Evening star., 1938-08-19
Gas Sales in NJ. c. F.
Thousand cubic feet
Retail Outlook Good.

Retail Outlook Good.
A reduction in the inventories both
of Washington stores and of manu-
facturers has improved the retail out
look substantially, according to
survey of department store executives
here.
The market is clear of surplus
merchandise, and bargain offerings
are scarce on the wholesale market"
one leading executive said. I'VE look
forward to increasing business in the
fall"
An optimistic outlook for fall busi-
ness based on public acceptance of
early fall offerings, both in apparel and
honaewares. was indicated by another
executive.
Manufacturers have shown little
tendency to raise prices, and this will
prove stabilizing influence in retail
selling" he declared.
THE public will find values in many
lines more attractive than were avail
able during the season past, and this
will have a beneficial effect on buy
ing" He pointed out that furs are
currently selling far below last years
level and indicated that similar
condition would prevail in other. lines,
including many staples and home
commodities.
I'VE feel that in Washington We
will have a good fall business" said
q third executive, "as we have such
large number of Government en-
ployes permanently located here. We
feel that retail business will be very
good in the last quarter. Inventories
in the stores have been well liqui-
dated"
Conclave Date Is Set.
According to information released
yesterday by officials of the United
States Building and Loan League. the
Gate of the annual conclave has been
set for November 1917 in Chicago.
The meeting is of particular interest
to Washington building and loan men,
as Edward c. Baltz, secretary of the
Perpetual Building Association, is
president of the national body being
elected at the Los Angeles convention
last fall. Arthur G. Bishop, president
of the local league, assisted by Will
liam N. Payne, jr., vice president, is
in charge of getting out record
breaking delegation from the Capital.
Mr.. Baltz will observe his birthday
on November l3 and already plans
are under way for fitting celebration
in Chicago prior to opening sessions.
Rail Revenues Lag.
Nineteen class l railroads, rep
resenting 67.2 per cent of total operat-
ing revenues in the Southern district,
had estimated operating revenues in
July, 1888, of S24,266 049, compared
with s27,482,544 in July, 1897, and
$32,433,273 in July. 1880. Operating
revenues of the 10 class I railroads
In the Southern district in July, 1888,
were III per cent below those for
the same month in 1887 and 25.2 per
cent below July, 1880.
Financial District Notes.
Marcy L. Sperry, president of Wash
ington Gas Light Co., is vacationing
in the Adirondack mountains He ex-
poets to return after Labor Day.
Warren Forster, vice president of
the Hamilton National Bank, left to-
day for his summer home in Vermont
where he will spent three weeks with
his family.
Sidney Taliaferro, vice president and
trust officer at Riggs National Bank,
left today for short vacation motor
trip into Virginia. He will return
after Labor Day.
Alfred H. Lawson, vice president and
real estate officer of the Washington
Loan & Trust Co., left yesterday for
an extended motor trip to Virginia re-
sorts Immediately after the return of
Herbert w. Primm, assistant real es-
tate officer, from a sojourn on the
Jersey coast.
Norman E. Towson, assistant treas
urer in charge of the, foreign and GUS
stomers' securities departments, the
same institution, is spending his vaca-
ton at Avalon, N. j.
Edwin H. o. Stokes, assistant cashier
of Morris Plan Bank of Washington,
is vacationing this week on the East
ern Shore of Maryland.
W. T. Vandoren, vice president and
cashier of Liberty National Bank, is
recuperating from tonsil operation
while on his vacation.
Ten shares of Washington Loan &
Trust Co. sold at 235 in the only
transaction on the Washington STOCK