Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-12-22
CAPITAL TAKES
INSURANCE LEAD
Washington Tops Nation
With Monthly Gain of SO
Per Cent, Survey Shows.
BY EDWARD C. STONE.

| slight gain in November as compared
with the corresponding month of last
l'year.
November sales in this section to-
| tailed $58,527 000--a gain of l per cent
over November, 1926. The District Of
| Columbia leads this section and all the
| States in the country with it's high
monthly gain of 33 per cent Virginia
| follows with an increase Of IL per
| cent. For the first II months of the
year North Carolina shows a gain Of
| 10 per cent, leading the section in the
| year-to-date increase.
North Carolina also leads for the
| 12-month period ending with Novem-
| Der with it's increase of 8 per cent.
| The section as a whole showed a slight
loss for this period.
Banker Predicts Prosperous 1928.
In speaking of the prospects for
| 1928 in the National Capital, Howard
| Moran, last years president Of the
| District Bankers Association, today
| called attention to the fact that the
| year has seen the fulfilling of predic-
tons made at the start, that business
along some lines would not be quite
! as good as in the previous year. 1T
is evident" the veteran banker said,
that the public and business took
heed of the warnings made at the be-
ginning, and it is probably true that
the care which was exercised by peo-
pie during the year enables many to
do better than had been anticipated
The result has been good.
I'VE should begin 1928 with the be-
lief and hope that we will gradually
return to our peak year 1926 and per-
haps be a little more businesslike and
efficient than heretofore.
washington has by no means Jared
badly, and all should do even better
in 1928. With the assurance that Con-
gress is going on rapidly with the new
building plans; prices down locally,
which insures a larger market, and a
general awakening by our citizens to
our needs from civic development
standpoint along practical and bust
nesslike lines, we should be able to
| report at the end of another year prog
ress and prosperity
Metropolitan Declares Extra.
The directors of the National Met
| ropolitan Bank at a meeting yester-
day declared a l per cent extra divi-
dend. No regular dividend is due at
this time.
The board also voted a Christmas
bonus for all the employees of per
cent of the past years salaries, George
w. White, the president, announced
today.
The bank will have the usual Christ
mas party in the lobby on Saturday
afternoon. when Santa Claus will take
charge and the whole staff make
merry.
North Capitol Boosts Surplus.
At it's regular monthly meeting
the board of directors of the North
Capital Savings Bank declared the
usual semi-annual dividend Of per
cent and voted a transfer of SIS, 900 to
the surplus account, making a total
capital and surplus of $150,00O In
addition a Christmas bonus has been
distributed to the employees.
The bank has recently completed
remodeling the banking room, remov-
ing the bookkeeping department to
the second floor. This has increased
the size of the lobby, the officers
quarters and the tellers' cages.
Other Dividends Declared.
AT recent meeting the board Of
directors of the National Capital
Mortgage Co. declared the fifteenth
quarterly dividend at the rate of
per cent year for the quarter ending
December 81.
The board Of directors of the Amer.
lean Bond Co. has voted the regular
dividend of 2 per cent for the quarter
ending December 81, payable to stock
holders of record December 20.
dividend at the regular rate of
per cent a year on the preferred
stock has been declared by the Fed
tfnnjfAl NJ 90 H.,
for the quarter ending December 81.
Bank Party Complete Success.
The staff of the Federal-American
National Bank had their annual party
at the Columbia Country Club last
night. The wives were invited and
about 100 guests sat down to the tur.
key dinner. d. G. Smithson, one of
the banks veteran employees. was San.
ia Claus. Miss Leona Anthony, re-
firing president of the banks social
club, made the arrangements and pro-
vided most pleasing program. Dane
hing was also enjoyed.
The employees of this bank have ar
ranged to distribute 10 baskets on
Christmas morning to people known
to be in need of comfort and cheer at
the Yuletide season.
IL
Stockholders here will be interested
in the following Associated Press dis
patch from New York:
Christmas business Of F. w. Wool
worth Co. is reported to be of record
volume, the gross turnover for De.
cember being estimated at about $44,.
900, 900, which would be a new high
level and nearly 100000 ahead of
last December. Business in Christ
mas week, which is generally diff.
cult to forecast, is expected to pass
the $19,00O,000 sales for that week
last year. Executives have been
visiting several large stores and re-
port fast moving of merchandise.
Sales for 1927 are being figured
around $273 100000. which would be a
new record. and $20,000.000 more than
in 1925.
Local Exchange Votes Holiday.
The board of governors Of the Wash
ington Stock Exchange today voted
remain closed on Saturday, Deem
Der "a. This means that the local
board will be Quiet for three days,
opening again on Tuesday The local
governors outdid the New York Stock
Exchange governors, as that body de-
clined to close on Saturday in spite
of q generously signed petition.
Prices on the local board remained
steady. today. both bonds and stocks
selling at recent levels in moderate
trading.
New Federal Reserve Ruling.
The Federal Reserve Board an
nounces a ruling which give a more
liberal Interpretation of the bankers
acceptance provision Of the Federal
act which is expected to facilitate the
financing of foreign trade.
Willys-Overland 17h l8A TIA 17M
Wilson & Co... l1A liz IN IN
Woolworth 3d.. 1872 1884 1872 1924
Wright AArOf 76M 72A 76N IT'LL