The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-01-12

bullQlug acClVlCleS SCOle the SpOL- light for the year 1888 in Water bury as compared to the preceding year, according to the survey of the Chamber of Commerce. The result was a telling gain of $257,725 in value as compared to 1887, despite the decrease of 29 in the number of permits isued.
 Postal Receipts
 An increase of $1,824.30 in postal receipts for the month of December 1888, as compared with December of the preceding year, indicate that the pickup in business at the end of the year had a very favorable effect on the Christmas rush, as sizeable portion of the postal receipts is de- rived from the shipment of pack ages.
 This favorable turn at the end of the year is also reflected in the in- crease of 448 persons employed in eight of the largest factories as compared with December, 1887.
 Employment
 Contrary to expectations there was decline in employment here during the past month. It is partly explained by the fact that many local industries were engaged in their annual inventory and suspend ed general operations or curtail pro- duction in many departments to await decision on plans for 1889. a The official report of the chamber for the past month reads as fol- lows:
 BANK CLEARINGS
 The total bank clearings for the month of December amounted to $8,149,600, an increase of $558, ,0OO as compared with the month of Mo- vember, and an increase of $610, 300 as compared with the month of December, 1937
 The total bank clearings for the entire year amounted to $79 ,404 300, @ decrease of $10,869,8 300 as com- pared with the year, 1887.
 BANK DEBTS
 The bank debits for the month of December amounted to $31 ,284 ,989.7 an increase of $3123,116.81 as com- pared with the month of Novem- Der, and a decrease of $1 JAG, ,076.16 as compared with the month of December, 1887.
 The total bank debits for the en- tire year amounted to $304, ,509,- 636.46, decrease of $86, ,932, ,222.81 as compared with the year, 1887.
 BANK SAVINGS
 During the month of December there was a net loss of $137 ,431 .92 as the last day of the month.
 The total bank savings for the month of December amounted to $45, ,380,505.2 .23, a decrease of $751; 43192 as compared with the month of November, and decrease of $1,- 814,S11.47 as compared with the month of December, 1887.
 There was total of 80,029 saw ings accounts in the local banks as of December 31, 1898.
 BUILDING PERMITS
 During the month of December there were 26 building permits issued valued at $56,150, decrease of 15 permits and $21 400 in value as com- pared with the month of November, and a decrease of permits and $7,875 in value as compared with the month of December, 1887.
 During the year 1888, there were 56O permits issued, valued at $1,- 6O9,625, decrease of 29 permits and an increase of $257, ,725 in value as compared with the year, 1887.
 ELECTRICITY
 Nf nr there were 15,735, ,050 XVII of elec- tric current consumed, a decrease of 418,O99 XVII as compared with the month of November, and an in crease of 3.758,859 XVII as com- pared with the month of December, 1887.
 The total consumption for the year amounted to 157 1876, ,428 XVII, a decrease of 28,818,505 XVII as compared with the year, 1887.
 EMPLOYMENT
 During the month of December there were 31,985 persons en- ployed in manufacturing concerns, retail establishments and public utilities, showing a decrease of 271 persons as compared with the month of November, and an increase of BPS persons as compared with the month of December, 1887.
 There was an average of 31,034 employed in manufacturing con- cerns, retail establishments and public utilities during the year, a decrease of 5,423 as compared with the average for the year, 1887.
 In eight of the largest factories there were 16,214 persons employed, a decrease of 644 persons as com- pared with the month of November, and an increase of AS persons as compared with the month of De- cember, 1887.
 There was an average of 15,864 persons employed in the eight largest factories during the year, a decrease of ATT as compared with the average for 1897.
 FREIGHT TONNAGE
 The freight tonnage for the city, received and forwarded during the month amounted to-:
 L. c. l.. cars receive d 2,384 tons; carload cars received, 54,287 tons; L. c. L. cars forwarded, 3,787 tons; carload cars forwarded, APO tons; a decrease of L. c. L. cars re- ceived, 93 tons; an increase of car load cars received, 5,097 tons; a decrease of l.. c. L. cars forwarded 149 tons; and an increase of car- load cars forwarded, 875 tons as