Evening star., 1935-10-06
BUSINESS BOOM
SHOWN IN SURVEY
Department Store Sales
lump to 13 Per Cent
Above Last Year.

Business is booming in Washington.
This was the CHEEKY consensus yes
terday of merchants, bankers and
others who have their fingers on the
arteries of trade.
Executives of some of the leading
department stores joined with bank
ers in giving an optimistic picture Of
trade and industry in Washington
picture with remarkably bright spots
In the immediate foreground.
The story was about the same at
every store visited by reporter in a
casual survey yesterday. Busy scenes
in well-known department stores con-
firmed cold statistics revealed by the
Department Of Commerce-showing
that department store sales jumped
to an unusual degree last week and
registered a l3 per cent average in
crease over the corresponding week
of last year
Reasons for Climb.
The climb, business leaders de-
clared, has been a healthy and sub
stantial one during the past few
months. Various reasons were as
signed-large Government pay roll.
improved advertising and merchandise
ing methods, liberalized credit and
widespread construction boom. 1t all
boils down to the fact Washington
Is good place in which to live
Bank clearings increased l4.6 per
cent last week over the previous week,
according to the Commerce Depart
ment. The value of building permits,
while declining from the previous
week. was 400 per cent greater than
for the corresponding week a year
ago.
A particularly encouraging report
was given by Ralph Goldsmith, gen.
eral manager of Lansburgh g. Bro,
department store. This store, cele-
brating its 18th anniversary, said sales
last week-the first of an anniver-
sary sales drive-exceeded even the
optimistic estimates Of the manage
ment. The gain was store-wide, he
said. indicative Of the general nature
Of the upward trend was the fact the
first four teams engaged in the stores
sales contest were within 2 per cent
Of each other in gains registered for
the week. Lansburgh's, he declared,
will experience its peak year in 1885.
Federal Pay Roll Aids.
Goldsmith attributed the stores
banner year to several things: The
purchasing power of the Federal pay
roll thu lharo 1izo tion of rrodit for
charge customers, the increased de-
mand for house furnishings coinci-
dent with the construction step-up,
and improved display and sales facili-
ties provided under a modernization
program.
He said he does not believe the
upturn in business here is just a
flash in the pan" Washington, he
pointed out, has become a national
and international center for govern
mental and business organizations,
with a steady pay roll for its con-
stantly growing population.
Charles B. Dulcan, ST., vice presi-
dent and general merchandise mana
ger Of the Hecht Co., gave an equally
optimistic view of conditions in the
Capital.
"The percentage Of increase In our
various departments" he asserted, 'is
far beyond our budgeted sales for the
year, and, more than that, it greatly
exceeds all previous sales figures in
the 40 years Of our history"
During September, Dulcan said, the
climb was even sleeper than for the
other months. He expressed the opin-
ion the increase Is due to the enlarged
Government pay roll, the stimulation
in building and the improved morale
Of customers and statesmen.
Future Here Bright.
Dulcan said that since Washington
Is destined to grow with the country,
due to inevitable expansion Of gov
ernmental functions, the business fu-
ture in Washington is bright.
George o. Vass, vice president and
cashier Of the Riggs National Bank
and former president Of the District
Of Columbia Bankers Association, said
the increase in construction activi-
ties here Is reflected In many other
Zines of business. The building stim-
ulus, he explained, extends to mer-