Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-05-08

ntted Each article has been prepared by
leader in some one field George b Cor,
eas Co is Of NeR York and md dfreetor
many public utility corporations: He
He was secretary TO Presidents Mckinley
and Roosevelt ar first seereta tar OF the pd Ds
master General and Secretary OF the
TIME gas and electric light and
power utilities are, as is well
known, regulated industries. The
rates they charge are controlled
by public authority. They are
permitted to earn no more than tar
return on the value of their property.
AS an Offset to this. they usually en-
Joy exclusive franchises within the ter
ritories they serve and are thus relieved
of competition one with another.
Nevertheless, a large and increasing
percentage of their business is competi-
tive. Large-scale industrial uses are
mainly of this character.
Keeping in mind the distinctions be-
tween the utility business and other
kinds of business, what do the utilities
offer you young men about to choose
your life work and what do they demand
of YOU? They offer you permanent
business So far as we can tell. botn
gas and electric service are here to stay:
Every day new uses for them are found
and all indications point" to their per-
manency in our homes and industries
They offer you a growing business.
Both gas and electric service show
continuous growth over a period OF
years Indeed, the growth OF the light
and power business has been one OF the
outstanding phenomena of the past
decade. Taking the industries together,
the capital invested in them today is not
far from $4,000, goo, 600, and is increas-
ing at the rate Of O billion or more q
year.
Stable Business Offered.
They offer you q stable business. 1t
Is not subject to sudden and violent
fluctuations. It's income base is so broad
and diversified that 1t is not affected
seriously by depressions in particular in
dustries.
They offer you many-sided business.
1t performs all the functions of the
manufacturer, transporter, wholesaler
and retailer. It takes its products
through the complete cycle of opera
tons from the coal pile to the con-
sumer. Many and varied services are
required in the process. It's customers
are the entire public, and service" Is
its watchword.
Much, of course, depends upon which
department of the business you desire
to enter. II it is one of the engineering
departments, then you should have
sound theoretical training, preferably
in some technical school or college. If
the accounting department, then you
should know something of the princi-
Piles of accounting. If the sales depart
ment, you should know something Of
and be keenly interested in salesman
ship. And so on through the other de-
In whatever department you enter
you will find yourself in the company
of others who like you, are striving to
advance themselves. If you are observ-
lions you can better your chances of
promotion. You will, for example, take
advantage Of such educational facilities
as your company offers that will make
you q more efficient employee.
You will cultivate an inquiring and
receptive mind and you will talk with
older men who know the business and
can give you helpful information and
advice. You will read books and maya
zines that deal with the utility indus
tr and It's problems. You will neglect
no opportunity for self-improvement.
Amusement and Recreation.
While permitting yourself a proper
amount of amusement and recreation,
you will not allow these or other out
side interests to divert you from your
main objective, which Is to make sue
cess Of your job. One of your greatest
assets is your health, and you will need
to take particular care Of it, for If it
becomes impaired you are under seri-
Gus handicap.
You should not become discouraged
If your advancement In the beginning
Is not as rapid as you had hoped. You
should remember that 1t Is not the
start of the race but the finish that
counts, and that the higher executives
Of your company are as anxious that
you should progress to the limit Of your