Evening star., 1945-01-08
Business Briefs

Steel Mill Operations for the cur
rent week were scheduled at 93To,
indicating production of 1,677 500
net tons, the American Iron & Steel
Institute disclosed. Figures last week
were 95.8To and 1,728,100 tons; a
month ago, 969% and 1,743, 200; a
year ago, 96.7To and 1,731 300.
Unprecedented Christmas Buying
pushed total retail volume in No.
vember to around $6,136 900 900, a
gain of go over the same 1943
month, the Commerce Department
estimated. Higher prices caused go
of the rise while fears of shortages,
early Christmas mailing and higher
incomes were factors in the remain
ing SO gain.
Freight LOadings in the first quar-
ter OF 1945 are expected to total g.
1877 1896 cars, only slightly above
8,768,854 in the same 1943 period,
the Association of American Rail-
roads announced.
Southern Construction Contracts
in 1914 totaled 1884 ,532 900, of which
$792, ,725 900, or almost 82Go, repre-
sented Federal and industrial con-
tracts, the Manufacturers Record
reported.
State and Municipal Financing In
1914 totaled $698, ,358,515, a jump of
20% over $5O7 ,566, ,466 in the previous
year, but well below a prewar an
nual average of slightly better than
81 900 ,000, 900, the Daily Bond Buyer
disclosed.
Armour g. Co. earned $11, ,250, 0,348
or S1.92 share in II months ended
october 28, compared with $11, ,445,-
499 or $197 in the previous year.
National Pressure Cooker Co. net
for IL months ended September 80
was s335,O55 or s1.67 VS.. $91 ,079 or
As cents in the preceding fiscal
period.
Reliance Electric & Engineering
Co. earned $265 ,523 or S1.55 in II
months ended October 81 VS.. $685.
306 or $151 in the previous year.
Empire Trust Co. reported oper-
ating earnings in 1914 totaled $780,
BAT or $10.S1 share VS.. $494, ,468 or
$7.06 in 1943.
Lehman Corp. reported net asset
value of $44.28 a share on Decem-
Der 81, compared with $41.55 on
June 80 and $37.71 at the end of
1943.
F. w. Woolworth Co. sales for 1914
totaled $459, ,843 1886, a gain of 4.7%o
over 1943; December sales, $67, ,592,-
438, an increase of 9.4Go over a year
ago.
. Montgomery Ward g. Co. sales for
December totaled SIG ,467 ,705, a gain
Of 10.4% over a year ago; for II
months ended December 81, $751;
886,061, an increase of 32% over q
year earlier.
H. L. Green Co. sales for Decem-
ber totaled $10,621, ,725, rise OF
11.5% from a year earlier; for II
months ended December 81, $64, 1885,
155. a gain of 32To.
Travellers Insurance COMPANIES
wrote almost 1886 900, 900 of pre-
MUM income last year, an increase
of $29, ,4o0, 900 or 124% more than in
1943. New life insurance written on
a paid-for basis exceeded $608 ,O00,-
000,s exclusive of $1,000, ,000, 900 OF
group life.
New York, New Haven & Hartford
Railroad and the Boston g. Maine
should be completely separated, a
Massachusetts legislative commits
sion recommended. 1t asked legisla-
tion to force the New Haven to sell
its B. e. M. holdings.
Sol Lesser Productions, Inc, was
organized in Hollywood with cap
ital of 81 ,000, 900. The firm plans to
spend 5000, 900 In 1945. Jean Hers
holt is q director.
General Motors Corp. appointed
Morgan D. Douglas general man
ager Of its GMC Truck & Coach Di-
vision to succeed Irving B. Babcock,
who became president Of Aviation
o2rD.