Evening star., 1940-01-18

In adjacent suburban areas. Sales
of new homes are estimated at $780,
100000. In the District about go per
cent of the building - counted in
living units-Was in the southeast
and northeast sections, Mr.. Cotton
stated.
Since 1889 was the year preceding
a census every one has a different
guess as to the present number of
Washingtonians. 1t appears from
all statistics that each month has
brought a new high in population,
and it is estimated that a total of
at least 100000 persons now live in
the greater Washington area. OF
these approximately 100000 are
within the boundaries of the District
Of Columbia.
New Record for Tourists.
Washington is mecca for our
national tourists, 1889 bringing
100000 visitors to the City-an all
time record and an increase of Is
per cent over 1888.
In considering the development
of Washington, Federal employment
must not be overlooked Federal
civil service employment in the Dis
trict of Columbia has reached high
of 5000 persons, with monthly
governmental salaries amounting to
S22 .5O0,OO0 Mr.. Cotton said
The most significant legislation
of 1899 was the Revenue Act, which
placed the first income tax on those
domiciled in the District of Colum-
bia. and the repeal of both the in
tangible personal property tax and
the unpopular business privilege
levy.
Trade during 1899 locally has been
reported as having shown the
sharpest recovery since 1929. Re-
ports which indicate conditions and
trade in the District of Columbia
come to us from the following repre-
sentative groups:
Some Significant Reports.
Capital Transit Co. report revenue
passengers for 1899 increased by
1O679,0O0, or 61s per cent over those
carried in 1888.
Washington Automotive Trade AS
sociation reports the number OF new
car sales as 10000. an increase of
10,5OO cars over 1888, or So per cent.
Chesapeake g. Potomac Telephone
Co. report an increase of $4,000 tele-
phones in service over those of 1888,
or 712 per cent more telephones in
service at the close of 1889.
Washington Gas Light Co. reports
l96,113 meters in use December 81,
1899, an increase of 5 per cent over
those in use December 81, 1888.
Potomac Electric Power Co. re-
ports 1877 1000 customers, an increase
of 38 per cent over the previous year.
Retail sales by department stores
The gross sales are estimated at
S56. .564 900, an increase of S2.292 900,
or Al per cent, over 1888.
An interesting apartment house
vacancy survey over five-year
period has been made by the WASH
ington Real Estate Board. Com
parative vacancy percentages by
years are as follows: 1885, a per
cent; 1886, 1.10 per cent; 1887, 5.32
per cent; 1888, 578 per cent, and
1889, 729 per cent.
Vacancy Percentage Rising.
The vacancy percentage in 1885
was less than / per cent Each year
there has been a gradual trend or
increase, in such vacancies, until in
1889 we have reported vacancies OF
729 per cent. This constant increase
in the percentage Of apartment
house vacancies can be attributed
directly to the tremendous building
activity of the past few years, MI
Cotton asserted
Reports on foreclosures under
deeds of trust in the District of Co.
lumbia show a decrease of 80 per
cent under those of 1888, 1888, 486
foreclosures; 1889, 343 foreclosures
Washington Clearing House re-
ports clearings of $1.206, 900 900 for
1899, an increase slightly in excess OF
5 per cent over the previous year
With the exception Of 1887, clearings
for 1899 represent the highest on
record since the year 1881.
One group, Mr.. Cotton concluded
Is, of course, primarily interested in
bank deposits, which have shown a
gratifying increase during the past
year. Banks and trust companies
in the District of Columbia at the
close of business December 81, 1899
reported deposits as having reached
the new peak figure of 1851, ,64368l
showing an increase of S2O.l2O,9ls
over those reported at the close o1
business December 81, 1888.
Exchange Committees Named.
The following Washington Stock
Exchange committees have beer
named for the coming year: Mem
bership-Y. E. Booker, Marshall O
Exnicios and G. Fenton 'Cramer
Listings-William w. Mackall, jr.
James M. Johnston and Edison B
Olds. Business conduct-Harold G
Patterson, Bernard J. Nees, Myle:
H. Quail and James P. Nolan
Auditing-C. j. Gockeler and T
Baker Robinson.
The officers just elected for the
coming year are William w. Mackall
ir., president; George M. Ferris, vic'
president; Edison B. Olds, secretary
and Harold C. Patterson, treasurer
At the annual. stockholders meet
ing of Washington Properties, Inc.
held yesterday at the Wardmar
Park Hotel, the following were re-
elected directors for the ensuing
year: George E. Allen, Thomas D
Carson, Edwin w. Levering, jr.
John j. Pelley and George D
Shriver.
Heard in Financial District.
In line with New York, busines
on the Washington Stock Exchange
was very quiet today, being confined
to small transactions in Potoma'
Electric Power 51a per cent pre-
ferred, at 115Ha and lis.