The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1927-04-25
NATIONS TRADE
HOLDS GOOD
BY RICHARD HATTON

by hAOAAktU nA11UN
"A general review of the trade
situation throughout the country as
the last week Of the first quarter
e. 1897 IL entered, finds conditions
which merchant and broker OBJ
servers term "spotty."
That ID. there are certain lines
wherein business has been excep.
tionally good and other lines wherein
the condition is not so salts
factory, certain localities are doing
q normal, or better than normal.
business while other localities re.
port sub-norn1al tendency.
While there has been some com.
plant regarding business conditions
In washington since the first Of the
year, there remains with local
merchants firm spirit OF optimism
based upon past experience Of
minor depressions, which must
inevitably occur, even In prosperous
times.
According to the current issue Of
the Guaranty Survey" published
today by the Guaranty Trust Com
pany, of New York, there Il q
marked preponderance Of favorable
over unfavorable elements in the
immediate business outlook. The
survey continues:
Practically none OF the tradi.
uonal forerunners Of trade reaction
- apparent at the present time.
Commercial inventories are TN.
usually small. There IL certainly
no sign Of imitation in commodity
prices.
Money rates are easy ana both
long and short term funds are
abundant. The level Of purchasing
power in industrial communities 8
without precedent. Coos produced
are moving freely into consumption.
The building and automobile indus.
tries remain very active and the
cotton textile industry is gaining,
Most OF the large business organize.
lions are In q strong financial posi-.
ton. Transportation efficiency IL
at the peak.
ION the other hand, IL must be
recognized that certain groups, no
tably in agricultural sections. are
out Of line with the general pros
perity.
ct remains true, however, that
most Of the unfavorable factors are
As yet mere personalities, with
little or no bearing on the course
OF trade in the immediate future.
AS for the significance Of current
reports, most OF these indicate
moderate. but nevertheless encOur.
aging. seasonal expansion.
There win be an innovation this
year in the sports program Of the
District Of Columbia Bankers Asso.
citation convention at Hot Springs,
GVa-s which win be held from June
, to 10.
While the annual gathering 81
the financiers is primarily q mat.
ter OF business, the bankers and
their guests, nevertheless, find time
FOR bit OF play on links or courts.
Heretofore there has been no golf
tournament on the first day Of the
convention, but this year an event
il planned for Thursday IN addi.
ton to the usual contests Of Friday
and Saturday.
It is announced BY the committee
that there win, also, be something
novel in the way Of q putting con.
test indoors. This will be held In
the lobby Of the hotel ana both
men and women will participate,
enc side Of the lobby being for the
men and one side for the ladies,
Each player viii have the right
20 putt IS holes on each day Of
the convention and the lowest total
score wins. The winner OF the
mems contest will play the winner
Of the ladies' contest for the cham.
pionship Of the event.
The tennis events at the convsn-
tion viii be under the direction Of
President Ezra Gould, Of the Wash.
1ngton Mechanics Savings Bank.
The records Of 254 stock fire in.
surance companies for 1925 show
large gains in every branch Of their
operations, according to statistics
compiled by the Spectator, an In.
eurance Journal. The combined
losses and expenses Of the com.
panies for the year were $916, $685..
O40, ana total premium income was
$950,678,616, an excess Of premiums
80 zoe con