Evening star., 1948-05-06
Sloan Warns Nation
Of 0verconfidence on
Industrial Capacity

Alfred P. Sloan, jr., chairman Of
General Motors, warned today of
overconidence in those who be-
lieve there is no ceiling to our in
dustrial capacity.
Mr.. Sloan addressed the opening
session of the second Highway
Transportation Congress at the
Mayfiower Hotel. The Congress is
being held under auspices of the
National Highway Users Confer
ence.
Il sometimes think we take too
much for granted in this great
country of ours" Mr.. Sloan told the
meeting. Its resources are so
great. its people are so virile, their
versatility and adaptability in Great
ing and producing new things for
better living so outstanding. that
what we imagine we want we fully
expect to find, with the money in
our pockets assured.
The diversion of such a large
proportion of our production to in
struments of destruction during the
war, at the same time maintaining
such a high standard of living, and
the tremendous postwar upward
surge Of production gives us, I fear,
too much overconfidence. And with
it comes the idea that there is no
ceiling to our capacity, that we can
not only support ourselves at the
level we have been accustomed to,
and more, but at the same time sup
port substantial part of the world
as we'll"
Fraser Speaks at Luncheon.
About $50 leaders of industries
identified with use of the highways
are registered at the transportation
congress.
Alexander Fraser. president of the
Shell Union Oil Corp, and chairman
of the board Of the Automotive
Safety Foundation, addressed a
luncheon meeting.
He said that while 80 oil COM
panies had made capital expendi-
lures of approximately $4,000, ,000,-
900 in the past 20 years, these same
companies spent more than $2,000,-
100000 in the past year alone. He
said that in the late 20s it took about
50 in refinery equipment to produce
a gallon of refined product a day
Now, he said, it requires about $35
of investment to do the same job.
H. Willis Tobler, assistant director
of the American Farm Bureau Fed
eration's Washington office, told a
panel meeting that the farmers plea
remains Get us out Of the mud"
He made a plea for the moderniza-
ton of secondary roads.
The proposed interstate highway
system of highly improved roads,
linking the Nations 80 principal
cities, was discussed by H. S. Fair
bank. deputy public roads commits
sioner. He said this highway system
would be of the utmost value to
national security and, while consti-
tuting but l per cent of the Nations
total road mileage, it would serve 20
per cent of the population.
Action on Parking Demanded.
William A. Stinchcomb. secretary
Of the Cleveland metropolitan park
district said the average motorist
is becoming increasingly annoyed
because of the parking situation.
The motorist. he said, knows that
in the days of his grandfather hitch
ing posts and water troughs were
provided and he believes public off,
cials should do something about
parking.
Another speaker of the panel,
G. Donald Kennedy. vice president
Of the Automotive Safety Founda-
ton, predicted the Nation is facing
it's greatest road building era.
Mr.. Sloan has relinquished the
Craftsmanship of the Highway Users
Conference which he has headed
since it was organized here in 1882.
The conferences Board of Cover
nors announced that Albert Bradley
has been elected unanimously to
succeed him. Mr. Bradley Is execu-
tive vice president and director
of General Motors.
More than 1000 national, State
and local groups of highway users
are affiliated with the conference,
which is to discuss the immediate
task of repairing and maintaining
the Nations 100000 miles of roads
and the long-range program Of ex-
panSion.
The long-range program provided
for network of superhighways to
be built in the next Is to 20 years.
To help finance it, the Federal Gov
ernment has embarked on a $780,
100000 year Federal aid program
to which the States would contribute
proportionate shares.
Erskine Gwynne Dies at 49
NEW YORK, May (P.-Erskine
Gwynne, 40. novelist and publisher