Imperial Valley press., 1931-04-07

General business optimism among
the merchants of FL Centro and a
decided increase in the volume OF
sales throughout the retail stores OF
the city is indicated by a survey
made yesterday by the Ell Centro
Chamber of Commerce. Although
there was slight slump in business
turnover during the first six weeks
of 1881, merchants unanimously
state that business has improved and
ior the past month the volume OF
sales has equalled or exceeded those
of the same period of q year ago.
This would indicate that Imperial
Valley will remain white spot
and the business depression which
affected the rest of the country will
not touch this community.
The most enthusiastic reports re-
ceived by the chamber of commerce
were from the dry goods stores. all
of which reported an exceptionally
fine Easter business. Two shoe stores
reported last weeks business the
largest they had ever had IN the
history of the stores. Three mer-
chants reported business for last
week greater than for Easter year
ego and one of these stated that the
volume of business was 20 per cent
greater this year. Still another
merchant reported that he had done
greater volume of business this
year than for four years. Retail
stores selling merchandise other
than dry goods state that business
during March was equal to that of
March, 1890, and indications for
Apri are that the volume OF sales
may increase enough to make up
| for the slowing up in sales OF the
| first six weeks of this year, bring
ing the years average up to that Of
| 1890. -
c. w. Remele, manager of the I'M
perial Valley Credit association, re-
ports that collections in the month
of March were better than for sev-
eral months prior to March and that
there is general increase in the
volume OF business being done by
local merchants.
Building permits in FL Centre are
steadily rising and indications at
the present time are that the total
permits issued for 1881 will exceed
even those OF 1890, which were the
largest in the history OF the city
There Is little danger of too much
building in FL Centro as there has
been a house shortage for several
years and as large number OF
permits being issued are for occu-
patton rather than for renting there
will still be a need for rented houses
next year.
In commenting on the changed
condition in Ell Centro and through
out the country, Manager Hays OF
the Ell Centro Chamber of Conn.,
merce. has this to say:
There is published in Washing
ton a non-political newspaper whose
reading matter is obtained largely
from government sources. This is
the United States Daily and it is
regarded as an authority on national
affairs. One has but TO peruse ar
edition of the United States Daily
to realize the scope OF the improve
ment in the economic conditions in
the United States.
Hays calls attention to just one
issue of the paper, for March 81
which was the ending of the first
quarter Of 1881, wherein the follow
ing headlines might have been OBJ
served: Price level of farm prod
ucts advancing after long decline;
Exports of poultry now in excess OF
amounts imported Public works
program nears billion dollars" "Po-
tato growers are set to plant greater
acreage" Farm products higher in
price at local market" New public
works construction reported for the
week in 80 states t264 projects to-
taling $40 1000 ,000); More freighterS
are making use of the Welland Ca
nal;" "Offer by treasury of 90-day
bills is over subscribed" Business
tone in Dallas region grows strong