Evening star., 1939-02-27
Building Activities
Show Sharp Gains
During January
Residential Work Led
Metropolitan Area,
H. A. Johns Reports
BY EDWARD c. STONE.

metropolitan area. residential WORK
furnishing the brightest spot jan
uary business resulted in work-and-
materials contracts worth S4000,000
more than in the corresponding
month in 1898, according to H. A.
Johns. manager of the Washington
reports division of the r. w. Dodge
Corp Mr.. Johns completed an
analysis today of the contracts
awarded here during January, some
startling dollar value and percent
age gains being included in his
findings.
Residential work moved in front
last month, Mr.. Johns said. The
local advance was greater than the
average recorded throughout the 81
States east of the Rocky Mountains.
The contracts for non-residential
building also passed the level of
January, 1898.
Residential building contracts
awarded in and around Washing
ton during January reached S.
42l 900. This included long gain
over S13l9O0o. the valuation of
contracts awarded in the correspond
ing month of last year The aver
age January gain for residential
work in the 81 States east of the
Rockies was l2l per cent.
Local contracts for nonresident
tial building went to 81 896,0n0 last
month. The year 1888 onened with
awards valued at s727Ooo In this
classlfica ton the gain over the same
month of 1888 was ISL per cent
The AVERAGE gain in the 81 States
area was 46 per cent.
Mr. Johns concludes the summary
of building in the metropolitan
area with grouping of all types
of building and heavy engineering
contracts. The January total, ST.
$4,000. was far ahead of the cor
responding S2625.0o0 in January,
1898. The eain Of 1s1 per cent
compares very favorably with the
30 per cent average gain established
in the 81 Eastern States, his sur
vey concludes.
B. & O. January Net Jumps.
Net railway operating income of
the Baltimore & Ohio R. R. in jan
uary showed decided improvement
S16709l9. comparing With s296.90l
in January, 1888, an increase Of
Sl374.0l6.
January freight revenues totaled
Sl0,36466l, an increase of 81 ,l30. $50
Passenger rev enues were not as good
as last year by $4,000 Express
revenues gained over $4,000 during
the month.
Other operating revenues amount
ed to S394002. an advance of S25. .4l2.
At the same time operating expenses
were held under January. 1888.
Railway operating expenses totaled
S9G52 036. which was S246 6537 lower
than last year.
Other deductions from operating
revenues called for 81 l230.523 saw
ing over January, 1888, of s662o3.
League Dinner Plans Pushed.
What will be one of the last OF the
series of winter dinners given by
business groups this year is the ban
ouet to be held by the District of
Columbia Building and Loan League
The affair is slated for March 25
at the MavfioWer Hotel and in
dications point to an attendance in
excess of 500. Chairman Of the
General Committee arranging the
dinner is Martin A Cook, with Ru-
dolph w Santelmann, vice chair
man. Chairman Cook has selected a
supporting group of committeeman
with great care.
The entertainment section lists as
It's personnel Fred A. Smith. Will
liam N. PAYNE. ir; Edward K. Jones,
Robert E. Buckley. Odell S. Smith,
J. Hawlev Smith. Edward L. Nc
Aleer, Wllfred H. Blanz and Mr..
Cook.
Other committees consist of in
vited guests-Arthur G. Bishop,
Clinton James. Edward c. Baltz and
Carl J.. Bergmann.
Seating K Espey, R.
w. Santelmann, r. E. Buckley. c. c.
James, Edward K. Jones and Martin
A. Cook
Reception-Robert E. Buckley. F.
Wilson Camp. Schuyler S. Symons,
Clarence E. Kefauver and members
of committees listed above.
Echoes of Institute Frolic.
Two governors, Chester c. Davis
and Ronald Ransom. represented
the Federal Reserve System at the
institute banque: Saturday night.
George H. Keesee, cashier of the
Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond,
was also among those present.
c. B. Upham. deputy controller of
the currency, and F. G.. Await. for
r1er deputy controller, were among
the guests. Thomas J. Groom,
president of the District Bankers
Association last year, and Judge
Bolitha J. Laws, who has done much
teaching in the institute, were
among guests at the speakers table
D. j. Needham, general counsel of
the American Bankers Association
and L. E. Birdzell, counsel for the
Federal Housing Administration
we're other guests. All the men,
bers of the institute faculty, includ-
ing Dean Raymond B. Dickey. were
at the head table or seated with the
groups lIOll lIleit ON II DdllhS. Nearly
all the bank presidents in the city
were present, the whole affair being
considered one of the best Washing
ton Chapter has yet given.
Heard in Financial District.
Richard w. GrisWold, president of
the District Life Underwriters AS
sociation. expects a record attend
ance at the February luncheon at
the Willard Hotel tomorrow noon
The guest speaker. Paul c. Sanborn
Of Boston, wrote million in new
business in Is out of Is years.
The Federal Reserve Board re-
ported today that excess reserves of
member banks. which reached a
record high level of s3,600.OO0 900 on
January 25. declined somewhat in
February, due to larger Treasury
balances. with the Reesrve banks
representing cash receipts from the