Evening star., 1942-03-06
CAPITAL Store Orders
118 Per Cent Larger
Than Year Ago
Huge Goin Recorded
At End Of January,
Bank Reports
By EDWARD c. STONE

this year than a year ago, the FED
eral Reserve Bank of Richmond an.
nounced today.
Orders for goods averaged 120 pei
cent higher in the whole fifth dis
trict, were up 154 per cent in Balti.
more. 124 per cent larger in Rich
mond and So per cent in group OF
other cities in the district, the re-
port added. The survey indicates
that these retail stores have made
ample provision for the greatly eX-
panded sales which they are now
enjoying.
The Richmond bank adds that
stocks of goods on hand in Wash
ington stores on January 81, l942
we're SO per cent larger than at the
same time a year ago. Stocks were
I'D the same amount in Baltimore
The average gain over last year in
the fifth district was 80 per cent, IN
Richmond 80 and in the other cities
% per cent.
Store collections in the Capital
in January were 80 per cent OF ac-
counts due at the beginning OF the
month, the review said. Payments
In the whole fifth district averaged
IS per cent of bills due. In Baltl-
more SO per cent of the outstanding
bills were paid, in Richmond 81 per
rent and in the other reporting cities
as per cent. In the same period
sales in Washington stores were %
Der cent higher than year ago.
?, Realty Bond Prices Steady.
: Average prices of real estate bonds
In Washington and other cities IN
ahe East showed little change IN
Eehruarv. according to the Amott-
Baker averages. The average per
al 900 bond is now S3l0, the report
saws. a gain of 26 per cent SO lar
This year. ~ .,
/ Of the 200 issues in the list, 81
sadvanced, so dropped and 70 showed
mo change. In the first two months
kof 1912 Philadelphia issues sho"eo
,the largest average gain, 81 per
irent. Real estate bonds in Boston
made the poorest showing, the re-
view shows. .o.
According to types, theater issues
did the best, office buildings Came
next, hotel bonds showed no change
in average prices, while house
keeping apartment issues were OH
fractionally-
Mergers Aid Gas Company.
In reviewing the washington Gas
Tight Co.'S policy of bringing about
as simple a corporate organization
as can be reasonably devised, Pres
ident Marcy L. Sperry said IN ms
annual report that since 1886 the
number of separate companies 1orm-
ing the Washington company sys-
tenn has been reduced from elght 10
five.
In 1885 a separate company op.,
Grating in the Georgetown area oi
the District of Columbia was mergeo
into the washington Gas Light co.
At the same time two SUBSIDIARIES
onerating in the State OF Mary
land we're merged into one colpo-
ration. namely Washington Gas
light Co. of Montgomery County
Md. and last year, on November To-
The two subsidiaries which mad
heretofore been operating IN ao-
ioinino areas in Virginia were
merged into one, the Rosslyn Gas
co which now serves the City OF
Alexandria as well as Arlington
County and part OF FalrlaA
County.
washington Gas Light Co. owns
eli of the stock except one snare
~ one subsidiary. also all OF the
bonds notes or other capital Sc
c,,rities of each subsidiary, ana
therefore owns the earnings OF Ine
subsidiaries.
defense Bond Sales Mount.
: More than slOO 100000 in National
Defense bonds and stamps were sold
during February by the lie m
'surance agents of the country
bringing the total sold by theni
since the start of their campaign
IN November to s20o,oooooo' 1t was
announced today by John A. WITH
erspoon. president Of the National ma
Association of Life Under"IlVeis D
More than 10000 members OF the
rational association are taxing
active part in this national Drive
to sen Defense bonds.
Ioehl OBrien, president OF the
District Life Underwriters Asso-
ciation said today that the very
large sales of Defense bonds MADE
hv washington insurance agents
have apparently had no ehect on
the number of new insurance poll
cies written.
Garrett Boosts War Bonds.
George A. Garrett. resident part
.ner of Merrill Lynch. Pierce, Fenner
e. Beane. urged the purchase OF De-
fense bonds over Station WINK yes
terdav in the campaign sponsored by
the Treasury. He stressed the mer-
its of Defense bonds, declaring theS
are the safest and best investment
in the world.
They provide for safety OF prln'
cipal and a good return. They rep.
resent obligations of the Unlteo
States Government and If any obll-
zation of the Government Is not SAFE
no security or bank account Is safe
Furthermore, the cash value OF De.
fense bonds is always known anc
available to the owner. The money
YOU invest in Defense bond Is 9l'
wavs there-all of it-and you car
get it in cash, Mr.. Garrett said.
Hard-headed analysis shows that
Defense bonds are the only type Of
security which cannot depreclate II
value. the only security investment
guaranteed against loss, he added.
Walker Buys Title Stock.
Oliver M. Walker of Walker &
Dunlop Inc, mortgage bankers, is
one of five purchasers of the control
ling stock interest in the Title Guar
antee g. Trust Co., Baltimore. II
was announced today. The other
four buyers are Baltimoreans ano
all five have been elected directors
in the company The stock wa:
obtained from the Fidelity Trust Co.
Baltimore.
Dairy Heads District Office.
navid Darv of Richmond, has