Evening star., 1939-08-04
D. {. Building Awards
In June Up 135 Pct.
Over Like 1898 Period
Auto Sales So Per Cent
Higher Than Yeor Ago,
Bank Review States
By EDWARD C. STONE.

COnSLTuCllOn COIlbTdClS dWdlueu
In Washington in June totaled Sl8,-
$4,000, in comparison with $8,0l6,-
900 in June 1888. a gain of 135 per
cent, according to the Federal Re-
serve Bank of Richmond's monthly
review just received here.
Maryland contracts totaled So
$4,000, up 63 per cent; Virginla's
amounted to $6 1892 900, 4 per cent
slump, West Virginia was up So per
cent, North Carolina Is per cent and
South Carolina down 7 per cent, the
report stated. quoting the F. w.
Dodge figures. The Fifth District
total was SAC, 6,648,0 900, gain of 54 per
cent.
Construction work continued at
the highest level in many years in
the Fifth District. the value of build
ing permits in 81 cities in June being
the second largest for any month
since April, 1880; and contracts
actually awarded in the District
totaled more than for any month
since July, 1929, the review said.
Permits issued in 81 cities in June
totaled Sl1 ,843, 1872, an increase of 70
per cent over June. 1898. Permits is
sued in the first six months of 1889
in the Fifth District amounted to
S61 1886 958, a gain of 48 per cent
over SAL 1853 1897 year ago.
Washington headed the cities in
June permits with a total Of $685.
685. Richmond stood second, the re-
view disclosed,
Total contracts awarded in the
first six months of 1889 amounted to
S203 1893 900, a gain of 81 per cent
over awards totaling S134 ,496,000 in
the first half of 1888. and the highest
figure for the first six months of any
year since 1880.
ID. c. Auto Sales Climb.
Automobile sales in Washington
continue to climb in comparison with
the same period year ago June
registrations numbered 252O new
passenger cars. a gain of So per cent
over June, 1888, 1,643 registrations.
For the first six months of this
year the review says that 14075 cars
were sold in the Capital, against
o.ASo d ScdI dSO, dIl 1llSICooC VI u
per cent.
Marylands June sales totaled 1898
cars, 81 per cent rise, with six
months sales numbering 20648,
up 50 per cent over the first half
of 1888
Virginia sales in June totaled 432l
cars. an advance Of 50 per cent,
while six months sales reached 22,-
O56, a pickup Of "a per cent.
The survey cites the R. l.. Polk
figures to show that automobile sales
in June in the whole fifth district
reached 1917 cars, a as per cent
gain, while the six months total
was 1O2,653, or 46 per cent i'm
provement over last year.
General Improvement Noted.
The report states that all I'M
portant indicators of trade and in
dustry in the fifth reserve district
showed improvement in June as
compared with June. 1888
Debts to individual accounts, re-
flecting transactions through the
banks, were 10 per cent higher in
June this year than in June, 1888,
and increased more than the sea-
sonal average over May. Debts
reached Sl,290.739 900 in June.
There we're fewer business failures
than in June a year ago and the
liabilities involved were lower
In the District of Columbia there
was a gain of 04 per cent in the
number on pay rolls and 06 per cent
in the amount of pay rolls.
Sales of 80 department stores in
this district totaled S9.l43000 in
June, gain of per cent over June,
1888.
Sales of 1913 wholesale firms
amounted to Sll Alb 900 against $40
O29,000 in June of last year, gain of
ID per cent.
New Cigarette Record.
Coal mines are unusually busy for
this season, working to rebuild re-
serve stocks which were pulled down
during the April and May shutdown
in oituminous fields. Output of to-
bacco factories in June was very
large. and production of cigarettes
numbering 16,594,511 ,O13 set a new
record for single month.
At the moment the most serious
obstacle in the district to a continual
ton of present conditions for several
months appears to be the position in
which the tobacco planters find
themselves. This year the tobacco
growers planted a very large acreage,
and forecasts of probable production
now indicate a yield of 97l ,275,0 900
pounds in the fifth district, an in
crease of 80 per cent over the 1888
crop and SO per cent above the 10
year average yield.
With adequate reserve stocks OF
tobacco already on hand, this years
record yield is expected to result in
materially lower prices, and this in
turn may adversely affect fall and
winter trade in tobacco growing
areas, the survey concludes.
Heard in Financial District.
Robert " Fleming, president of
the Riggs National Bank is taking
his vacation in more or less extended
weekend trips to the summer home
at Rehoboth Beach. Late in Sep
tember he will attend the annual
convention of the American Bankers
Association at Seattle.
c. H. Pope, president of the Mum
sey Trust Co., left Washington yes
terday for months vacation in New
York State. much of which he will
spend at Goshen Mr.. Pope is a
former president of the District
Bankers Association and is one of
the directors of the Washington Gas
Light Co.
Frederick P H. Siddons, secretary
of the American Security e. Trust
Co. is back at his desk after a
months vacation at his summer
place at Haven, Me. He reports that
the Pine Tree State has been enjoy
ing one of the best tourist seasons in
many years, including an unusually
large number of visitors from Wash
iyCtn1