Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1939-12-26
Industry Will Spend
Billion for Plant
in 1910
Utilities Alone Plan
To Pour Out More
Than Half Of Sum
By PAUL D. GESNER,

Associated fFe3S elueUCl81 WIIbsAs
NEW YORK, Dec. 26.-American
industry will spend at least $1,0O0.-
100000 for new plant construction in
1910, business executives forecast
here today.
The utilities industry alone, lead
ers say, will pour between $500, 000,-
600 and s55o,ooo,o into new electric
power producing plants. Both pro-
duction and use of electric current
the past year touched the highest
levels in history and near the year
end output was running between II
and II per cent ahead of last year.
The rate of gain is expected to con-
tinue, meaning that more and more
plants will be needed to supply
widening power needs.
With gasoline consumption during
1888 at a record high. leading oil
companies are expanding gasoline
refining facilities. Around $50 900 900
of new gasoline cracking construc-
ton is already under way or in sight,
of which some s20.000,000 centers in
the Gulf Coast area alone. It's
thought outlay for new plants in the
oil industry by the end Of 1910 may
reach $l00000,000 or more.
Rayon Firms Build.
Rayon yarn and fiber consump-
ton the past year also touched new
record highs, with executives fore
casting even wider use Of rayon tex
tiles in the future. A new synthetic
fiber for the manufacture of stock
ings to compete with silk hosiery was
announced by the rayon industry
during the year and. while millions
are already being spent for plants to
turn out the new yarn, the next IL
months may witness spending OF
$40 900 900 or $50 900 900 more in that
field. trade observers say.
With wider use of plastics, a rel
atively new industry, another $50
100000 chunk of new plant construc-
ton may be yielded up in 1910.
New glass products, recently per-
fected, will require new plants to
put them on a commercial produc-
ton basis.
The airplane companies, said to
be geared now to turn out around
1850 planes a month, spent COM
paratively little for new plants dur
ing 1888. Many doubled up on floor
space, or doubled working shifts,
rather than put up new manufac-
turing units. If plane orders, both
domestic and foreign. continue at
their recent break-neck pace, plane
makers eventually must embark on
substantial plant expansion pro-
grams, the aircraft men admit. Ex-
penditures in 1910 of at least $50
100000 to $100,000,000 are antici-
pated by many.
Steel Changes Due.
Leading steel companies, as a
matter of routine after turning out
steel the past few months at the
fastest rate ever seen, are expected
to pull down some of their more
obsolete units, replacing them with
newer, more efficient mills. At least
$4,000 900 to s6O,0OO,O 900 spending in
the steel field for new facilities in
1910 is believed very likely, even if
operations slide lower after the turn
of the year.
Chemical companies may widen
plant facilities to the tune of $50
100000 to SIS 1000, 900. Most of them
operated at record levels this
quarter.
Miscellaneous expenditures which
may mount to $150,000,00O or over
are seen in combined new industrial
building of a number of other lines.
Reported planning new construction
OUTLAWS during the next II months
are selected shipbuilding, auto, rub
Der products, food products, mer-
chandising, paper and pulp, and
o1ocfrioo1 t,rnG11ofc onpnorvoc