Evening star., 1941-01-10
New Auto Sales SET
November Record
In Fifth District
Bank Reports D. c.
TotuI 80 Per Cent
Above 1899 Mark
BY EDWARD G. STONE.


More new automobiles were sold
In the Fifth Federal Reserve Dis
trict in November than in any other
November since such figures were
made available in 1925, according
to the monthly financial review just
received here from the Richmond
Reserve Bank.
November sales in Washington
totaled 2,914 cars, against 2,109 in
November, 1889, jump of 38
per cent, while in the first IL months
of 1910 sales in the District reached
26,548 cars, against 23,52l a year
ago gain of 13 per cent.
The report, which quoted the R.
l.. Polk figures. stated that new car
sales in Maryland in November to-
tailed 5,120, a gain Of Al per cent,
and 46,243 in the IL months, an
advance of 80 per cent over 1889.
Sales in Virginia numbered 5,l52
cars in November, up 40 per cent,
and 51,279 in the IL months,
jump of "a per cent.
Sales in the whole fifth district
numbered 23479 cars, a rise of 35
per cent. and 228,232 in the longer
period, an improvement of 25 per
cent over the same II months in
1889.
Defense Program Being Felt.
Stimulating influences of the de-
fense program are now being very
definitely felt, the report revealed.
Construction work provided for in
permits issued and contracts award
ed in November was in large VOL
ume. Permits in 80 cities were
valued at $13,076326, an increase
of 10 per cent over october and At
per cent above $8,888 654 in Novem-
Der a year ago. Washington led
with permits valued at $500 ,440.
Contracts awarded in the fifth
district in November totaled S45,-
$4,000, an increase of SO per cent
over the same 1889 month. The
report presented the F. w. Dodge
figures for october, which placed
District of Columbia contracts at
S7,736 900, up 80 per cent. Mary
land contracts were 122 per cent
and Virginias S 116 per cent over the
same month in 1889.
Employment climbed further in
November and the first half of De-
cember, the report continued. Pay
rolls in Washington increased IS
per cent in number and IL per cent
in amount from october to No.
vember.
Baltimore airplane factories and
shipyards at Hampton Roads have
several million dollars in contracts,
which assure full-time operations
for several years, the review stated.
-Four or five Army camps are under
construction or expansion.
Bank Debts Also Increase.
Debts to individual accounts in
Washington banks in November to-
tailed s304, ,470,OOO up 16 per cent
from a year ago. Debts in the
fifth district rose IS per cent over
November, 1889
Sales in 80 department stores to-
tailed s12,953,928, an upturn of IA
per cent, while furniture sales we're
up IS per cent. Sales of 1876 whole
sale firms reached S13,121 ,000 II
per cent better than a year ago.
There were fewer business failures
than a year ago. In Washington
November saw 81 failures, against
"a year ago. Liabilities in the
first II months of 1910 in the Dis
trict were higher, $500 900, against
s5,032,0 900 a year ago, the review
disclosed.
The review called particular at
tention to growing buying power in
the fifth district and predicted fur
ther important expansion in en-
ployment.
Barker Elected Bank Chief.
Stockholders of the Morris Plan
Bank reelected the same Board of
Directors at the annual meeting yes
terday Willard G.. Barker, Edwin
A. Mooers, w. Cameron Burton,
William Clark Taylor, Paul B.
Cromelin, Robert J. Bulkley, Thomas
c. Boushall and Ralph w. Pitman.
The board organized by re-electing
the following officers for the coming
year: Willard G. Barker, president;
Elwood G. Childers, vice president
and comptroller; v. Walton Rhine,
Edwin H. o. Stokes, assistant vice
presidents; G.. Crawford Turnbull,
cashier; Samuel E. Collegeman,
Ferdinand E. Walter, John E. Will
son, Joseph A. Carpenter, Louis o.
icto cN
K. Lynn was elected auditor, a newly
created office.
Hardy Heads Service Grocers.
Robert M. Hardy was reelected
president of the Washington unit
of Nationwide Service Grocers at
the annual meeting, just held in the
National Cash Register Building.
H. N. Sher was again named
vice president; Samuel Rosenblum,
treasurer, and Albert S. Tucker,
secretary. Harry Cohen was added
to the Board of Directors, the
other members, including Sol
Aronoff, Ben Chasen, Shea Chasen,
F. A. Dodge, Samuel Goldstein,
Charles Harbin, I. Platt and P. r.
Watkins.
Insurance Agency Wins HonOrs.
Vernon w. Holleman, Washington
general agent for the Home Life
Insurance Co. of New York, has
just received word that the Wash
ington agency finished the year in
third place among all the agencies
of the company.
The company is holding its Pres
idents Club convention at Holly
wood Beach, Fla, this month and
Paul F. Grove, jr., Frank S. Resh
and Larry Reeves, all of the Wash
ington agency, have qualified for
attendance at this convention.
James A. De Force, general agent
of the Continental American Life
Insurance Co., has returned from
a home office conference at Will
nington, Del.
.Today's Trading on Exchange.
Fifty shares of Mergenthaler Limo
type sold at 25 on the Washington
Stock Exchange today, up half a