Evening star., 1939-09-19

KiloWatt sales in the first eight
months of this year not only ran far
ahead Of the like period in 1888. but
smashed all previous records in any
year. In every one of the eight
months the total was substantially
higher than in the corresponding
month year ago.
By months, kilowatt- hour sales
compare as follows with correspond
ing periods year ago:
Month. 1889 1898.
January SO ,667 ,180 6O.628,513
February ------60,461,4 57.871, 1893
March ------61 ,185,77O 57,259,643
April -----6l ,693 1877 57,093. .290
May --------6 ,585 ,972 57,2O6, 1893
June --67 ,298 425 59.018,524
July -68 ,O61 648 63,3o5,22
August ----71 ,527 637 66,1O5 ,5O8
Last year sales were particularly
good in the last four months Sep
tember standing at 1893 900, Oc-
tober at 60087584. November at
59,496,2 6,249 and December at 62,316,-
66l kilowatt-hour sales, There is
reason to expect that all these fig
ures will be exceeded in the re-
nlainder of 1899.
D. c. Insurance Sales Jump.
Life insurance sales in the Dis
trict of Columbia in August took a
IA per cent jump over new business
in August year ago, the Research
Sales Bureau, Hartford. reported to-
day. The August gain brought sales
in the first eight months of the year
to a point per cent above the like
1888 period.
Sales for the whole country were
Off l per cent in August, the report
stated. Maryland reported business
just even with last year but up 3
per cent in the eight months.
Virginia sales in August were 7
per cent under last year but so far
this year are still per cent better
than year ago.
South Carolina sales scared % per
cent in August over August. 1888, but
sales in North Carolina and West
Virginia were not up to year ago.
Herman Becker Promoted.
Herman Becker, who started with
Erlebachers, Inc, street womens
wear store, as an Office boy at IA
years of age, was elected yesterday
to the position of vice president and
general manager of the company at
a meeting of the Board of Directors
At the same time it was announced
that the store has returned to local
ownership and management follow
ing its purchase from out-of-toWn
interests.
Jules c. Winkelman, head of the
company. said that Mrs. B. Erie
bacher Frank will continue associ-
alton with the store, there will be
no change in policies and all pres
ent personnel will be retained
II. Becker, who has been with the
fin l9 years, Wills have complete
Cha -ge of all store activities.
Higher Bank Earnings Seen.
Several Washington banks have
recently noted some improvement
in the demand for loans, most i'm
portant reports of the kind in sew
eral months Higher earnings have
also been reported Along this line
the American Banker says:
With industrial activity on the
increase and with commodity prices
rising, it is obvious that commercial
loans are going to rise. Thus the
banks are going to be able to en-
ploy their funds to a greater extent
than they are at present and the
rate of return they will receive will
be higher than it is at present. AL
ready. the New York banks have
ceased making any longterm loans
repayable serially such as they were
making a couple of weeks ago.
with the approach of period
when commercial loans will increase
and interest rates rise. it is being
emphasized that the banks pay no
interest on demand deposits. At
previous times. when interest rates
were rising, the banks would have
to increase the amount of interest
to customers This time, such will
not be the case
Thomson on Advisory Council.
Eliot H Thomson of the Wash
ington Loan & Trust Co. was again
elected to the Senior Advisory Coun-
Gil of the Financial Advertisers AS
sociation at the Toronto convention
William H. Neal, Winston-Salem
banker, was also included among
the "a members. Mr.. Thomson has
attended a great many conventions
of the association and taken deer
interest in the advertising discus
sions
Frederick H Cox, vice president
of the City Bank. addressed more
than 125 Virginia bankers at Luray
last night at meeting of the Re-
gional Clearing House Association
He spoke on technical subjects deal
ing with bank management. Arthur
National Bank, was among those
present.
Financial District Comment.
Washington Chapter, American
Institute of Banking, started fal
registrations last night at head
quarters in the American Securit,
Building. The first nights enroll
ment was exceptionally pleasing tt
chapter officers.
John w. HaneS, UnQerSecretdTy o
the Treasury. and Elliott Roosevelt
will be among tthe speakers at tn
5oth anniversary convention of tn
National Association of Life Under
writers in st. Louis next week
Matthew Wi will also speak t
about 5000 delegates,
Washington Railway & Electri
Is sold at los on the Washington
Exchange today, Capital Transi
came out at 1878 and Railway 1
Electric preferred at 1l2.
Peoples Drug Stores commo
stock is now being quoted ex divi
dend on the exchange at 80. TIL
quarterly dividend will be disburse
in few days. The preferred, calle
for Sentennher Is is no longer O