Imperial Valley press., 1933-03-06

permits in Los Angeles showed an
increase in number but no appre-
ciable change in total value as
compared with January.
Los Angeles bank debts which
are normally smaller in February
than in January totaled $480, 0,875 ,093
in contrast with $514,824, ,125 in the
previous month. An increase in
intercoastal shipments through Los
Angeles-Long Beach harbor as
compared with year ago was the
most favorable feature of the COM
merce report of the port during
February, other classes of trade
showing decrease.
Agricultural activity during Feb
ruary was confined principally to
plowing, planting, pruning and
other cultural operations. Heavy
, frosts which occurred in the sec
end week of the month caused con-
siderable damage to tomato, pea
and melon paintings IN the Imper-
ial Valley and the marketing of
these crops will be delayed some
what as a result. While livestock
men were benefited by the growth
of green forage during February,
! additional improvement is neces-
sary to put many pastures and
ranges in satisfactory condition.
/ Contrary to seasonal expecta
tons, the dollar volume Of depart
ment store sales in Los Angeles
showed small increase in Febru-
airy as compared with the preced
ing month, according to informa-
ton received from representative
establishments. In most instances,
however, the February volumes
ranged from 20 to so per cent be-
low the figures for the correspond
ing month of 1882. Although the
sales records of the leading depart
! ment stores were generally some
what better than those of speciality
shops, certain concerns selling mer-
chandise of low unit cost reported
satisfactory volumes. Automobile
accessory firms made a particularly
| favorable showing, practically
| equaling the business of year ago.
Advices from % other Southern
California communities n C e
that trade activity in February as
contraSted with January showed
increases IN seven, remained un-
changed in five and decreased in II
of these cities. Among the COM
munities in which improvement was
reported are Long Beach, San Pc
| dro, Alhambra, Huntington. Park,
/ Whittier, Santa Paula and Carpin-
| terra. Conditions in San Pedro are
said to be slightly better than a
year ago due primarily to the in
creased naval activity at the Los
Angeles-Long Beach harbor.
Trade at wholesale in the Los An
| geles area was apparently some
what more active in February than
in January. judging from the data
| at hand. Firms in the dry goods,
hardware and tire businesses ex-
perienced some improvement over
the previous month while concerns
selling groceries and automotive
accessories conducted operations at
approximately the same levels
Generally speaking, collections
both wholesale and retail, are be-
ing maintained at satisfactory
! RACES.
| During January, 1888, total sales
of nine Los Angeles department
stores showed a decrease of 27,6 pei
cent as compared with January
1882, according to the Federal Re-
serve bank of this district. Similar
ly compared, aggregate sales OF re-
preventative stores in eight other
Southern California cities were only
21.8 per cent smaller. AS of Febru-
ary /, 1888, inventories of Los An
geles stores were 1910 per cent less
than a year previous.