Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-10-28
WASHINGTON TRADE
IS DECLARED BEST
Head Of Sears, Roebuck &
Co. Finds Capital Is
Leading Nation.
ny EDWARD c. STONE.

hlGAAEh6 IN WAAuAiEkU0 - Dtt@ET AtiaAi
II u anywhere else in the United
States. according to Gen. Robert r
wood president OF Sears. Rosbuck &
Co. OF Chicago. who is here for short
visit
Gen. Weed, when seen at the willard
Hotel today, said that business in his
companys Washington store is well
ahead OF q year ago. although such is
not the case In Ahe rest Of the country.
The reason fef the fine showing here
Is because you have no closed steel
mills no accent cotton and no low
priced wheat upon which the city Is de-
pendent for It's income You have a
Government payroll that is almost con-
slant, SO that the ups and downs IN
business conditions elsewhere have
very little to do with conditions IN
Washington he said
Some OF the State capitals are in
somewhat the same fortunate position.
Gen. Wood added Madison, Wis. for
example. is better of than most cities.
In other similar cities in which State
universities are situated, the depression
has not struck such a hard blow, he
continued.
Declines 10 Make Forecasts.
Gen. Wood is very conservative. Prob
ably no merchant in the United States
is I'm closer touch with business condi-
tons ell over the Nation than he Is be-
cause of the character Of his firms bust
ness He has his fingers on the mercan-
tile pulse Of every section Of the eoun-
try, both cities and agricultural regions
Yet he will make no predictions when a
substantial advance in trade is coming
II may be next month and 1t may be
q year. he said today IL is useless
70 make glowing forecasts when the
figures tell q different story, he ex-
planned. One persons prediction, he
kiclared. Is as good as another's
On his recent tours over the country,
he says. the New England section SEEM
ed TO be showing the most Improvement.
T'hings never 90 quite as high or quite
es low in New England as they DO in
other localities Gen. Wood asserted.
Business in his line is always best
during the last three months Of the
year. He is sure the same will be true
again this year, the figures so far in
October clearly indicating this.
Gen. Wood has . genial personality.
While his FIRMS business is of about
II per cent from last year. he is far
from gloomy. He knows the depression
Is going TO end. He hopes soon But
just when. he won't attempt 70 say.
c. q p. Telephone Income Higher.
Net operating income of the Chesa-
peake & Potomac Telephone Co. in Sep
TENDER was SlS6. 764, against $97,l
In September, 1880. according TO the
monthly statement filed with the Pub
lie Utilities Commission today. Balance
net income for the first nine months OF
the present year was SLAP sol, COM
pared with $902.60T in the correspond
ing period year ago, gain OF $504,-
sI4
washington was. served by l74.7s5
telephones at the close of business Sep
tender 80. This was net gain OF
6,305 since january l. In September
telephone users made about l7,055, 900
calls, which was an increase of 9.3 per
cent over the number made during the
same month last year. This additional
business has required an increase in the
number Of telephone employees in recent
months.
Telephone operating revenues for the
'ni~s months ending September 80
amounted TO $6.e32.633, as compared
with IS SOC, $40 for the same period last
year Total operating income, after de-
crcting taxes and uncollectible items,
for the first nine months of this year
amounted To $l,7l3.272, as compared
with l245 ,637 for q similar period in
1880.
Taxes in September were $5S,624.
Taxes for the first nine months of the
year amounted to $50T, 2sS, as compared
with s4l5.963 for the FIRST nine months
Of last year.
Capital expenditures for new plant
and equipment added to the companyS
system in the District of Columbia for
the nine months ending September 80
amounted to $i655,774.
ID. c. Exchange More Active.
Trading was more active on the
Washington Stock Exchange today.
The opening transaction was in LanS-
ton Monotype. which sold at rs, hold
ing its recent advance. Merganthaler
Linotype. the other type stock. was also
out today, selling in a small at Sc.
Twelve shares of Capital Traction
changed hands today at 24i2, the first
sale for some time washington Rail-
way e. Electric preferred changed hands
ht %, for 10 shares American Security
e. Trust Co. registered a small sale of
stock at 500
In the bond division FIVE ST. 900 sales
were recorded in Washington Railway
g. Electric As. all made at $751;.
Washington clearing house figures
TOR today: $S,i6S, 1868.
Washington Gas Net Gains.
The Washington Gas Light Co. has
Public Utilities Commission as S6S,-
S4Sl2, against the much lower figure
of $S2.l50.75 in September 1880. Net
income for the first nine months of the
present year has reached the sum Of
SS42, 1lb.46. in comparison with $6l2.-
S22.69 in the like period year ago, an
advance in net corporate income of
$229. 29577
The Georgetown Gas Light Co. re-
ports net income in September amount
ing 70 81 599 90 as contraSted with So
5S9S3 in the month last year That
for the nine months Is S94. 0al SO. de-
cline from $lS2 442.72 in the similar
comparative period year ago
Notes in Financial District.
A special meeting OF the fiduciaries
section Of the District of Columbia
Bankers Association was held in the
rooms OF the organization yesterday
afternoon, with Chairman Kenneth
Brooks presiding. This meeting was
pVlEliIGY n me regular meeting 70
be held Thursday at which the section
Will be organized for its Winter work
committees named and other business
Of Importance transacted
Southern Railway September net op-
Grating income $172 go. year ago So
06l COS. for nine months S6435,S $50
against Sl4,0S4 PCS
Pennsylvania Railroad September net
operating income, S5.592 .S57. year ago,
SS.96S,lS9. for nine months, SSs.2ol,
l2S, against $7S,lIl.7sl.
=