The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1943-12-02
Behind the Scenes
In American Business
By John Cruddock

By John Craddock
There seems to be some indi-
cation that the much neglected
consumer goods problem will re-
ceive greater attention in the
coming year. Merchants thru
out the country who have
watched the rapid depletion OF
their stocks base this belief on
the recent happenings in Wash
lngton and upon what manu-
%facturers themselves are doing
in anticipation Of more civilian
business.
One favorable sign comes from
the Office of Civilian Require
mentS. According to recent re-
ports, it plans to permit, among
other things, the manufacture
of 2,000,0 900 electric irons, 900, 900
refrigerators and 100000 wash
ing machines.
Another straw in the wind is
the changing attitude of the
manufacturers. In anticipation
of civilian business, they are
turning their attention towards
their customers. A number of
wholesalers and retailers report
that for the first time in many
months they are receiving calls
from the sales staff of manu-
f%acturers which means a short
ening of deliveries in some lines.
RAIL REVOLUTIONARY the
person who depends upon it to
check the accuracy of his watch
to the one that looks upon it as
a big provider of jobs, the rail-
road touches deep INTO the lives
of thousands in communities
throughout the nation. Because
of intimacy, people of large and
small towns are just as concern
ed about the future of rail-
roads as are the men entrusted
with their operation.
While everyone comedies that
the railroads are doing a mag
nificent job in the total war ef-
fort, the question is usually ask
ed whether they will be able to
maintain passenger traffic after
the war in face of competition
with other transportation agen-
cies.
Leading railway executives,
according to a survey made by
Railway Age, are not only opti-
miStic about the postwar out
look, but report that railroads
have already made revolutionary
plans for building goodwill and
patronage. To meet the peace
time passenger challenge of air
lines, BUSES and private cars.
the nations railroads will lower
fares, make extensive use of
ultra-modern and streamlined
equipment and intelligently
merchandise their improved SER
vice.
On the all-important modern
ization plans, industry leaders
unanimously agree that the
country's railroads will go
"streamlined and lightweight.
Fleets of streamlined ratnis like
the luxurious Panama Limited,
the last to be built by the pio-
neering Pullman-Standard Car
Manufacturing Company are en-
visioned for after the war. And
besides, one will be able to ira
vel in an ultra-modern stream
liner at a cost less than it takes
to go by private car.
THINGS TO COME - Electric
ironing board whose ironing
surface is kept warm and dry
by means of a series of infra-
red lamps. I. Automobile doors
whose inner ledge is lined with
felt or some other soft mater
ial that prevents fingers from
being crushed when door is
slammed. :. Tooth paste con-
tainers equipped with a refill
able tube. A fast drying ink
for indelibly marking tins.
POSTWAR AUTOS-To the
multitude of widely diverse pre-
dictions on the shape the first
automobiles off the assembly
lines will take, can be added the
belief of a veteran motoring Of
ficial that the "Jeep" will have
a profound influence on the
size, cost and performance of
the car of the future. Declaring
that the World-renoWned scout