Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-09-03
D. c. retail TRADE
HOLDING UP WELL
Washington Makes the Best
Showing Among Cities in
Fifth Reserve District.
BY EDWARD C. STONE.

In the detailed report received today
from the Federal Reserve Bank OF Rlcn-
mond IL Is announced that retail trace
in washington in July was 2.3 per cenl
lower than In the same month yes,
ago. Retail sales in this city from
January to August l were on IL pei
cent compared with last year.
This was the best showing mace py
anv of the % cities in the fifth district
baltimore being the closest rival. Baltl-
more retail sales in July were down ;
per cent and 81 per cent on the seven
months The record Tor the oistIlc.
as a whole revealed slump oil SIS per
cent while the seven month period re-
norted the slight loss of IL per cent;
THE remaining cities in the nth CHS.
trict not including washington ana
baltimore. reported July loss IN re-
tail sales of over 10 per cent compared
with a year ago and 7.8 per cent IN 'i'e
first seven months OF 1881. 49,
The reserve bank announced tnat .ne
,,ron in sales in Washington and Baltl-
more were probably largely due 10 tne
nrice changes during the year. But the
other cities which serve large ruraI
nopulation we're not as IorGuhsCe'
These cities felt the farm depression
seriously.
wholesale Trade Also Of.
sixtv-five wholesalers and iobbers re-
,,orted on their July business to the
Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond In
nonarison with sales in July last year,
July sales this year were materlalIy less
in all of the five lines for which ngures
are available, dry goods ana Snoes
showing the greatest declines ana oruss
the least change. In comparison WIFI
I',na 1oa0 sales. July sales showed
seasonal increases in most lines, gro
ceries being the only line which falleo
To make a gain. As Is usually the case
at this season. shoes recorueo Uis
largest increase over the volume OIL
business done in June -
Cumulative sales since January l TINS
wear we're lower in every line reported
,,uon than sales in the f1rSt seven
months of 1929. dry goods with oe-
cline this wear of IL per cent showing
the greatest decrease. Groceries, SHOES
and drugs show exactly the same per-
rentaee decline In 1880 sales, S.S per
cent
wholesale stocks on the shelves OF
the reporting firms increased seaSonaily
during July in dry goods. snoss AM. =
hardware, but grocery stocks deemed
fraction of / per cent. In comparison
with stocks carried last year, stocks on
IJ,,lv al 1880. we're larger in shoes, out
vers smaller in groceries, dry goods ana
hardware. =.
Collections in July were better IN
groceries and dry goods than In eltneI
June this year or July last year ou.
we're slower in shoes, hardware ana
drugs.
Local Bankers End Vacations.
The opening of September finds many
local bankers nastening home from long
or short vacations.
Edward J. Stellwagen, president OF
the Union Trust Co. has returned from
4 tvo-nonth stay at the Poland Spring
House in Maine.
Robert v. Fleming, president Of the
Riggs National Bank, was at his once
today after q month passed at spring
Howard Moran. vice president Of the
American Security & Trust Co, Is Dack
in the city after months outihs:
which he spent in New England ana
C. J. Gockeler, vice president Of the
r,istrict National Bank Is home after
month spent in the vicinity OF Atlantic
RAYMOND G. Marx, auditor of the
Riggs National Bank, is back in the
Capital from a vacation passed at
Atlantic City and other points on the
New Jersey coast.
Charles T.. Howe. treasurer OF the
turned from a months outing at Mifnin-
town. Pa, his old home.
Albion K, Paris, one OF the founders
nf Crane. Paris 81 Co., and an authof-
itv on the histor.' Of the washington
stock Exchange, is now in Portland,
Me.
Harley p. Wilson Improves.
Harley p. Wilson. director in the Ma
tional Savings e. Trust Co. Washington
Railway 81 Electric and North Ameri-
can Cos. who has been confined TO a
hospital for long time, has recovered
sufficiently to return to his flne estate
below Alexandria, Va. His health Is
said to be much better than Tor sew
eral years Mr. Wilson was the leader
in the move some time ago to force
merger of the Capital Traction, Wash
ington Railway g. Electric and wash
ington Rapid Transit Cos.
Robert N. Harper, chairman of the
board of the District National Bank,
will leave here tomorrow for
rest at Atlantic City. At the time
of his resignation as president OF
the bank several months ago he
stated that he had not had a real
vacation In So years and had been a
national bank president continuously
for 81 years.
Prank p. Morse, manager of Selig-
man & Co., is back in the city after
his annual vacation.
Local Firm 50 Years Old.
Checks have been mailed to the stock
holders of the Security Finance Cor
poration covering the tenth regular
senli-annual dividend upon the pre-
ferred stock at the rate of per cent
per annum.
The officers and directors of the COM
pany are: Claude w. owen, president;
Merritt o. Chance, vice president;
James B. Evans, vice president; William
Conradis, secretary; A. H. Brewood,
treasurer; Gen. John L. Chamberlain,
Edwin E. Elicit, William C. Hanson,
Frederick w. Quinter.
d. C. Exchange More Active.
Trading on the Washington Stock
Exchange was much better again today
after the August lull Small lot trad
ing in Peoples Drug Stores preferred
was one of the features, 100 shares
changing hands in 10 transactions, with
the stock closing at l0lH "a.
Potomac Electric Power So per cent
preferred came out at 108l4 and 100
shares of Real Estate Mortgage 81
Guaranty preferred moved at 6l2
Peoples Drug and Mergenthaler Limo
type is now being quoted exdividend
Bonds were in much better demand
There were fair sized transactions in
Capital Traction SIS, Georgetown Gas
SIS. Washington Gas IS and Washing
ton Railway a. Electric, prices being
around recent levels.
Commodity Prices Steady.
The wholesale price index of Tho
National Fertilizer Association showei
e. decline of only four fractional point,
for the week ended AupliSt an TIL.