Evening star., 1951-12-17
Gas Light Co. Sales
Up 56S in November
3Pcf. in II Months
Rx Nelson IA. Shenord

Light Co. increased 56.08 per cent
for November in the city COM
pared with the same month a
year ago, the company reported
today.
Attributed somewhat to lower
temperatures during the month.
the unusually high November in
crease boosted total sales for IL
months by 22.98 per cent over
1850.
Therm sales totaled 25,415, ,486
for Washington in November. A
year ago the figure was 1929
729. For the IL months of this
year therm sales totaled 203. .329,-
$50 compared with 165 .341, 1872 in
the same period last year.
Aside from the colder weather.
the satisfactory increase recorded
during the II months period re-
fiected the steady growth of new
customers and the increasing pop
ularity of gas. especially for home
heating purposes.
Retail Prices Decline.
Retail prices in November con-
tinued the declining trend which
started on August /, with result
that the December / index COM
piled by Fairchild Publications,
Inc. was the lowest since March / !,
1t was announced today.
The decline was 2 per cent dur
ing the month compared with Oc-
tober. Prices. however. are still
only 6 per cent below the years
high and still are per cent above
the corresponding week a year ago.
The piece goods index was the
lowest since January l. Latest
prices show a decline of g per cent
during the month. Mems apparel
remained firm, showing no change.
Women's apparel, on the other
hand. recorded a decline Of 2 per
cent during the month. Infants
wear showed no change, while
home furnishings recorded a de-
cline of 3 per cent, the lowest
since February /.
All the major groups averaged
higher than year ago, although
mems apparel and women's ap-
parel showed nominal gains, Fair
child reported. Several important
commodities actually were lower
than a year ago. These included
most piece goods, sheets and wom-
ems hosiery.
While Fairchild predicted prices
In the next few months will con-
tinue to f1uctuate within very re-
stricted level, the index indicated
they should average slightly low
er. Prices were said to be reflect
ing the easier quotations in whole
sale markets on most general mer-I
,chandise items.
Home Building Drops.
A seasonal" drop in the num-
ber of new homes started during
November was reported over the
week end by the Labor Depart
ment.
The department said homebuild-
ers started 10000 new dwellings
in November, compared with 86.-
00o the previous month. The No
vember, 1850, total was $4,000
units.
1t also announced the millionl
mark for new homes started this
year was reached during Novem-I
ber. The cumulative total for the
first II months of 1851 was 1922
600 units. This compares with
1,302.400 started in January No
vember of last year and 946. 800
starts in the like period of 1949.
OF the 1851 total, 952, 500 homes
have been started by private build
ers.
In an announcement Of the
election Of associates Of Harrell
Brothers g. Campbell. general in
surance firm, in this column Sun
day. lines were transposed or
omitted. Godfrey Munter was
elected general counsel. and it
was announced that Robert S. |
Campbell. in the future will be re-
tanned exclusively as life insurance
salesman and consultant, which
is an additional H. B. g. C. service
to its policyholders.
Bank Holds Party.
The Hamilton National Bank
held its 18th annual Christmas
party for officials and staff Satur-
day night at the Columbia Coun-
try Club. Distribution of the an
nual Christmas bonus was a high
light of the evening.
Ralph C. Boyd, district manager
Of the Farm Bureau Insurance
Co. In Arlington County. is at
tending q f1ve-day school in man
agement at the firms home Office
In Columbus, Ohio, according to-
William A. White, vice president
in charge of sales.
Mr.. Boyd is one of az men. all
Of whom were promoted from
agent to district manager during
the last year, who are taking the
special training. The school is
patterned after the schools con-
Quoted annually by the Life In
surance Agency Management AS
sociation of Hartford, Conn. Mem
hers of the home Office sales de-
partment are conducting tn e
course.
The firms Mr.. Boyd represents
as district manager are the Farm
Bureau Mutual Automobile In
surance Agency. the Farm Bureau
Mutual Fire Insurance Co. and
the Farm Bureau Life Insurance
Co., all of which maintain home
Offices In Columbus.
Gen. Hoyt S. Vandenberg, Air
Force Chief OF Staff, will address
the National Retail Dry Goods
Associations Board of Directors
at their annual dinner in the Hotel
Statler. New York, January Z.
The dinner is a feature of the
associations 41st annual conven-
ton.
His address will open a program
being undertaken by NRDGA at
the request of the Air Force,