50

The increasing tendency to break up lofts and stores
into smaller units has produced an increased growth in
the electric sign and installment wiring business.

Appliances.

Appliance sales through the Company are about 25%
over the year 1921, due mainly to the growing popularity
of the electric-iron.

Advertising.

Continuous sales pressure has been maintained
through show-rooms, newspaper advertising, booklets,
folders, etc. Perhaps the outstanding features of the
advertising are the adoption of the deferred payment
plan and the sending out of literature with current bills.

The automobile exhibit was the only special display
held in the Irving Place show-room. A new series of
Exhibits has been planned for 1923.

COAL SHORTAGE

In the winter of 1921-1922, all indications pointed to
a probable strike of coal-miners on April 1, 1922. It was
anticipated by the officers that it might be difficult to ob¬
tain contract coal, and accordingly steps were taken to
accumulate gas-coal for our coal-gas-plants and anthra¬
cite for our water-gas-plants.

On April 1, no contracts for anthracite were ob¬
tainable and with one exception no contracts could be
made for gas-coal as the future conditions in the coal
market were so uncertain that none of the coal companies,
with which the Company has had business relations for