Evening star., 1938-05-31

year ago, the figures being as follows:
1888 1887.
January ---$93, ,436, 1873 $lO0, 0,562, ,o83
February - 84,231,245 92,192,370
March ---- 1892, 1913 114,7s2,s
April -----101 ,104,3 ,372 1858, ,484
May ---- 89,749,47o 103, 3,997,339
Gas Net Of S1S,153 in April.
The monthly report of the Washing
ton Gas Light Co. filed today with the
Public Utilities Commission shows op-
Grating revenues of s715, 5,480, compared
with $717,574 for April last year,
decrease of $2,094 as a result of the
warmer weather during April this year.
Operating expenses increased S23,-
974 from S502,664 in April. 1887, to
1926, 638 in April this year, resulting in
a net operating revenue of S188,842 in
April, 1888, compared with $214,910
for the same month last year. Nom
operating revenues were $11 ,597, an in
crease of $7,246.
The net result of the months opera
tons was net income of $118,824,
which is $751; less than last year.
For the first four months of the cur
rent year the net income was $780,
870, compared with $548,968 for the
same period last year
The company also reports gas sales
of l,025,872 mcf, or 4,451 mcf less than
the cooler April of 1897. AS of April
30. 1888, there were 149,305 meters in
service, or 4,035 more than at the same
date last year.
Potomac Powers Net Lower.
Operating revenues of the Potomac
Electric Power Co. in April amounted
to $1,227, 1899, an increase of $751;
22l.38. according to the monthly re-
port filed this noon with the Public
Utilities Commission.
Operating expenses called for $780,
475.66, which was 7l.215.17 more than
a year ago, and leaving net operating
revenues of S440 ,694.32, a decrease of
39,993.79 in comparison with the same
month last year.
After all deductions from gross earn
ings to meet interest payments, the
Potomac Electric Power Co. reported
net income for April of $342, ,850.09, as
compared with S4o4 4,933.63 last year, a
decrease of $62,08354
The power company also presented
the financial statement for the first
four months of this year, showing op-
Grating revenues of s5,056,373.34, a
gain of $114,837.47. Operating ex-
penses amounted to $3,149, ,20219,
showing an increase of $284,241 SO.
Net income from operations totaled
$1,907,171.15, decrease of $3.50, ,404.21.
Gross earnings reached the sum of
81 ,908, ,280.66 Income deductions for
interest on bonds, ETC., required $685.
68096, which was Sal, 900 more than
last year.
These deductions left total net in
come for the four months of $1,522,-
599.7e, a decline of $241 ,076.76 from
last year, or 13 per cent, the report
showed.
Banks Increase Loans.
Newspaper advertising has been
found by banks to be the most pro-
ductive form of promotion of their
personal loan business, according to
a survey of experience of bank per-
sonal loan departments just COM
pleted by the American Bankers As
sociation and published by its Re-
search Council. Fifty per cent of the
banks replying to the associations
QUESTIONABLE reported that they
found newspaper advertising to be
the most productive of results"
i,,o 1f
inaugurating personal loan depart
ments, with desire to extend the use
of banking facilities to as large por-
tion of the public as possible, the sur
vey reports. 1t points out that the ex-
ceptional growth in the number of
banks beginning these departments
within the last few years may be
credited to increasing recognition on
the part of bankers that personal
loans are proper, profitable and de-
sirable outlet for the employment of
surplus loanable funds, that insti-
tutions of moderate size make up the
greater part Of those which have de-
partmentS and represent q wide geo.
graphical availability of bank credit
to individuals borrowing in small
amounts"
Many banks stated that they
found in the regular amortized per-
sonal loans an answer to the prob
lem of frequent renewals encountered
by so many banks in lending to the
small business man, and that appar-
entity this development was step in
the direction of sounder credit stand
ards for this type of loan"
Retail Trade Upturn Seen.
Comparisons between the current
volume of retail trade and the level
Of operations ir most non-durable
goods industries, leads to the belief
that an upturn in the latter is not
far distant, says the United Business
Service in it's latest report.
Retail sales are running between
10 per cent and Is per cent below
year ago in dollar volume. However,
making allowance for lower prices,
physical volume is holding up re-
markably well. On the other hand,
production in most consumer goods
industries has been sharply curtailed-
far below actual demand levels. For
example, cotton textile activity is
about SO per cent below year ago,
rayon output off As per cent, woolen
goods 10 per cent, and shoe produc-
ton about 80 per cent.