Evening star., 1945-05-22
Business Briefs
Living Costs for the average ia

Living Costs for the average fam
ny OF wage earnerS rose 40 from
March to April and were 15go above
a year ago, the Industrial Confer
ence Board Announced. i
Steel Price Advances of 81 to ST a
ton were authorized by OPA on IL
basic products, including carbon
steel plates, rails. certain nails and
staples, tie plates, certain wire, gal
vanlzed roofing and siding. Most OF
the increases must be absorbed by
JobberS and warehouses.
The Governments New Meat Pro-
gram will only add to confusion al
ready existing in the livestock pro-
duc1ng industry as a result of de-
tailed and complicated controls, said
P Q. Wilson of the National Live
stock Producers Association.
Hudson Motor Car Co. stock
holders were told by President A
Edward Barit that Fisher Bros. Of
fered to buy 100000 Hudson shares
at $21.66 share, the book value.
John Hancock Mutual Life Insur.
ance Co. will sell from its portfolio al
competitive bidding on May 90 tota
Of II separate lots of tax exempt
State and municipal securities ag-
gregating S52,379,000.
Federated Department Stores &C
quired Foley Brothers Dry Goods
Co. OF Houston, Tex, as the first step
in its postwar expansion plan.
Consolidated Edison Co. will step
up construction expenditures to
S22 100000 this year from S81O0,0OO
in 1914, stockholders were told.
Consolidation Coal Co. and Pitts
burgh Coal Co. merger plan will be
acted upon by stockholders at a
special meeting July "a.
Peoples Natural Gas Co. asked
SEC permission to issue and sell to
its parent, Consolidated Natural
Gas Co., 10000 shares of $1O0 par
value. capital stock to finance pur-
chase of facilities serving Johns
town, Pa.
New York, Chicago e. st. Louis
Railroad earned $3,866, ,922 or $1O7G
preferred share in 4 months ended
April 80 VS.. S2,352,57 or $652 pre-
ferred share year ago.
Pere Marquette Railway net for 4
months ended April 80 was $685.
816 or 1851 on first preferred stock
VS.. 1852 ,235 or $7.61 on first preferred
in the same 1914 period.
Servel, Inc, earned $454 ,460 or %
cents a common share in 3 months
ended April 80 VS.. S513, ,230 or 30 cents
a year ago.
National Container Corp profit
for the March quarter was 1908 ,42e
Or As cents share VS.. 1888, ,787 or 3e
cents in the same period last year.
Richmond Radiator Co. earned
$120,28i or II cents in the quarter
VS.. less of $140,940 year ago.
Union Electric Co. of Missouri
profit for II months ended March 81
was $7,S94,312 VS.. $8,137,261 in the
preceding fiscal period.
Chicago, Milwaukee, st. Paul &
Pacific Railroad earned 11,5O3 ,68I
in 1914 VS.. $29, ,413623 in 1943. Gross
revenues in 1914 were the largest ir
history, but expenses rose sharply
Boston Fund assets on April 3(
totaled $15,915,176 or $2031 a share
VS.. $13900,965 or 1882 on fewe,
shares on January 81.
Marion Reserve Power Co. sales OF
electric light and power properties
in IL Ohio counties to Dayton Power
& Light Co. for S7,950,00O was an.
proved by the SEC.
Electric Auto-Lite Co. can recon.
vert to civilian manufacture within
go days after the WPB lifts restric.
tions, President Martin said.
Borg Warner Corp. has about
completed negotiations for a fac.
tory site at Herrin, Ill, where thu
firms Norge Division plans to con.
centrate all laundry equipment
manufacture.
Visible Grain SUNNY