Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-01-04

: tive in encouraging this trend.
There were less attractive
spots in the generally prosperous
picture. Automobiles. appliances
and some other types of business
were less favored than the aver
age in 1856 and there may be
some laggards in 1857. although
probably not the same ones.
In general. profits were very
satisfactory in 1856 and are ex-
pected to hold their own in 1857.
However. older and larger firms
were in preferred positions as
competition increased steadily.
With more customer dollars to
fight for, more new firms were
organizes and more of them were
likely to fail.
The going was rough for an
inexperienced and poorly f.
nanced businessman. Increasing
ccatS. heavy taxes and location
risks were among the reasons.
Location Risks Increase
AS new shopping centers mush-
roomed throughout the area. it
became increasingly difficult to
judge which locations would
prove successful and which would
not.
Competition didn't stop with
retail merchants, but also was
felt by banks and savings and
loan associations financing area
business and homes.
Needing more funds to lend.
the financial institutions APP
peared bent on an about drive
to attract savings by means of
higher interest rates.
The resulting increase in oper-
ating costs put a premium on
bignesS and raised definite pros
poets for another round of mer-
gers among both banks and
building and loan associations.
Suburban Trade ICONS
Washington area retail volume.
which was estimated at $780,
092 900 in the last year. was up
2 per cent from S2,284,3lo,O00
in 1855 and showed an impress
sive gain of 59.6 per cent from
the Census Bureaus figure of
ST. 549,57O,OOO for 1913, just eight
years earlier.
District of Columbia volume
was estimated at $1,2l0,389. 900.
a decrease Of 2 per cent from
$1.222.615,000 In the previous
year and 1913 per cent ahead of
$1.09l, 100000 in 1948.
The fabulous suburbs in ad-
joining Maryland and Virginia
chalked up a retail volume Of
around $1.1l9.703,000 for 1856.
with an increase of SO per cent /
from s1,O61 ,695 900 in 1855 and
a spectacular jump of 204 per
cent from $368,26l 900 in 1948.
Population Climbs $4,000
Population of the Washington
Metropolitan Area at the start ,
CT the new year was estimated
at 1.953.000. a gain of $4,000
from 100000 a year earlier
and 493,911 ahead of an official
Federal census count of 1854 ,089
on April l. 1850.
A District of Columbia esti-
mate of $4,000 was up 5000
from 861 900 a year earlier and
64,822 above SO2.17S in April,
1850.
Maryland's two adjoining +
counties were credited with $685.
900. a gain of $4,000 from $4,000
a year earlier and 224,417 above
358.583 in the 1850 census.
Virginia suburbs had around
$4,000 at the start of the new
year. an increase Of $4,000 from
485,000 a year earlier and 204.-
672 ahead of 303,328 in the 1850
census.
Payrolls at New Highs
With wage and salary averages
we'll above year ago. estimates
of combined private and Gov
eminent payrolls in November /
rose to $3.50. 1877 900. new record
for the month and rs per cent
above s238.249.000 in November
last year.
Employment of 651 800 per-
sons in the month was 81 per
cent above 64l,600 persons a
year earlier. These November es- {
Inmates for the area are based
on data from the United States I
Employment Service, the Civil
Service Commission. the Bureau {
Of Labor Statistics and the Dis
trict Unemployment Compensa-
ton Board: