Evening star., 1934-12-16
II Months Report Shows
Gain of 20.4 Per Cent.
Margin Is Widening.
CAPITAL TRANSIT PAYS
DIVIDEND OF S24O, 900
Park Savings Bank to Start First
Payment to Depositors Dur.
ing Present Week.
BY EDWARD C. STONE.

BY EDWARD C. STONE.
Based on the report that department
store sales in Washington in the first
II months of this year were 204 pei
cent better than in the like period q
year ago, it now seems certain that
1884 will end with retail trade in the
Capital from 20 to Is per cent above
the 1888 record.
The report just made by the Fed
eral Reserve Bank of Richmond show
ing that retail sales in Washington in
November were Is per cent ahead oi
November, 1888, was followed by an
nouncement of the 11-month per-
centage records for this city and others
in the Fifth Reserve district.
December trade has been so good
that the years record is sure to be
most satisfactory. Both the big stores
and the smaller ones are jammed to
the doors every day, not by mere shop
pers but by actual buyers. In the
eight more shopping days before
Christmas, the rush will continue.
Up to December /, Washington's
sales totals were better than the aver
age for the Fifth district, which re-
vealed an advance over 1888 Of 18 per
cent, based on returns from 48 stores.
Outside of this city, the territory in
cludes Maryland, Virginia and West
Virginia and the Carolinas.
Other Cities Enjoying Gains.
Other cities in the Fifth district
have also scored most gratifying gains
during the last II months. So far this
year, Charleston, w. Va, sales are up
32.7 per cent. This surprising record
is partly due to the fact that sales in
that city last year took very serious
tumble Lynchburg. Va, also stands
above the Washington mark with q
gain of 24.7 per cent.
Baltimore's advance in retail bust
ness has been more conservative, sales
being up 1913 per cent. Richmond
sales so far in 1884 have been 1872
per cent higher than last year. Hunt
ington, w. Va, reports q 1873 per
cent advance.
Norfolk has enjoyed a good year
in retail trade, sales now being more
than IS per cent ahead Of last year.
A group Of Is stores in other fifth
district cities hung up a ~ per cent
gain, showing that the improvement
is general.
That conditions in this trade area
have been better than elsewhere in
the United States is revealed by the
Federal Reserve Boards announce
ment that 513 stores all over the
country reported an average pickup
Of Is per cent in sales for the H.
month period.
Transit Pays 81 Dividend.
Hundreds of holders of Capital
Transit Co. stock in Washington re-
ceived checks in the mail yesterday
covering the ST dividend recently de-
clared by the directors 1t was the
first dividend since the merger of the
local street car lines went into effect
on December 1, 1893.
AS there are 240,000 shares of stock
outstanding the payment means a
distribution of $4,000. Since the
North American Co. controls Capital
Transit, more than half the payment
goes to that company. The stock,
however, is very widely held by indi-
viduals. The former Capital Traction
stock was exchanged into the new
stock.
The payment was indeed welcome.
Holders of the old Traction stock had
not received a cent in dividends for
several years. The stock got so low
that to sell it meant almost giving it
away. So owners held on. Now they
are getting some slight reward for
their patience while the price Of the
stock has also advanced. It closed
the week at 27. The other day it was
up to 20. Two years ago it was
down to 4.
The dividend was fully warranted
The first years earnings have not
been announced, but are estimated to
be around So share. The upswing
IN revenues has been astonishing.
Park Savings Payment Starts.
John F. Moran, receiver for the
Park Savings Bank, will begin the dis.
tribution Of the 20 per cent dividend
tomorrow morning. The bank will bt
open Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday
up to pm. for the convenience o1
former depoSitors. Then regular bank.
ing hours will prevail.
To simplify handling Of the checks
the receiver states that the cages will
be marked alphabetically. Each de-
positor will then lose no time in get
ting to the right window. Depositors
must present the receipts given them
when their claims were filed. Checks
will be mailed only to those living
outside of the city.
Those with proven claims will gel
their money at once. Others will have
to wait about two weeks. There are
$4,000 depositors, and it is the first
payment since the bank closed. About
100000 will be distributed.
Norman r. Hamilton, receiver. re-
ports that more than 1,500 depositors
in the Northeast Savings Bank have
not yet called for their share in the
second dividend of Is per cent, $4,000
awaiting them at 1406 G street north
west. He added that 800 checks, to-
falling s38,500, are awaiting Seventh
Street Savings Bank depositors, and
$50 checks, involving $1,000, are being
held on Washington Savings Bank &C.
counts at the same address. That
means about $4,000 has not been
claimed.
The Bank women's Club of Wash
ington will hold its Christmas meet
ing at the Olney Inn, Olney, Md, at
6:45 pm. Wednesday. December 19
1t is to be a closed meeting and din
ner will be served to members. Miss
Alice H. Whitton, president of the
club, will preside.