Evening star., 1939-03-22
February Construction
Contracts in District
Gain 81 Per Cent
Residential Work Alone
80 Per Cent Above
Record Lost Year
BY EDWARD c. STONE.

cent over February of last year, ac-
cording to H. A. Johns, manager
of the Washington Office of the
F. w. Dodge Corp, who also re-
ported a favorable condition for
the first two months of the year
Construction, in the two months
revealed a valuation jump of about
$7,000,000 over the 1888 period.
Residential building contrats led
the other classiications with an
advance of more than $6,OOO,0O0.
Non-residential work moved for
ward with two-month margin of
more than Sl,000,O00, while heavy
engineering construction dropped 10
$750OOO.
February contracts for all con.
struction, in the Washington metro
politan area of the District, Airing
ton. and Fairfax Counties. Va, and
Montgomery and Prince Georges
Counties, Md, amounted to $5,766,-
600, gain of So per cent over
$3,799000, the valuation recorded
for February last year.
Contracts awarded in the first
two months of 1899 totaled $13,-
$4,000. against s6,424,0O0 a year
ago. Non-residential building con-
tracts awarded in February. Mr.
Johns says, amounted to 1882 900
gain of 3 per cent. The two
month awards for non-residential
work were valued at $2,828,000, far
ahead of $l,633O0O, the 1888 total
for the same months.
Residential contracts in February
reached $4,608 900 in an 80 per cent
gain over February of last year. In
this classification, contracts in
the Washington metropolitan area
totaled Sl0,02S000 during the open
ing months of the year, comparing
with only s3.764,OO0 in 1898.
Heavy engineering construction
undertaken by the various govern
mental agencies and the public
utilities. accounted for February
contracts totaling s226,O00, against
the higher 1888 valuation figure of
S448,000. Contracts awarded in Jan
uary and February, combined,
amounted to s286000, in long
drop from the same months last
year. when the total was Sl027 900,
the survey concludes.
Trust Company Votes Dividend.
Directors of the Prince Georges
Bank & Trust Co. have declared
dividend of per cent. or 80 cents
share on the outstanding stock,
payable April l to stockholders of
record March 23 Vice President
day The stock is listed on the
Washington Stock Exchange, the
latest bid being 10, with 25 asked.
Floyd E. Davis president of the
Lincoln National Bank, has just re-
turned from months visit at
Miami. Judging by the number Of
people at the winter resorts, Florida
must be having remarkable sea-
son, he says, adding that people are
"as thick as bees at the various
beaches" An unusually large num-
ber of Washingtonians have been
numbered among Florida visitors
New life insurance written in
Washington in February was 3 per
cent higher than the record for
February 1888. it was reported to-
day from Hartford, New business in
the first two months of 1899 was rs
per cent ahead of the like 1898
period, the report showed The Feb
urary gain for the whole country
averaged 9 per cent, higher figure
than expected.
Many Convention Dates Set.
The Executive Council of the
American Bankers Association is to
meet at The Homestead. Hot Springs.
Va. April 1926.
The Association of Reserve City
Bankers is to meet this year at Del
Monte, Calf, May $40.
The Eastern regional conference
Of the National Association of Bank
Auditors and Controllers will meet
In New York. May 11-13.
The Maryland State Bankers AS
sociation has arranged the annual
meeting for Atlantic City, May 4
and 5, at the Traymore.
The Virginia Bankers Associ-
atoms cruise to Bermuda is set to
leave Hampton Roads on May IA,
returning on May 10.
The West Virginia Bankers As
sociation returns to White Sulphur
Springs again this year, May 25-27.
The dates for the District of Co.
lumbia Bankers convention are
June 8-1l. at The Homestead. Hot
Springs. Va. All in all, it looks like
big convention wear
Exchange Trading Picks Up.
Trading was much better on the
Washington Exchange today than
for several sessions. Washington
Railway & Electric as sold at 1879.
Potomac Electric Power per cent
preferred appeared on the board at
115i2 and two sales of Mergenthaler
Linotype were recorded at 20. The
final sale was a 10 share transfer in
Riggs National Bank common at 278.
up points.
Southern Railway probably will
sustain net loss. after taxes and
charges, for February of between
S400,000 and $500,000 said E. E.
Norris, president. Mr.. Norris ex-
planned, however, that in addition
to being a bad month from a traffic
standpoint, February contained only
% working days.
William McC Martin, president
of the New York Stock Exchange,
is likely to ask the Securities and
Exchange Commission for a round
table conference on certain desired
nj 40 lot
Chairman George c. Mathews has
limited that such meeting would
be agreeable to the commission.
Washington Chapters annual
bowling tournament will be held
next Saturday afternoon at the Ar
cade, Stephen o. Porter, Riggs Ma
tional chairman of the Institutes
Athletic Committee, announced to-
day.
Short Selling Light