Facts & Figures

"Death Sentence." After ten years, private utilities finally got Section 11 (the "death sentence") of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 before the U.S. Supreme Court. Under the Act, the Securities & Exchange Commission has already divorced 344 subsidiaries (total assets: $4.3 billion) from their parent holding companies. But Wall Streeters have only a slim hope that the Court would kill the death sentence.

Hot & Cold Bedfellows. General Electric Co.'s new electric blanket may end squabbles over the temperature of the marriage bed. The metabolism (i.e., heat production) of men is 17% higher than that of women, thus they need less covering. G.E.'s solution: a heat control for each side of the bed.*

Wrong Place. A fine of $148,000, biggest ever imposed for violation of WPB regulations, was levied against the Weirton Steel Co. in Wheeling Federal Court. The company used priorities obtained for a company hospital to renovate and air condition a country club used by Weirton executives.

Jet & Prop. Westinghouse Electric Corp. announced that it will employ nearly 2,000 workers, in its $10 million plant in Philadelphia, making $10-$15 million worth a year of gas turbine aircraft engines, jet and propeller driven, mainly for the armed services. Said Spokesman George H. Woodward: "Such engines will rapidly become dominant in the high-powered and high-speed airplane fields, both military and commercial."

Trains by Air. First electric trains to be made since 1941 by The Lionel Corp., the nation's biggest toy-train maker, were lifted off the assembly lines. They were flown to retailers. But parents will still have trouble buying them. Lionel will make only one model (retailing at $33.50 with tracks and cars), will be able to ship at most only 50,000 before Christmas (1941 production: 250,000).

Radios on Rails. Two-way radio communication between railroad trains was approved by the Federal Communications Commission, may be installed in all U.S. trains by Jan. 1. Thus trains will be in constant touch with dispatchers and with one another, should be able to prevent collisions by prompt reporting of obstructions or accidents.

* A device that should enhance the truth of the saying: "The only perfect climate is bed."

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