The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1947-04-03
Behind the Scenes
In
American Business
BY REYNOLDS KNIGHT

BY REYNOLDS KNIGHT
NEW YORK Eighteen months
after VI Day the nation still
faces housing shortage. Var
ious reasons are given for the
lack of housing facilities, but
one thing is fairly certain. It
is that the majority of people
ether can not or will not pay
the prices which are currently
asked. Builders, knowing of
this sales resistance, are build
ing cautiously, constructing no
more homes than they think
may be easily disposed of. At
a recent Chicago meeting of
builders, one Cleveland con-
struction man attributed the
present static situation I'm build
ing to high prices. Said he:
I'VE are dangerously close to
pricing ourselves out of bust
ness and work. At the present
time in Cleveland we have sew
eral hundred fully completed
homes waiting for buyers"
Builders say that material and
labor costs are too high, that
restrictive labor practices him
der building. Labor men
roundly deny restrictive prac-
tees. The public, meanwhile,
lives in cramped quarters, hopes
that soon houses will be avail
able at prices thay can afford.
GLASSMAKERS- Community
pride in local industrial ach-
ievements doubtless reached
flood stage during the war but
observers noted a rapid ebbing
after VI Day. Now, at least
one firm has taken steps to
maintain a community - wide
feeling of pride in local indus
try and craftsmanship at
high level even in normal
times. Libbey-O e n s-Ford
Gas company, Toledo, o., eight
months ago began series of
newspaper ADJUSTMENTS in five
plant towns in four states
which has proved, according to
James M. Ashley, director of
public relations, ''OIIe of the
firms most successful exper-
iments in community relations.
Pointing up significant facts
about the glass Industry, it's his
tory and growth, and company
operations and aims, the cam
paign sought only to instill
community pride in glassmak-
ing. Following up the series
with a survey, Libbey-Owens-
Ford found its efforts far from
wasted. An average of 50 per
cent of the newspaper reading
public recognized the adverti-
sing; of those covered "a per
cent Tabled t he campaign
good" and one which should
be duplicated by other COM
panies. Such results inspire
the belief that community
spirit is predicated on neither
war nor disaster but rather on
the day to day achievements of
men, their machines and their
craftsmanship.
THINGS TO COME-A cam
era which develops its own
pictures a minute after they
are taken. A turn of the knob
produces a positive print in
permanent form. The camera
contains no tanks; the picture
comes out dry and requires no
| additional processing. Polar
old Corp. is producing it. "A
movie camera, you do not wind.
It is electrically operated from
a battery in the carrying case
-. An automatic car lock for
automobiles. It consists of a
spring-loaded plunger, which
automatically locks the rear
door when the front door is
closed. It can be used only Gu
i four-door cars which are locked
/ to the same centerposts -. A
lightweight fan with a three
speed motor for drawing in or
exhausting air. 1t can be sus-
pended from the window at 4
angle to force air upwards or
down 80. A hand acuum
cleaner for automobile uphols-
terry which obtains its power
through an attachment to the
windshield wiper hose 80. A
thermostatic fire alarm, which
may be placed in any room. 1t
sounds when heat rises beyond
a set point.
BLACK GOLD-As the ma
| tons petroleum experts express
concern over the total crude
petroleum reserves, which some