Record freight loading in 1926 was reported by the Amerian Railway Association. The number of cars loaded was 53,309,644, an increase of 4.1% over 1925, the best previous year. Loading of revenue freight exceeded 1,000,000 cars in 27 separate weeks' in 1926, the largest number of such weeks ever reported (seven more than 1925).
Record woman's insurance policy ($3,250,000) has been written in Cincinnati for Mrs. Henry C. Yeiser Jr., daughter of the late Julius Fleischmann. It is as trust fund to insure the fortune inherited from her father. Union Central Life Insurance Co. was underwriter; will let out major portion to twelve other companies.
Railway securities in the U. S. have a face value of $22,333,000,000, according to Interstate Commerce Commissioner Lewis. This wealth is shared by nearly 2,000,000 stock and bond holders. Railroad valuation was set at $22,000,000,000, a $4,000,000,000 increase since 1920.
The F. W. Woolworth Co. increased its sales 6.11% in 1926. In 1925 they were $239,027,979; in 1926, $253,639,084.
Cooking in serving pantries of apartment hotels in New York has been held illegal by the Court of Special Sessions there, under fire hazard covered by a Tenement House law. Investments of $350,000,000 in such hotels are jeopardized. The Apartment Hotel Owners' Association will appeal the case.
Meat Pact. The so-called "Argentine meat war" between the principal importing firms in England ended last week with a gentleman's agreement between Swift & Co., Armour & Co.; and the English firm of Vestey Brothers. To each concern was apportioned an agreed percentage of the business to be done. At present the only firms of consequence who are outside this agreement are the Smithfield and Argentine Meat Co. and its satellites. Britons, who dislike Argentine meat anyway, were not cheered by the prospect of having to pay more for it now that the price war is over.
"Spiritual Bridge" was the term used for the new Casa de las Espanas, Inc. (home of the Spanish-speaking peoples) created by the purchase of Grand Central Palace and the Park-Lexington Building. Manhattan. Spanish and American businessmen backers are headed by Col. Thomas H. Birch, onetime Minister to Portugal and President of the Trust Co. of North America. Consulates, schools, commercial exhibits, offices and a bank are to be located on the property.
Poultry statistics compiled by the Wall Street Journal state that this business is now equal to that of the U. S. wheat crop. Only corn, cot- ton, hay surpass. Minnesota and Missouri reported rapid growth in poultry values.