Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1939-12-22
Christmas Express
Shipments Climb
Far Above 1888
Volume in l9 Days
Of December Shows
II Per Cent Gain
BY EDWARD C. STONE.

was learned at the Railway Express
Agency Office here today.
AS hundreds of these shipments
are directly connected with holiday
business. the sharp improvement
gives further clear evidence of record
Christmas trade now being enjoyed
in the Capital.
Railway express shipments up to
and including Tuesday, December 10,
totaled 135200, in comparison with
112,003 shipments in the like period
IN December a year ago, an increase
of 23,l97 shipments. That means a
gain OF better than II per cent.
The substantial December advance
follows the report of the Railway
Express Agency for November which
revealed new all-time peak in Ship
ments for that month and were 203
per cent ahead of the same month
year ago. AS already noted, ship
ments in November we're the largest
for the year up to that time.
incidentally. todays express re-
port lends support to the claims of
Washington merchants that the
earlier Thanksgiving date proved a
great boon to Christmas trade in
the Capital.
781 Loans Made in Month.
Total assets of the q building and
loan associations doing business in
Washington continued to reflect
consistent gains, according to the
monthly report of F. Wilson Camp,
secretary of the District Building
and Loan League. Resources at the
close of operations November 80
disclosed a new high mark of
$14l,288 1899.
Loan activity during the month
brought the amount of mortgage
advances outstanding to S132. TIP 1926.
All associations shared in the brisk
demand for funds for home buying,
remodeling and property improve
ment, there being 78l loans granted,
totaling over s3433,OOO.
Analysis of the approved advances
indicated that 1919 were for con-
struction purposes, 272 for new
houses not previously financed,
while other loans aggregated $50.
During November 900 Washington
savers opened share accounts.
The Executive Council of the Dis
trict league meeting at the Raleigh
Hotel yesterday. was told by Presi-
dent William N. Payne, jr, that
member associations are co-operat-
ing 100 per cent in all matters per-
tanning to the expansion of metro
politan Washington.
Martin A. Cook, chairman of the
1910 Banquet Committee, has again
selected Rudolph w. Santelmann to
serve as vice chairman, the date
being March %
ID. c. Store Collections Up.
Collections in Washington depart
ment stores in November made an
extra good showing, the Federal Re-
serve Bank of Richmond reported
today. Of bills due at the beginning
of the month, 3o.3 per cent were
paid, better than the usual monthly
record
The average for the fifth district
was still better. 80 per cent. Balti-
more registered 1876 per cent and
Richmond reached IS per cent. A
group of other cities reported prac-
tically the same figure as WASH
ington.
Stocks of goods on hand at the
end of November in Capital stores
were II per cent larger than at the
end of October and o.5 per cent
higher than in November, 1888. AS
already noted. sales in Washington
stores in November were over 9 per
cent ahead of last year and gained
5 per cent in the first II months of
1899 over 1888.
New Railroad Era Forecast.
The brief recently filed with the
Interstate Commerce Commission
opposing reorganization of the New
Haven Railroad without considera-
ton of the common stockholders
states that full recovery and further
regulation OF highway competition
are both assured.
The 17,774 men and women who
invested S19O,OOO,0OO of their earn
ings in the stock of this great rail-
road" says the brief. confidently
fore the public. acting through the
governments, will recognize the in
justice of the present unfair high
way competition and take effective
steps to remedy it. When this hap
pens, as it surely will. and when the
country RECEIVERS, as it surely will
from the depression. there is nc
reason why the New Haven Railroad
should not enjoy renewed pros
perity."
B. & o. Earnings Incrcass,
The Baltimore & Ohio R. R. re-
ports that earnings for November
were $l6,660,000. or 1888 per cent
above November, 1885. Expenses
were S11,818,0OO. After taxes, hire
of equipment and joint facility
rents, net railway operating income
was $3,423,000, as compared with
$1675 900 in November, 1888.
For the II months the total oper-
ating revenues were S146.776000, ar
increase of $24,152,OO0. or 1870 pei
cent. over the same period of last
year. Expenses for the II months
were Sl08,433, 900 and net railway
operating income S24,O5O,OOO, com.
pared with S13,112,0O0 for the same
period of 1898, the report said
The Chesapeake & Ohio Railway
reports for the first II months OF
this year net income Of 1882 ,220
equal to s305 per share on the COM
mon stock, against a net S18624, 641
or S2.36 share on the common
stock in the first II months of 1898
Mergenthaler Again at 1512.
Yesterdays bull market" on thu
Washington Stock Exchange quietee
down today and all attention wa
concentrated on Mergenthaler Limo
type. Five consecutive sales wer,
registered at 1512. the new high OF
the present move. The marke
closed with 1512 bid for the stool
and Is asked.
The Washington Exchange will b.