Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-02-04
New Peak Reported
In Express Shipments
Here in January
Supt. Hunnan Announces
Al Per Cent Advance
Over Same 1912 Month
BY EDWARD C. STONE.

ny EUWAKU T.. STONE.
January express shipments in ane
out OF Washington set an all-tims
peak for the month and added ont
more new record to the long lis,
established during 1912. Supt. W. o
Il. Hannah of the Railway Express
Agency announced today.
Shipments numbered 205,5l9 par
GELS, compared to l97.36l in the same
month year ago, gain of 8,l5e
packages, or Al per cent, the report
disclosed.
Today's report is the first since
the December statement which re-
vealed biggest year-end month in
the companys history and helped
make the lS42 total the highest for
any IL months on record. Shipments
in 1912 reached 2574,666 compared
to 2,380,9l9 in 1941. an upswing of
l93,747 packages. In December,
alone, the company handled 325.457
items, compared to 307, 500 year
earlier.
All these recent records are largely
the result of wartime activities,
growth in the Capitals population
being a vital factor, Supt. Hannah
concluded.
Ratien Banking Starts Well.
Washington bankers said today
that radon coupon banking is work.
ing smoothly and is not proving q
burden on the banks.
The number Of accounts opened
to date Is limited many dealers
awaiting more supplies before put
ting their coupons in the banks. All
accounts are handled separately
from the dollar accounts.
AS the OPA expands rationing
hank officials look for lot more
business later. So far the book
keeping has proved no such task as
was feared before the system was
inausurated.
City Retail Sales Mount.
The Federal Reserve Board re-
ports that department store sales in
many cities showed startling gains
in 1912. Vallejo and Napa, Calf,
topped the list with SIS per cent.
gain over l94l. Stockton, San Diego
and Long Beach reported trade up
turns Of So per cent or better.
In the East trade in Charleston,
S. c., made the best showing with
80 per cent advance. Niagara
Falls was up IS per cent, Macon, Ca.
80 per cent; Norfolk, 20; Jackson
vile, Il, and many other cities Is
and 40 per cent.
Fort Wayne, Indianapolis and De-
troit made the best record in the
Middle West, the survey shows.
$lls.7oo.ses Outlay Near End.
With expenditures in 1043 OF $25,-
100000. the North American Co. will
complete a four-year $l48, 100, 900
program increasing its generating
capacity 81 per cent. OF this sum
the company spent 81, 100000 In
1912.
Due to this expansion. the Potomac
Electric Power Co. and other sub
sidiaries have. been able TO meet all
extra demands for power since the
war started, 2 New York statement
AVE s4asas 80 Sfs p S's3s
!. rickett Gets Bank Once.
Camp Pickett fva.5 has been
granted special banking facilities to
be supplied by the State Planters
Bank q Trust Co.. Of Richmond, the
controller of the currency an
nounced here today. Practically all
the Army camps In this territory
now have banking o1llces to meet the
needs Of the men In the service.
The Post Once Department has
reported that December revenues,
boosted by the heaviest Christmas
mail In history. totaled $118,588. 675.
exceeding December, 1941, by $l2.-
5s0,3l6 or 1lA7 per cent The
months fetal was $1,000 600 more
than revenues for the entire fiscal
year 1901, the report said.
Gas IS Preferred Strong.
Washington Gas IS preferred sold
on the Washington Stock Exchange
today ct . new high on the present
move. The stock changed hands in
20, 40 and 25-share lots at 1917, a
gain Of Ii points since yesterday
and new lo43 high. The final bid
was l0l with l01a. asked.
Gardnckel common stock appeared
on the board for the first time this
year, small sale taking place at
eli, up half point from the last
sale In 1912. Potomac Electric
Power So per cent preferred came
out at lis, up u.
The asked price for Mergenthaler
Linotype stood at Ala today. The
last sale was made at 20.