The Omaha guide., 1935-06-22

zines shows that industry is dis
playing much more initiative than
it was a year, two years, or three
years ago. There are exceptions
to this rule, Of course, principally
consisting Of businesses which are
in fear of legislative attack. But
even these feel that there is a
good chance that matters Will
work out well in the. long run.
Here are some business briefs of
interest:
900
RAILROADS: All over the
country lines are instigating driv-
es to regain lost passenger traf-
fic. Lower rates and better serv-
ice, air-conditioning, more com
Portable cars, higher speeds. ETC..
are high spots of the drive. Wes-
tern railroads have recently gone
in for a large joint advertising
program.
-oOo-
CONSTRUCTION: Revival Of
construction, mainly domestic. is
believed essential to recovery, to
employment, to industrial activi-
ty at large. A billion dollars
could profitably be spent for new
homes, a billion more for renoviz-
ing old ones. Interesting plan is
announced by General Electric
Co. which will spend $4,000
600 for constructing 1900 model
houses, costing $4,000 to $1O,500
each, throughout the country; one
house to each 100000 Of popula-
ton. Committees VIII work
IN every population center to find
buyers for the houses. General
Electric main contribution will
be to completely electrify the pub
lie view from September l, when
all houses will be completed, to
October 81. General Electries
hope is that this will cause a ma
tion-wide demand for better, more
efficient, more economical homes.
-oOo-
UTILITIES: The NRA decision
has put new confidence into this
industry, for two diverse reasons.
First, the most difficult utility
operating problem has been to
keep rates down in the face of
NRA artifically boosted material
costs; a problem which has like
wise applied to railroads and
other industries with fixed rate
bases. Second, and perhaps more
important, the decision has given
utility owners hope that the pro-
posed Wheeler-Rayburn bill to
eliminate the holding company
will be held unconstitutional
when and if it reaches the High
Court.
600
MOTORS: Also gained from
the NRA decision. In the words
Of Time, the industry has been set
ting new records for profitless
prosperity in that it is unable to
pass along to the public the high
er material costs the NRA forced
it to pay. Big motor companies
will now be able to use their vast
bargaining power to cut the price
for steel and other necessary
commodities. Also, the NRA
used-car code provisions slowed
down sales; now that it is gone,
and Mr.. Public will be able to get
more for his old cal, motormen be-
lieve he will 60 for new cars in a
big way.
-o0o-
RETAIL TRADE: Price wars
are rampant, especially in the to-
bacco, drug, liquor and sundry
trades. Consumers are thronging
the cut price stores, where Gloss
leaders" predominant. Some
chains recently sold cigarettes
which cost them about $1.0O a
carton for as little as so cents.
Result is a terrific retail turnover.
-OOo-
AIR CONDITIONING: Develop
ments r coming fast in this. one !
OF q youngest industries. Com
petition IS tremendous, some 100
concerns bidding for business.
This tends to give the public bet
ter equipment at lower prices and
on more favorable terms. a new
entry into the field offers, for less
than $500, a unit that will provide
complete summer air conditioning
for from four to eight rooms for
SIS or less a season.
600
BANKING: A highly interest
ing development in this field is
the fact that commercial banks
are taking up small loan business.
something they refused to do a