Evening star., 1945-12-16
Business Briefs

General Business Activity contin-
ues to expand slightly, according to
the index of Business Week, which
stood at TOO for the latest week
VS.. 1897 in the previous week, 1854
month ago and 1908 a year ago.
Retail Sales for the Year will ap-
proximate $4,000 900 600, compared
with $50 ,000, 10000 in 1914, the Com
merce Department estimated. Sales
for the last quarter were placed at
around $21 600, ,000,0 gain of 80
over year ago.
Mercantile Stores Co. stockholders
will vote December 26 on a pro-
posed 10-for-l splitup in common
stock.
Atlantic Refining Co. registered
with the SEC $25 ,000, 900 of 2O-year
debentures and 100000 shares of
new cumulative preferred stock for
refunding of $25,000,000 oebentures
at 1917 and expansion purposes.
Carrier Corp. registered with the
SEC 10000 shares of new convert
ible preferred stock, which stock
holders will be asked to approve De-
cember 27. The new shares will be
offered common holders.
Union Asbestos & Rubber Co. reg
istered 217, 1874 shares of IS par value
common to be offered publicly for
the account of certain stockholders
Maine Central Railway was au-
thorized by the ICC to sell 81 ,0O0, 600
Of Portland g. Ogdensburg Railway
~ % first mortgage gold bonds and
use proceeds to redeem $l,535 500
of Maine Central Portland g. Rum
ford Falls Railway IS.
Great Northern Railway directors
approved expenditure of $9.426, 500
for expansion, improvements and
new equipment.
American Gas & Electric Co.
earned $12,410,425 or $2.39 a share
in u months ended October 81 VS.
S12,070,6l3 or $23l in the previous
year
Atlantic Coast Line Railroad net
income for 10 months ended Oc-
tober 81 was $7,880,6 ,695 or 1855 VS.
SO ,974 1872 or $12.10 in the same 1914
period.
Masonite Corp. earned 1863, ,73e
or SO cents in 3 months ended No
vember 80 VS.. $317 200 or 46 cents
year ago.
Arundel Corp. profit for II
months ended November 30 was
$58l, ,752 VS.. $421 ,030 In the same
1914 period
Eureka Vacuum Cleaner Co
earned $89,79l or 20 cents in 3
months ended October 81 VS.. $59,-
$50 or IS cents on fewer shares q
year ago.
General Capital Corp. declared q
special dividend of Al cents and a
regular of so cents common share,
both payable December 27, raising
1945 payments to $l69 VS.. s122 In
1914.
Seaboard Commercial Corp. de-
clared an extra of 40 cents and a
quarterly dividend of Is cents a
common share, both payable De-
cember 81, bringing 1945 payments
to 81 VS.. S1.05 last year.
John b. Stetson Co. declared a
dividend Of 30 cents a common
share, payable January Is. Pre-
vious dividends were so cents.
General Motors Corp. common
and preferred stockholders in the
fourth quarter totaled 425,657 VS.
426, ,045 In the previous quarter and
423, ,825 a year ago.
United States Steel Corp. COM
mon stockholders on November
totaled 166, ,108 VS.. 165 1923 on August
10 and 165 $3.50 a year ago. Preferred
holders numbered 1916 on Novem-
Der VS.. rs, 1873 on August 2 and a.
1856 year ago.
Humble Pipe Line Co. will con-
struct a 6-inch gasoline pipe line
from its Baytown refinery to the
Dallas-Fort Worth area, distance
of 275 miles, at. cost of $4,000 900
Minnesota Mining e. Mfg. Co
awarded a contract for construction
of a 81 100000 roofing granule plant
near Little Rock, Ark.
Hewitt Rubber Corp. started pro-
duction of latex foam and expects
to reach peak operations in March
National Airlines, Inc, appointed
Herbert c. Dobbs vice president ir
charge Of traffic, effective January
/. He has been with Pan American
Airways.
Industrial Rayon Corp. elected
William c. Miller treasurer to sue
ceed D. S. Mallory, who retired.
Proctor & Gamble Co. appointed
Mark Upson general sales manager
He has been manager of the east.