Evening star., 1944-07-10
D. {. Bank Earnings
Slightly Above 1943
In First Half
BY EDWARD C. STONE.

BY EDWARD C. STONE.
Washington bank officials report
q highly satisfactory first half year
with earnings slightly ahead of the
ike period a year ago. Loans held
their own although far below nor
NAL times, while big Government
bond accounts brought in substantial
revenues.
Bank deposits ended the six
months at an all-time peak of $762,
,734, revealing gain of $50, ,737, :
1923 in the half year. ,
Rejecting wartime business ac-
tivity, bank clearingS reached the
surprising figure of $l,022 672 POI
registering an advance of $79, ,160, ,094
over the like 1943 period.
The help situation changed but
little in the six months, although
more and more women were hired.
In addition to the excellent flnan-
cial results. bankers point with great
pride to the work done in the War
Bond drives. Building and Loan off,
cials today reported similar salts
factory results, sharp upturn In
assets and share accounts having
been recorded.
That business was particularly
good in the Capital in the six
months is indicated by other lead
ing barometerS. Department store
sales were at extremely high levels,
about per cent ahead of last year;
express shipments exceeded all pre-
vious records: life insurance sales
up to June l were per cent higher
than last year: receipts at the City
Post Office surpassed all former
totals.
Earnings of the utility corpora
up to the first half of l943. Trading
volume on the Washington Stock
Exchange declined but prices moved
upward, half-year summary dis
closed.
Reilly Given High Praise.
Washington bankers today were
giving unlimited praise to John A.
Reilly, chairman of the District War
Finance Committee and president
of the Second National Bank, for
his brilliant work in putting the War
Bond drive over the top, subscrip-
tions of SLIT 100000 being 1927 per
cent of the SLOT 7,000,000 quota, with
more to come
Mr.. Reilly gave all his time, both
day and night, seven days a week,
to reaching and exceeding the quota
No physical or mental effort was
too great, Mr.. Reilly starting his
plans weeks before the campaign
actually got under way.
At times it looked as if the quota
could not be reached, but Mr.. Reilly
worked harder and harder until the
line was crossed He refuses to take
the credit. however. saying his thou
sands Of helpers really put the drive
over.
Plaskitt New Sales Manager.
James M. PlaSkitt, former me-
chanical engineer of the Southern
Railway System, has been named
regional sales manager for the Ed
ward G.. Budd Mfg. Co., with head
quarters in the company's Washing
ton Offices. He is a native of Balti-
more, Naval Academy graduate
member of the Masonic Order, Army
and Navy Club, Virginia Historical
Society and the author of several
books. He resides in Alexandria and
Upperville.
Department store sales in the
Richmond Reserve District from
January to July l were per cent
ahead of the like period year ago
The Atlanta Area led the other II
districts with a 20 per cent gain,
with Dallas second with a II per
cent advance. Sales in every district
were well ahead of last year.
North American common sold at
10 on the New York Stock Exchange
Saturday, new 1914 high.