Evening star., 1927-04-08
v. R. & f. COMMON
MARKET LEADER
Washington Gas Light Stock
Also Is Active Today on
Local Exchange.
BY EDWARD G. STONE.

Washington Railway & Electric
common was one of the features on
the Washington Stock Exchange to-
day, 81 shares changing hands at 225,
an advance of points over the last
sale made about a week ago. The
sales covered four different trans
actions.
There were Ave sales in washington
Gas Light stock, the market opening
at 743s and closing at TAN. Capital
Traction came out at 1855 and closed
at 1861, the days sales totaling 10
shares. Railway & Electric preferred
sold at 80 and 10 shares Of Mergen-
thaler at 109B.
The first sale in Federal.American
Co. preferred in some time was re-
corded, with the stock going at par.
Merchants Transfer & Storage pre-
ferred sold at 1908 and 20 shares Of
Barber & Ross common at 81.
In the bond division Gas 6s, Series
A, sold at 103%, while Series Il bonds
registered 105. In the unlisted de-
partment 10 shares of North Capitol
Savings Bank stock sold at IA.
Chain Store Sales Improve.
The IL leading chain stores showed
a new high record in sales for the
first quarter, the figures indicating
that business over the country must
be gaining.
Woolworth sales for the three
months totaled more than $53 600,
an increase of 8.47 per cent: Kresge,
more than $25,000,000, a gain of 8.3
per cent; McCrory, 912,197, a gain
of Is per cent.
Auto Cuts Arouse Interest.
Local automobile dealers are much
interested in the reports OF reductions
in the price Of Pierce Arrow cars,
made yesterday. The cuts are con-
sidered important, as they may indi-
cate general trend toward lower
prices by other companies.
1t was announced today from New
York that the Rolls Royce Co. of
America will make a favorable show
ing this year, and that the 1926 re-
port will be out in few days.
Street Car Earnings Grow.
Despite the almost universal use of
the automobile throughout the coun-
try, street railways have managed to
maintain a slight. but steady growth,
according to the New York Trust Co.
NET operating revenue of 327 street
railway companies in 1925, represent
of the industry, increased III per
cent, as compared with 1924" states
the Index.
This increase was wholly due to
an improvement in efficiency. The
number of revenue paying passengers
declined 1.16 per cent. Lower operat-
ing costs offset this adverse factor.
Gross operating revenue decreased
0.31 during this period while operat-
ing expenses decreased 1.02 per cent
1t is pointed out that the trolley
system still remains the most popular
method Of public transportation. Elec-
trio railways carry more passengers
in year than all other transporta-
tion agencies combined. Their annual
passenger traffic, for instance, is more
than Is times greater than steam rail
ways.
Calls Trade Outlook Good.
J. III. Tragoe, manager of the Ma
tional Association of Credit Men, who
recently addressed the Washington
members, makes these observations re-
garding trade prospects:
Prospects for continued satisfactory
business are good. A few small clouds
visible in the business sky merely
accentuate the fact that generally the
sky is clear. Production activity in
certain lines has slackened moderately,
but not to the extent of causing wide
spread unemployment. One of the
minor difficulties in the present situa-
ton is overproduction in the oil in
dustry.
Wholesale trade, except in cotton
goods, is slightly under the level of
year ago. Department store orders
Increased 2.5 per cent in February
over the same month of 1926. Chain
store sales show an increase of III
per cent on comparison of the same
periods. Mail order sales for Febru-
ary were substantially the same as for
February 1926"