Evening star., 1941-02-04
Christmas Clubs Book
78,953New Members;
Slightly Under 1910
D. c. Postal Receipts
Smash All Previous
Records for January
BY EDWARD C. STONE.

16,903 accounts Tor IIle 1871 CLUBS,
with a total amount subscribed of
$7l7l,985, compared with 82,295
members subscribing a total of ST.
255,315 in the 1910 clubs, it was
learned in the financial district
today.
This was a Al per cent decrease
In the number of accounts and a
IL per cent drop in the amount
subscribed compared with last year
TodayS report was made to the
District Bankers Association by
Rutherford j. Dooley, chairman of
the associations Advertising Com
mittee and vice president and cash.
ier of the National Bank of Wash
ington. The comparative figures
were prepared by Raymond G.
Marx, controller of the Riggs
National Bank.
Three associate members, the Ar
lington Trust Co. Bank of Bethes-
da and Prince Georges Bank e.
Trust Co, also reported their
Christmas savings club figures.
These boost the Washington total
for the 194l clubs to 85,5l3 accounts,
with S7645.135 subscribed, COM
pared with 89O2O accounts and ST.
7l4552 subscribed in the 1910 clubs.
39 per cent decrease in accounts
but only 0.9 per cent in the amount
subscribed
The main reason for the small
decrease from 1910 is the fact that
some of the banks dropped the $25
a year classification in the clubs,
and some did away with the $50
accounts. This action reduced the
number of new accounts more than
the total amounts subscribed. The
lower classifcations have always
been the most popular Several
banks made no special efforts this
year to push the new clubs on ac-
count of bookkeeping costs and diff
fcultieS in loaning the money to
advantage. However the 855l3 ac-
counts in the 194l clubs show that
a high percentage of the Capitals
population favors this form of saw
ings with which to meet the year
ends pressing financial needs.
Postal Receipts at New Peak.
January revenues at the City Post
Office smashed all previous records
for that month since the Office was
started. it was announced by off,
cials today.
Receipts at the City Post Office in
January this year totaled S705,-
80495, in comparison with s672,-
270.73 in January. 1910. an increase
of S33, ,53422. or 498 per cent, Off
cials said. If some one had bought
a few more stamps, the gain would
have been per cent.
Today's report follows the Decem-
Der statement which revealed new
record for that month, as we'll as
for any other month in the history
of the Washington Office. The jan
uary figures indicate a very high
state of business activity in the
Capital
Postal receipts in the Capital in
the full year 1910 totaled S8.596.851,
as compared with S8,071 ,554 in 1889.
a striking increase during the year
of S525 .297.
The gain in postal revenues is
similar to that in bank clearings
in the Capital. January Cancelled
checks totaling $132, 1877 ,282. against
S107,137 093 in January. 1910. an in
crease of S25, 5,050, ,189 and the high
est January clearings total ever
known here.
Brokerage Service Held Ample.
Among the rapidly expanding
markets, as indicated by hte 1910
census results. which may be ex-
pected to hold new commission buSi-
ness for New York Stock Exchange
firms, are Miami, Fla; San Diego,
Calf: Washington, D. c.; Jackson
vile. Fla: Houston, Tex; Charlotte.
N c., and Los Angeles.
The Exchange, magazine published
by the New York Stock Exchange,
discusses currently the brokerage
coverage in these cities in view of
the population changes. Washing
ton stands third in the list of fast
est growing cities in the United
States with population of more
than 100000"
Miami's population jumped 54.4
per cent in 10 years, San Diego, 36.5
per cent, and Washington, 36.2 per
cent. Some cities with more than
100000 population have only one
brokerage house. 1t is evident that
Washington. with 10, has ample ex-
change facilities. Too many Offices,
some local brokers assert.
Sharp Gains in Auto Sales.
Dollar volume of retail sales of
automobiles in the United States in
1910 was 80 per cent ahead of 1889
and slightly in excess of the 1929
total, the Commerce Department
reports. December sales were the
highest of any December on record
except in 1886.
General merchandise sales in
rural areas and small towns in De-
cember were up ID per cent in the
SOutn ana IL per CtIlG Ill IIlC LdoO
over the previous year, the Com
merce Department reports. In the
wear 1910 sales in the South were up
4 per cent and per cent in the
East
Washington bankers are showing
much interest in the pension plan
recently adopted by the Hamilton
National Bank. The idea has been
given a great deal of consideration
bv several other banks in the Cap
ttal and is expected to spread.
During the month of January, the
voters of 60 communities located IN
IS States approved total of $685.
900 of new bond issues, as compared
with SASH .164 during January, 1910,
according to The Daily Bond Buyer.
The total for December, 1910, was
$9,421 .589.
Today's Trading on Exchange.
Fifty shares of Capital Transit
stock sold on the Washington Stock
Exchange today at Is, the new high
mark reached a few days ago. The
final bid was 1874. with 16 asked.