Evening star., 1942-02-08
Express Gains
a.
Also Reflect
Boom Here
Jonuory Shipments
1871 Per Cent Ahead
OF 1941 Month
BY EDWARD C. STONE.

OF l94l Month
BY EDWARD C. STONE.
Further evidence of the present
record business boom in the National
Capital was disclosed yesterday in
the monthly report of Supt. w. o. r.
Hannah of the Railway Express
Agency, which revealed another all
time peak for January.
Express shipments handled by the
Washington Office in the first month
of 1942 numbered 1861, in COM
parison with 165,664 in January.
1941, an increase of 81 ,697. or l9.l
per cent. The company's books
show no other January with such a
heavy traffic volume.
The January report follows the
December statement, which also
registered the best holiday month
. on record, when shipments in and
out of Washington reached BOT 596,
for gain of 35,940 shipments, or
1872 per cent, over December, 1910.
Shipments in the full year 1941
numbered 2,38o,837, up 13 per cent.
Acacia Adopts War Bond Plan.
william Montgomery, president of
the Acacia Mutual Life Insurance
Co., announced last night formal
adoption of a vitality important in
vestment policy under which very
large proportion of all mutual funds
available for investment will be
placed in Government bonds.
The policy will be effective for
the duration of the national emerg-
ency, Mr.. Montgomery added, the
company being anxious in every
way possible to help win the war.
The investment in Defense bonds
will be substantial in amount and
will be made without interruption.
The plan is certain to have the
full-hearted support of all policy
holders.
Mr.. Montgomery stated that the
company's present policy Of making
monthly payment loans on approved
homes and other essential proper
ties will be continued.
He also said the adoption of the
new policy Is entirely apart from
the plan in operation for several
months whereby Acacia employees
have voluntarily invested thousands
Of dollars in Defense bonds and
stamps through regular salary de-
ductions.
Wholesale Trade Up Sharply.
Sales of 100 wholesale firms in
the Fifth Federal Reserve District,
including Washington, in December
advanced 81 per cent above the same
month In the previous year, the
Richmond Reserve Bank reports.
Shoe sales topped all other leading
lines with a So per cent upswing.
Second in the list came paper
and paper products with a IS per
cent Jump, followed by sales of elec-
trical goods, up 80 per cent. Mis-
cellaneous sales by So firms were
81 per cent better in 1941 than in
1910.
Automotive supplies had a is per
cent gain, drugs and sundries were
in 20 per cent better demand. dry
goods 81, groceries 80 and hard
ware "a per cent. Sales of indus
trial supplies were 30 per cent ahead
Of the previous year and tobacco
and tobacco products, 81 per cent,
the summary shows.
Turning to retail business, the
review states that furniture sales in
washington in December were %
per cent higher than a year ago,
while retail sales for the year 1941
in the Capital were "a per cent
above 1910.
Bond Speakers Unit Named.
Wilfred H. Blanz. president of the
District of Columbia Building and
Loan League yesterday appointed
the following committee to serve as
a speakers bureau in connection
with the organizations efforts to
press the sale of Defense bonds and
stamps to the public:
Luther C. Steward, president,
Prudential Building Association;
Clarence E. Kefauver, executive vice
president, Columbia Federal Saw
ings & Loan Association; F. Wilson
Camp, secretary, District Building
& Loan Association; and William
N. Payne. jr., president, Eastern
Building & Loan Association. Mr..
Blanz will also serve on the COM
mittee.
d. c. Appraisers TO Meet.
Washington Chapter, Society of
Residential Appraisers, will hold a
roundtable meeting Tuesday evening
at O'Clock, at Chamberlain's, 819
Fifteenth street NV, Secretary r.
Lee Baxter announced yesterday.
Thornton w. Owen, chapter presi-
dent, will lead the discussion on
planning the Appraisal"
Following this program. members
will adjourn to the board room of
the District Title Co. and hear
Theodore Coe, technical secretary.
American Institute of Architects, on
"The Architects Point of View"
Institute Contest Date Set.
Roland T. Carr, assistant cashier.
Riggs National Bank, and chairman
of the Public Speaking Committee
of Washington Chapter, American
Institute of Banking, announces
that the annual public-speaking con-
test under auspices of A. P Giannini
Public-Speaking Endowment will be
held in the chapter rooms Wednes-
day, March IL, at 800 pm. The
subject is Banks and Changing
Credit Conditions" and the contest
Is open to any active member of the
chapter.
The winner will receive possession
Of the Bank Presidents Trophy for
one year and will represent the
chapter in the semi-finals at Newark
In April. The winner of that con-
test gets all expenses to the national
A. I. B. convention in New Orleans
for the finals in which the first prize
Is $500.