Evening star., 1938-12-18
Capital Stores
Report Sharp
Sales Gain
Weeks Volumes Show
Fractional Increase
Over Year Ago
Rx EDWARD C. STONE.

BY EDWARD c. STONE.
With Christmas trade mounting
higher and higher, retail sales in
Washington department stores dur
ing the last week were fractionally
ahead of last year and substantially
above the previous week, the Com
merce Department reported yester-
day in it's weekly review of business
conditions in 81 key cities.
The summary stated that all re-
porting stores in the Capital regis
tered a gain averaging III per cent
over the previous week. Compared
with the same week last year, re-
ports varied from small increases to
slight decreases and averaged an
increase of 0.02 per cent.
Yesterdays report indicates that
retail sales for the whole holiday
season will be ahead of last year. A
week ago sales were up 60 per cent
over the previous week and frac-
tionally ahead of last year. Two
weeks ago the Commerce Depart
ment reported sales in the Capital
up 81 per cent from the previous
week and 6.48 per cent better than
in the corresponding 1887 week.
Building Permits Up Sharply.
Yesterdays review disclosed q
weekly gain in bank clearings IN
Washington of $24,622 SOL, compar,
Ing with $23,161,681 a year ago
Building permits made a striking
showing, $515,0 900 comparing with
only $173,3OO in the corresponding
week last year. The rush of yule-
tide shoppers to get to the stores
was reflected in the Capital Transit
Co. weekly statement showing total
passenger revenues of $3.50, 1862 gainst
$218,771 year ago.
The impetus of Christmas trade
brought sales in all other reporting
stores in the Fifth District ahead
of the previous week, the Com
merce review said. Charleston re-
ported an increase of Is per cent
over 1887, Norfolk noted mod
crate rise, and Baltimore reported
business approximately on a par
with last year, and added that trade
is exceeding earlier expectations.
During the week the United States
Housing Authority announced ap-
proval of a construction contract for
a low-rent housing project at Green
vile, S. c., at a cost of $500, 600. Con-
tracts were awarded at the Charles
ton Navy Yard totaling $404,028.
Bonuses, Dividends Voted.
j. Thilman Hendrick, senior part
ner of w. B. Hibbs g. Co., announced
yesterday that the firm will dis
tribute to all of its employees a
Christmas bonus of one-half months
salary.
Directors Of the Anacostia Bank
have declared a Christmas bonus OF
one-half months salary to all en-
ployes of the bank, it was reported
in the financial district yesterday.
This action brought to ten the num-
Der of Washington banks which have
announced extra Christmas pay
ments to employees during the past
few days. Several suburban banks
have taken similar action.
The list includes the City Bank,
Security Savings & Commercial,
Liberty, Morris Plan, Union Trust,
Riggs, Second National, McLachlen
and Bank of Commerce g. Savings.
Directors of the Terminal Refrig-
Grating & Warehousing Corp. have
declared the regular semi-annual
dividend of s1.50 per share, Secre-
tary j. P. johnson announced yes
terday. The dividend is payable De-
cember 20 to stock of record Decem-
ber 16.
As noted elsewhere in today Star,
directors of Peoples Drug Stores,
Inc, have authorized payment of a
wage dividend to 1000 employees
which will be distributed on Decem-
Der "a.
Prices Firm on Exchange.
Capital Transit stock sold at on
the Washington Stock Exchange
again yesterday, Washington Gas
Light preferred moved at 104A and
Mergenthaler Linotype figured in
three sales at %. In the bond di-
vision, $1,000 Capital Traction SIS
sold at IS, unchanged. Prices were
strong throughout the week in most
issues.
John A. Marshall, director of the
District Unemployment Compensa-
ton Board, will be the guest of honor
at the December meeting of the Dis
trict of Columbia Control of the Con-
trollers Institute of America, Tues
day evening at $50, at the Carlton
Hotel. The evening will be devoted
to review of experiences under the
D. c. Unemployment Compensation
Act. Humphrey Lloyd of Washing
ton Properties, Inc, vice president
Of the control. made the arrange
ments and will preside.
Loan Firm Pays Dividend.
The Commercial Industrial Loan
Co., 5002 Rhode Island avenue, Hy-
attsville. paid the regular quarterly
dividend on the preferred stock, at
the rate of 6 per cent per annum, on
December Is. Officers of the COM
pany are James P. Casbarian, presi-
dent; Howard P. Foley, vice presi-
dent and treasurer; Bancroft T.
Foley, vice president, and Martin H.
Ristig, vice president and secretary.
Washington bank lobbies have
donned their Christmas attire and
are most attractive. Each year sees
some banks carrying out more elab-
crate decorations than ever before,
Massachusetts, Investors Trust has
declared a dividend Of 18 cents a
share, payable January 20, to share
holders of record December 81, it