Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-04-22

In its investigation of public utilities
the Federal Trade Commission has con-
Quoted a field examination of two i'm
portant holding companies, one OF
which has large natural gas opera
tons.
The commission has completed the
field examination Of two of five holding
companies and has begun work on an
operating company that has a large
natural gas business. A field engineer
ing inspection of the properties OF an
important electric operating group was
completed and will be the subject OF an
early hearing.
Reports were completed on the man.
agement, servicing and corporate inter-
relations of two groups of holding COM
panies, service organizations and OPP
Grating companies and work on other
groups is under way. Reports on the
transmission of electric energy across
State lines by two large holding COM
pany groups and an accounting report
on a large operating company have
been completed.
Alfred Reeves general manager of
the National Automobile Chamber OF
Commerce, declares improvement in the
motor industry is resulting almost en-
tirely from an encouraging buying in
terest rather than pressure for business
volume at any price.
Reeves says that manufacturers in
the last year have been working closer
together on common problems, and
there has been no hySteria within the
industry On the other hand, he said,
there is a definite recognition that
troubles Of the depression are passing
and firm belief that the world re-
quires more highway transportation.
The hope of the industry lies in the
| 1Attnl 10 "a
economical to continue the use Of old,
unsafe cars in the face Of the modern
efficient products, he says.
IN this fact lies the irdustry's
strongest hope for continuing good
business during the Summer and
throughout the rest of 1884," Reeves
said, adding:
Certainly, with the passing OF de-
preston conditions, the public is able
their old cars they need to replac
them with new vehicles. and with tn |.
definite assurance that new models wiz
not appear until the end of the year
they are willing to buy them now"
The Federal Reserve Boards condi-
ton statement of weekly reporting
member banks in leading cities on
April 15 shows increases for the week
of S129 100000 in holdings of Govern
ment securities, and of $92 200, 900 in
Government deposits; also $46,o00, 900
in loans, $133,000,000 in net demand
deposits and $31,000,000 in time de-
posts. Total loans and investments,
partly as result of Treasury opera
lions, increased $206, 100000.
Loans On securities increased $48,-
600 900 at all reporting banks, while
"all other" loans decreased $4,000, 900.
Holdings of Government securities in
creased $4,000, 900, and of other Sc
curities, S31 900 900. Borrowings OF re-
porting member banks aggregated $19,-
000. 900.
Production of metallic zinc of more
than 99.9 per cent purity at compare
lively low cost looms as definite prob
ability as result of research by the
Bureau of Mines, details of which are
to be announced in the next few days.
Working for the last three years on
the general problem of finding i'm
proved methods to assist in utilizing
the zinc ores available in the western,
Central and Eastern States, bureau
engineers have studied chemical reac-
tions, working temperatures and ores,
giving promise in meeting modern in
duStrial requirements for high-grade
low-cost materials. Outstanding success
failed to reward their efforts until they
were able to test the practicability of
certain thermo dynamic calculations
indicating possibilities in an undeVel-
oped direction.
Notification of the result attained at
a Western experiment station of the
bureau is about to be made public. 1t
is expected this will affect favorably
the mineral economics of the third
largest non-ferrous mineral industry in
the United States and in addition prob
ably will extend the use of another
important mineral product.