Evening star., 1936-12-01
SPECIAL ORDERED
BY PEOPLES DRUG
S1.75 a Share to Be Paid
In Addition to Usual
25-Cent Rate.
BY EDWARD C. STONE.

BY EDWARD C. STONE.
Directors Of Peoples Drug Stores,
Inc, today announced a special
dividend of Sits a share on the
common stock and the regular quar-
terly dividend of rs cents a share On
the same stock.
The announcement, made here at
headquarters of the big chain system,
stated that both special and regular
dividends would be paid on December
81 to stockholders of record Decem-
Der ~.
Both the common and preferred
stocks of Peoples Drug Stores are
listed on the Washington Stock Ex-
change and the common is on the New
York Exchange. The common has
been selling around $56 and $57
Share.
The divended announcement follows
Yesterdays report from President M. G.
Gibbs that the company will pay a
Christmas bonus to 1900 company
employees. The directors voted to pre-
sent rs per cent of one months basic
salary to all employed more than six
months and less than year; IS per
cent to those who have been on the
pay roll between one and two years,
and 50 per cent to all employed two
years or more.
Washington Gas Net Off.
Net income of the Washington Gas
Light Co. in October showed a deficit
of s5,798, against net gain year
ago of S63, 3,097, according to the month
" statement filed today with the Pub
lie Utilities Commission.
Operating revenues totaled $477 1858
In October compared with S5l2,9l4 in
October, 1885, while operating ex-
penses and taxes called for S4l9,6l0,
compared with 1898, ,7O4 last year, leav-
ing net operating revenues of S57, TAB,
in comparison with Sl14,210, de-
crease Of over $56,000.
The company paid out $75,639 in
Interest and amortization this year,
against s73, 1922 year ago. The Oc-
,tober drop in net income is ascribed to
increasing operating expenses and to
1.-The effect of the reduced gas rates,
which were approved on December 16,
1895.
For the first 10 months of this year
the company reported operating reve-
tnues Of $5,392, ,268, gain of $152 .2O2
Iover last year. Operating expenses
talso mounted, S4,195,351, comparing
with s3,791 ,O41, up $4O4,3lO. Net op-
Grating revenues amounted to $780,
e17, against S1,449,025 a year ago.
After all deductions for interest the
company had a net income for the 10
months of $496,474, against S795, ,l84
In the like period year ago.
Georgetown Gas Net Lower.
The Georgetown Gas report likewise
shows the effect of rate reductions
and increased charges for the retire
ment of property in net loss of S3.268
for October of this year. This years
comparisons are with periods year
ago. before the lower gas rates went
Hnto effect.
Operating revenues of the two gas
companies for the first 10 months of
this year increased S194,719 over the
corresponding period in 1885. Ex-
penses. however, also revealed heavy
increases.
During the 10 months ending Oc-
fober 81, 1886, the gas sales of the
two companies were 1888, 100000 cubic
feet, compared with 7,106,000,000 Gu
bic feet during the corresponding pc
riod year ago, an increase of II per
cent. At the end of October these
District of Columbia companies had
l42,518 meters in service, an increase
of 7,149 over October. 1885.
Dividend Paid Today.
The State Loan Co., main office at
$500 Rhode Island avenue, Mount
Rainier, Md. is distributing to stock
holders today the twenty-thir sue
cessive quarterly dividend of 81 so per
share on its per cent preferred
profit t-sharing stock. The prospectus
for an additional issue of 5000 shares
of this stock was released by the
Securities and Exchange Commission
on November Z, 1886, there being
about 900 shares of the stock already
outstanding at that time. The addi-
tional issue is being underwritten by
Wilhelm e. co.
During the latter part of December
the twelfth successive semi-annual
dividend Of 81 per share will be paid,
keeping up the yearly return of
total Of $40 per share, which the stock
has always paid.
A. b. A. Halls Recovery.
With restoration of Santa Claus to
his traditional opulence as a climax
to year Of improvement and with
purchasing power at a new post-de-
preston peak, the Nation is looking
forward to the best holiday season
In years, Banking, official organ of
the American Bankers Association,
asserted today. More jobs, higher
wages, rising national income and
Increasing good will also strengthen
hopes for prosperous 1887, the jour-
nal declares.
A number of large industries, among
them steel, automobiles, textiles, rub
Der and meat packing, have increased
wages by varying amounts. In the
span of one November fortnight ap-
proximately s200.000,000 was added
to annual pay rolls, benefiting a mil
lion and a quarter workers and, in
cidentally, adding that much to pro-
duction costs.
There is good reason to believe that
retail buying of industry's goods for
distribution on December IS will reach
impressive figures. Secretary Roper
estimates it at more than 5000, ,0OO,-
600, only 10 per cent under 1929. The
National Retail Dry Goods Associa-
ton also says buying will be the best
since that year, and estimates of the
improvement over 1885 are ranging
from IS to IS per cent, the forecast
concludes.
Christmas Club Funds Paid.
About $1,000 members of Christmas
Savings Clubs in Washington banks
received an aggregate of s6.300,o0o in
the mail today, the checks being sent
out yesterday. The annual distribution
Df these funds will give Christmas trade
here big boost, as is always the case
The 1897 clubs were officially opened