Evening star., 1950-12-18
Capitals Shipments
By Airmail Express
11.6% Above 1949
By Nelson M. Shepard

BY Nelson M. Shepord
Air mail express shipments in
and out Of Washington rose 11.6
per cent during the first week in
December compared with the same
period of 1949, the Railway Ex-
press Agency reported today. Fol-
lowing the upward trend nation
ally. gross revenue from these To-
cal shipments also gained 1873 per
cent for the week ended December
Z over the same week year ago.
The 2,724 air express shipments
handled returned 1851 in gross
revenue for the week reported ac-
cording to the New York traffic
department. This was an increase
of $2,419 over the 1949 comparable
week. The total of 2,724 packages
handled rose from 2,441. Inbound
shipments were 338 above out
bound.
Recent national figures given
for air mail shipments showed
that revenues for the first 10
months of the year were $17,267,-
935 more than the total for the
whole of 1949. Local reports in
dicate that Washington is con-
tributing healthily to this gain
In air mail shipments.
"Backwash" Cleared.
AS fully expected the Washing
ton terminal of the Railway Ex-
press Agency was clearing the
''backwash" from the embargo on
rail express, shipments out of
Washington. lifted at midnight.
To a less degree the experiences
of the Washington Post Office and
substations were being duplicated
In the express offices. Retail stores
also were benef1tting from the
lifting of both embargoes and
were figuratively rolling up their
sleeves" to handle the swelling
crowds of Christmas shoppers.
Throughout the country, retail
trade demand is expected to con-
tinue above that of year earlier,
at least through early 1851. ac-
cording to q recent analysis in
the reliable Standard g. Poor's
Industry Surveys.
Sales of all retail stores ad-
vanced II per cent in the third
quarter of 1850. following a gain
of only As per cent during the
first half. The upsurge in demand
reflected the Korean hostilities
and fears of cutbacks in civilian
good and resultant prices rises
Heavy buying was concentrated
in durable goods. non-perishable
foods and household goods.
Record Sales Predicted.
The upsurge in third-quarter
sales is indicated to have been at
the expense of some final-quarter
business. Nevertheless, sales in the
latter period should hold about S
to 8 per cent above those in the
final quarter of 1949.
Retailers of general merchandise
are going to do a record Christmas
business and operating income will
be larger. also. the survey pre-
dicted.
New Board Listed.
The Air Transport Association,
1107 Sixteenth street NV, has
reported new board of directors
for 1851 as follows:
r. M. Love. All American Air
ways: C. r. Smith. American Air
lines: T. E. Braniff, Braniff Air
ways: j. H. Carmichael, Capital
Airlines; E. v. Rickenbacker, East
ern Air Lines; George E. Gard
ner, Northeast Air Lines; J. T.
Trippe. Pan American World Air
ways; w. L. Pierson, Trans World
Airlines, and w. A. Patterson,
United Air Lines.
The new board reelected all
officers of the association, but
Admiral Emory S. Land, president,
gave notice he intends to resign
effective December 81. 1851. When
he joined the association, Admiral
Land stated he could not serve
beyond a probable maximum of
five years, and he has extended
this time now for one year.
Dry Goods Convention.
A large Washington. delegation
is expected to attend the oath an
nual convention of the Wholesale
Dry Goods Institute in New York
January 1924 at the Hotel New
Yorker. Nationally known author
tiles in the drygoods field will ad-
dress the convention.
Rejecting the seriousness of in
ternational developments, the 32nd
Midwinter Trust Conference of the
Trust Division of the American
Bankers Association will be a
three-day meeting in February.
The conference is to be held at the
Waldorf Astoria. New York, Feb
ruary ST.
Delegates will be guests on the
closing day at a luncheon to be
given by the New York Clearing
House.
Besides banker speakers, who
will be headed by James E. Shell
ton. president of A. B. A., there
will be representatives of many
affiliated interests.