Evening star., 1935-03-18
GAINS DISCLOSED
IN FIT TIL DISTRICT
Washington Business Keeps
Well Ahead of Marks
Set Last Year.
BY EDWARD C. STONE.

Business in the Capital and all the
rest of the Fifth Federal Reserve dis
trict in the first quarter of 1885 will
hang UP an excellent record, well
ahead of the same period in 1884,
according to latest reports and the
best business barometers. The Fed
eral Reserve Bank of Richmond an
nounces that business has gone ahead
steadily so far in March and there
are no indications that the situation
will not continue during the remand
er of the month.
Business barometers covering con-
ditions IN Washington, which have
lust been compiled for February, pre-
sent bright picture. The Potomac
Electric Power Co. reports a gain of
1854 in the demand for electricity.
Kilowatt hour output for the District
in February totaled 44,678,092, against
4O,O19,647 in February a year ago,
an advance of 4,65S AS kilowatt hour
sales. Total sales are also way above
the figures for both February, 1888
and 1882.
Retail sales in the Washington de-
partment stores in February were
1872 per cent higher than in the like
month last year, this showing being
one of the best made by any city
in the country and leading all the
cities in the fifth district with one
exception. January sales were 12.9
per cent better than year ago. The
combined record of the first two
months Of 1885 will assure a fine
showing for the first quarter, when
the March figures are available.
Receipts at the City Post Office are
always a good indicator of business
conditions. Receipts in February
amounted to S499,866 as compared
with S426,131 m February year ago.
The January receipts were also much
better than the total in January,
1884. Telephone business is also
growing steadily. At the end of Febru-
ary Washington was served with 19l,-
439 telephones, an increase of l0,829
in comparison with the same date In
1884. Average calls per day also
Increased, there having been $780,
PIT daily calls, against TAT ,238 IN the
same month last year.
Check transactions in February
backed up the other indicators re-
vealing better business conditions
here. AS already noted, the Wash
ington Clearing House reported total
clearings of $6O566,9 ,932, while can
celed checks ir February, 1894,
reached the sum of only s49,o91, ,924.
That is an improvement of more
than $l1,000,0O0. So far in March,
local clearings have also been highly
satisfactory. While other barometers
might be cited, these are sufficient to
show an upward trend of substantial
proportions.
ID. c. Underwriters TO Meet.
The March meeting of the District
of Columbia Underwriters Associa-
ton will be held next Thursday noon
at the Willard, with Engene M
Thore, assistant counsel of the
Acacia Mutual Life Insurance Co.,
giving an address on When We Meet
the Claimant" He is an expert in life
insurance claim matters and has
spoken before a number of national
insurance meetings.
At this luncheon meeting brief
discussion will be held concerning the
new legislation introduced this month
In the House of Representatives rela-
tive to the proposed control of mail
order insurance business.
Announcement will be made about
the new National Association pro-
posal to eliminate the employment
of all part-time life insurance agents
in cities of $4,000 population or more.