cover a rather
wide field. Primarily there Is en-
couragement in the fact that there
ts q certain stability maintained in
the matter Of prices in the local
n1arlsef This would indicate That
there neither initiation nor depees
sion the present time and that
business ID general. is proceeding
along normal lines regardless Of the
fact that there seems to be some
indication of a softening of buying
during. the after holiday season. It
must be borne in mind, however;
that this softening is not an excep.
ton, but Is seasonal condition
which is usually found Immediately
succeeding the Christmas spending.
SIaclkening Not General.
The slackening of purchases, how
ever, - Is not altogether general, ouI
is noticeable only in certain lines.
find that where there is slack
demand i'm some lines, this is offset
BY a greater demand in other lines.
In some quarters. where only one
liTae Of goods is carried, there is a
slight 3eeling Of depression at the
moment. This. however, Is not or q
seriods nature and ii is only in a
few lines which appear to be over
supplied that there is expressed any
serious complaint in regard to pres
ent conditions.
Money is plentiful at the moment.
both for investment purposes and
for lending. Local banks are amply
able to supply all demands along
these lines and there has been
noticeable increase in deposits in
practically every institution since
the first Of the year. while bust
ness men in some instances may
not view the present as q period OF
exceptional prosperity" said one
prominent local banker today. bust
ness in Washington Is basically
sound and there is no unreasonable
depression here.
q s. TO Spend For Building
There ie found nowhere In the
present state Of business anyt thing
60 Indicate reaefioif OF serious
nature It possible that in some
Instances business has become some
what unbalanced which has made q
temporary slowing down necessary.
There IS no sign which wotild indi-
csfe That the equilibrium will not
be restored in a comparatively
short time.
The fact that the Government
will expend many millions Of dollars
IN construction work here in the
not distant future Is pointed to as
one reason why there can be no
serious depression. A certain per-
centage OF the money thus expendi
ed Is bound to. find its way into
local trade. IN the meantime. and
all the time. the great Government
payrolls add their stimulating in.
fluence to the commercial life OF
the city.
In some quarters there is
tendency to interpret the recent
period Of selling In the stock market
as indicating less optimism regard
ing general business conditions.
This is not q logical position, as
there Is Invariably q point in
market indications where the antici-
patton of prosperity runs ahead OF
the actual condition, in SO far as this
is indicated by the price Of stocks.
There is nothing IN the general
outlook in the country to warrant
predictions of a business slump.
Inquiry as TO the availability OF
money for investment indicates that
there Is ample supply at hand for
this purpose. Savings deposits in
local banks are on the upgrade.
The population Of the city is stead.
lily increasing and the government,
regardless OF all considerations,
must disburse more and more cash
here.
Regardless Of temporary condi.
tons, which may exist In some local
enterprises there Is well-defined
feeling I'm banking and financial
circles that Washington has moth.
ing to- fear in the way Of business
depression and this feeling is borne
out by the larger commercial houses
which are expanding their means
Of service rather than contracting.
which would be the case were there
any fears as to the future.
There is ample warrant for the
statement that business, while it is
not. at the top notch Of activity. is.
at least. normal and is decidedly
better, than medium.