Evening star., 1938-01-02
Bank Earnings FavOra Bile.

ISule Oh DeCen-
bor 81 will be brought out in few
days.
Bank Earnings Favorable.
Bank officials report that earnings
were most favorable during the year,
much higher than anticipated. Bond
accounts returned good results, most
banks recorded slow but steady ex-
pansion in the demand for loans,
added to their profits from trust de-
partments: in short. came out in fine
shape. While bankers are not doing
any Growing, they all say 1--WE had a
good year"
Checks handled through the WASH
dngton Clearing House disclosed a gain
of s128,060,684.l9 over 1886, indi-
eating both greatly increased activity
in bank accounts and steady expansion
in business. In almost every month in
1887 clearings bounded ahead of the
like month in 1886.
Reports from the 20 building and
loan associations in the Capital tell
the same story of business progress,
increases in loans and sound condi-
tions.
Good Year on D. c. Exchange.
Volume of trading on the Washing
ton Stock Exchange in the first half
year ran ahead of the previous year
and dropped behind in the last half
Business for the IL months made a
good record.
Bank stocks drew lot of attention
and revealed decided strength, al
though quotations were lower a. the
end of the year. Their strength
caused wide comment, as did the &C
tion of some local bank stocks not
listed on the exchange.
Most of the public utility issues held
up pretty well during the year. The
poorest performer was Capital Tran
sit. While the company was awaiting
plea for higher rates, quotations
dropped from 16 to 8. After the
higher rates were granted the stock
sold down to Us, just before the No
vember report disclosed an increase
of well over $1,000 day as a result
VI Illc HlSueT 1dTtS.
Bonds on the Washington Stock Ex-
change, with few exceptions, refused to
give much ground late in the year.
In many instances holders of the
senior securities were unwilling to part
with their holdings at any price.
Merchants Cheered by Trade.
Retail trade in Washington in the
first II months of 1887 was just a
bit ahead Of 1886. Exact December
figures have not been compiled, but
there was rush of holiday business
that has rarely been equaled, accord
ing to leading merchants.
The books will show mercantile re-
suits close to the 1886 records, perhaps
higher, possibly off slightly. Regard
less of the final percentage COMPARE
sons, retail volume was all that could
be desired for the full year, II months
Of lively trade being followed by the
holiday climax.
Utility earnings were also refreshing
during 1887. Potomac Electric Power
profits will be 10 per cent better than
IN 1896. Chesapeake g. Potomac Tele-
phone Co. earnings, as well as those
of the Washington Gas Light Co.,
which gained per cent in II months,
reached very high marks, while Cap
ital Transit revenues were on the up
grade at the end Of the year. Post
Office receipts and express income
Joined in the forward march.
Countless other lines of business
might be mentioned in which the
years returns were impressive. In the
life insurance field alone Washington
agents wrote 67,804,000 in new poll
cies in the first II months of 1887, an
increase of per cent over the like
period In 1886.
And what of 1898? The Govern
ment's huge pay roll will take care Of
the Capital, assuring the city of an
other banner epoch.