Evening star., 1937-01-31
Total of $100,562,083 Is
Best Mark for Month Re.
ported Since 1881.
RETAIL STORE SALES
ALSO REVEAL UPSWING
Washington Gas Net Higher in
December-Shows Decrease
for Full Year.
BY EDWARD C. STONE.


George H. Bright. manager of the
Washington Clearing House Associa-
tion, got away to fine start in the
first month of the year by reaching
q total of $100, 0,562, ,08388. This COM
pares with $86, $50 ,549.44 in January,
1886. gain of around 18 per cent.
Yesterdays figures for January in
dicate that business is going ahead
steadily in 1887 as it did in 1896.
The advance is surprising in view of
the weather conditions during most
of January. even though Inauguration
was included in the month. The
figures will cause very wide satisfac-
tion in business and banking circles.
Washington clearings were the best
for any January since 1881. January
clearings here totaled s69,566, ,281 80
in 1885, were SIS, .297.49 in 1884,
$72,567,28 in 1888, $92,855, ,736.29 in
1882 and s109, ,764 ,614.34 in 1881. Back
in January, 1880, clearings here
totaled $l1S,219,262.8 and in 1929
were $129,438,291.31.
Department Store Sales Climb.
Business indicators in Washington
made substantial progress this last
week, department store sales being
POS per cent ahead of the same week
a year ago and 5.3 per cent better
than in the previous week this year,
the Commerce Department reported
yesterday in review of trade condi-
tions in 81 key cities.
Bank clearings totaled $24, ,745 1888,
compared with s20,17o,328 the previ-
Gus week and s16,336,692 during the
corresponding week in 1886. The
value of building permits issued
during the week was $178,700 in COM
parison with $172,50 for the previous
week and s592,810 for the same week
Q year ago, the report stated.
Inaugural crowds remaining in the
Capital helped to boost attendance
figures at the Smithsonian Institution
to 3,7s8 for the week, compared with
20,2s1 the previous week and only
12,745 in the corresponding week in
1885. From the rest OF the fifth
Federal Reserve district came reports
that the weather in most cities had
hurt trade, although Charleston, S. c.,
reported marked gains in trade over
the previous week and last year. One
department store there doubled its
sales in the first three weeks in Janu-
ary, compared with the like period in
1896. In Baltimore and elsewhere
wholesale trade revealed expansion
over 1886 levels.
December Gas Net Higher.
Net income of the Washington Gas
Light Co. for December totaled $751;
1873, an increase of $39,849 over De-
cember, 1885, the report filed with
the Public Utilities Commission yes
terday, revealed. It was the first re-
port since the Washington and George
town companies merged and for the
purpose of comparison, the 1885 fig
ures of the two companies were con.
solidated.
Operating revenues in December
were $757,417 compared with $679, 1886
for December, 1885, an increase of
$77,779. Operating expenses increased
$56,5 over a year ago, substantial
part being represented by increased
charges for taxes and retirement re-
serves. Incorporating revenues in
creased $20,259 over December year
ago.
Earnings for the full year 1886 were
also reported, showing an increase in
operating revenues of s289,88 over
1885. Operating expenses increased
4574, ,805, partly due to higher taxes.
larger retirement reserve and the
much larger volume Of gas produced.
Incorporating revenues were up more
than $4,000. After interest and
amortization deductions, net income
for 1886 totaled $666,743, compared
with $979, SOS year ago, decrease
of S3l2,862. Officials of the company
consider this a good showing in view
Of the reductions in gas rates made
in December, 1885, and September,
1896.
During 1896 gas sales were 9,867,-
900 cubic feet compared with $500, 900
cubic feet during 1885, an increase Of
approximately 12.1 per cent. At the
end of December, the Washington Gas
Light Co. had 144,543 meters in service
in the District Of Columbia, an in
crease of 7.459 meters over December,
1885, yesterdays report said.
Prices Firm on Exchange.
The weeks final trading on the
Washington Stock Exchange found
prices firm. Capital Traction IS
changed hands at "a, OF u from the
last previous sale. Potomac Electric
Power 81 per cent preferred gained
q fraction, selling at 1875. WASH
ington Gas was strong, selling at IS,
up full point. Woodward & Lothrop
common stock recorded the first sale
In 1887 with q 10-share transfer at
125.
The Washington delegation to the
Eastern Regional Banking Conference
at Pittsburgh was back In the Cap
ital yesterday, enthusiastic over the
meeting. Congress is to be asked for
an amendment to the post savings act,
as the financiers believe the post saw
ings system Is In too severe competi-
ton with the banks. A host Of bank
management and investment questions
were carefully considered.
Every resource Of the bituminous
coal industry in meeting emergency
needs for fuel In the flood catastrophe
areas was pledged by the National
Coal Association once here in Q COM
munication from ]. D. Battle, execu-
tive secretary, to the American Red
Cross. AL district coal associations
in the Appalachian area were notified
to cooperate in every possible way
with the Red Cross in supplying coal
as may be required In dealing with the
euner0encv