Evening star., 1944-05-07
Survey Shows
Rise in Store
Stocks Here
March 81 inventories
II Per Cent Ahead
Of Same 1943 Dote
BY EDWARD G. STONE.

BY EDWARD c. STONE.
Stocks of goods on and In Wash
ington department stores on Marcl
81 were II per cent higher than OF
the same date last year, the Fed
eral Reserve Bank of Richmond re
ported yesterday. The figures indi
cate that the stores are amply sup
Piled with merchandise despit,
shortages In some lines. At the SAM
time, outstanding orders for mer
chandise were 10 per cent above tn,
1943 period, the survey said.
Bills due on March were IA pc
cent lower than a year ago. tn,
March collection record was excel
lent, 81 per cent of current receiv.
ables being paid and Is per cent O.
the installment bills being settlee
during the month, installment pay.
ments being slightly ahead of las
year. Sales in Washington store.
were Is per cent above March, 1943
The survey of the fifth district i.
equally favorable as to sales, stocks
on hand and collections.
Bankers Complete Program.
The program for the annual meet
ing and election of the District
Bankers Association, at the May
flower Hotel, June Q and 8, has been
completed, according to information
just sent to bank officers and direc-
tors.
Covering one of the busiest years
the association has ever expert
enced, business sessions have been
arranged for Friday evening and
Saturday forenoon, with the two
day affair ending on Saturday eve
ming with the customary family din
ner.
AS the meeting is being held in
the city, with no transportation in
volved, an extra large attendance
is anticipated, President A. Scott
Offutt said yesterday. The chair
man of the committee taking res
ervations is Richard A. Norris, at
the Lincoln National Bank.
Facts and Figures Appears.
The 18th edition of Facts and
Figures on Washington Securities
has just been distributed from the
Office of Alexander Brown & Sons
Before consolidation, the booklet
was issued by Y. E. Brooker & Co.
The edition contains q most in
teresting photograph of a paint
ing of Alexander Brown and his
four sons, which hangs in the Bal
timore Office. The book says the
firm, now 143 years old, was founded
when the American Republic was
still mourning the death of Gen.
Washington; John Adams was Pres
ident; Thomas jefferson, President
elect; and the Mississippi was the
western boundary of the United
States. A view of the firms bank
ing Office in Baltimore in 1850 also
is reproduced.
The booklet presents important
facts on about so leading Washing
ton corporations, including public
utilities and banks. The informa-
ton in the So pages was compiled
by Myles H. Quail.
Home Loans Rise Rapidly.
Despite construction restrictions,
the uptrend in nonfarm residential
financing continued in the first
quarter, the Federal Home Loan
Bank Administration reported yes
terday, mortgages totaling $780,
100000, a rise TO 81 per cent over
last year.
March recordings of 1858, 90 900
exceeded all figures for that month
in administration records. Loans
by individuals were 46 per cent
ahead of the first 1943 quarter
During the quarter, building and
loan associations recorded $312,-
BOZ 900 mortgages; banks, $193 ,096,-
600; individuals, $233 ,982, 900.
Appraisers Plan May Meeting.
Ayers du Bois, well known in real
estate circles, will be the speaker at
the May dinner of Washington
Chapter, Society of Residential Ap-
pratSers, tomorrow evening at the
New Ebbitt Hotel. All persons in
terested in real estate appraisals are
invited, Secretary r. Lee Baxter
said yesterday.
Leo J. Paulin of Washington, in
dependent radio producer, writer
and publicist, and George S. Bernard
of New York have formed a part
nership to serve advertising agen-
cies, sponsors, radio stations and
organizations with radio programs
The Washington Office is at 1927 X
street.
The Peoples Bank, Mullens, w
Va, has been admitted to member
ship in the Federal Reserve System
Fifth War Loan Plans Ready.
Organization for the Fifth War
Loan, June II to July 8, will be the
most complete of any of the drives
John A. Reilly, chairman of the Dis
trict War Finance Committee, said
yesterday. Each campaign brings
out a lot of new ideas for later use
The goal this time Is $4,000, 900, :
900, with $4,000, 600, 900 wanted from
individuals The American Bank.
ers' Association has just appealed Il
the banks to make special effort
among their depositors to increase
their purchases. So far as Wash.
ington is concerned. as Mr.. Reilly
said yesterday. such personal ap.
peals have been made in all the
drives.
1t is understood the usual team!
are being organized in the banks
Bonds will be offered as prizes ane
'hot contests" are already assured
Low-Cost Building Tested.
The official organ of the Unitee
States Savings and Loan League de
scribeS a loW-cost building venture
featured by the owners working OF
the houses and digging the founda
tions themselves. Just outside Wa
terloo, Iowa, wage earners bough
half-acre lots for $500 and bull
$1,000 houses by pooling much o
the labor. The league predicts tn,
idea may spread after the war t.
many other places.
Commodity PRICES
NEW YORK, May 6.-The Associates