Evening star., 1942-08-14
Dividends Increased
By Peoples Drug,
kergentha|er
Two Declarations Stir
Interest Of Many
Stockholders Here
BY EDWARD c. STONE.


district today, the action being taken
by Peoples Drug Stores, Inc, and
Mergenthaler Linotype.
Directors of Peoples Drug Stores
yesterday declared dividend of 81
cents per share on the common
stock payable October l to stock
holders of record September 8.
This compares with 25 cents per
share paid on July of this year
On April the company distributed
a dividend of 40 cents per share,
making a total Of 81 per share voted
so far in 1912. In the full year l941
the company paid s1.60 share.
Directors of the Mergenthaler
Linotype Co. have declared a dlvi-
dend of Sl.50 a share on the COM
mon stock, payable September 25 to
stockholders of record September 8.
Mergenthaler paid 81 in March
and 81 in June of this year. The
last sl.50 disbursement was paid in
December. The latest action brings
to IS per share the dividend pay
ments for the fiscal year ending
September 30.
Mergenthaler' last sale on the
Washington Exchange was made at
"a and the last sale in Peoples Drug
common at 1872.
d. c. Store Sales Climb.
Department store sales in the
Capital for the week ended last
Saturday, August 8, were 10 per
cent better than in the correspond
ing week a year ago. and jumped
Is per cent ahead of the preceding
week of this year, the Federal Re-
serve Bank of Richmond reported
today.
Sales in the Fifth District last
week were only 3 per cent ahead of
last year but were % per cent high
er than the previous this year. Sales
in Baltimore last week were down 2
per cent and in other cities off Is
per cent from the like l94l period.
Washington stores were also ahead
Of the Fifth District average for
the cumulative four-week period
ending last Saturday. the survey
reveals. Sales were II per cent bet
ter than last year, were up per
cent in the Fifth District per cent
in Baltimore but down per cent
the the group of other reporting
cities.
Last weeks 10 per cent gain in the
~, Tot !, of
only per cent in the preceding
week over the comparable week last
year.
Banker Lauds Advertising.
Advertising is the natural ap-
proach to relating the bank to the
public in the quickest, most far
reaching way, Linwood P Harrell,
executive vice president of the Nor
ris Plan Bank, said in his address
to the personnel of the National
Savings & Trust Co. But the basic
fundamentals of the broader public
relations must be kept constantly
in mind. For as we appear in the
newspaper, the billboards, over the
radio, in the mails, in counter leaf
lets and lobby posters, we are ap-
pearing to the public in proper or
improper dress, in good taste or bad.
A program of public relations, Mr.
Harrell said, is designed to establish
between the bank and the public
a thorough understanding of the
purpose of the institution and the
service it renders to the public.
and to create an admiration for the
institution and its management.
The best test of success is the
number of times customers return
for more service of the same quality
he added.
Chain Store Survey Appears.
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, .Fenner &,
Beane is distributing to customers
and others the 1912 edition of the
Chain Store Survey. the most COM
plete summary the firm has pub
lished.
Large sales gains in 1941 are re-
We've operating developments
modernization of methods, and price
controls are given special attention
Sales in the first quarter of this
year are analyzed. Prospective taxes
fer the full year 1912 are accorded
special study.
Thirty of the biggest chain stores
In the country are given special
reviews, American Stores and
Peoples Drug Stores. Inc, being in
cluded. Among the others are
Kresge, Woolworth. Lerner, Nc
Crory, Montgomery Ward. G. C
Murphy. Safeway, and Sears Roe.
buck.
Transfer Firm Expands staff.
H. Clay Presson, formerly with the
John McShane Construction Co. has
been appointed assistant traffic
manager of Smiths Transfer &
Storage Co., it was announced today
Thomas B. Usilton. jr. formerly witt
the Internal Revenue Department
and George c. Won Beck, who ha
been secretary treasurer Of tn
Rockcrest Realty Co. Rockville
have been added to the staff.
Realty Bond Prices Mixed.
Four Washington real estate bond
are mentioned in the Amott-B Bake
price averages for July which
showed an increase of OF per cen
for 200 issues.
National Press Building First 3-5S
IN selling at 881a, gained two point
during the month. At 38l2, Nationa
Press Building 4l2s were up II
points.
Mayfiower Hotel First SIS. at 1877 I.
were unchanged. while Washingto
Properties Is. changing ownershl
at 1872 were down Ala points, th
review said.
Todays Trading on Exchange.
Washington Gas Light So pre-
ferred stock registered small sal
on the Washington Stock EXchang
today at 102, unchanged,
The bid for Mergenthaler Line
type stock was advanced from "a
34%, with So asked
American Stores Co. earnings
the first six months OF 1912 wei
equal to Sc cents common shar
against IS cents a year ago.