To spur atom-bomb protection for key industries, the Government will soon allow companies tax writeoffs on 100% of the cost of building bomb shelters and shoring up plant structures to withstand atom bombing. Slated for the first certificate: Cincinnati Milling Machine Co., biggest U.S. machine-tool builder.

WILLIAM Zeckendorf, boss of Manhattan's Webb & Knapp real-state and investment firm, is planning a huge, new project: a 22-story, $100 million building to cover two blocks on New York City's West Side as a showcase for American merchandise. The building, rising above the Pennsylvania Railroad's underground tracks, would have more floor space (6,000,000 to 7,000,000 sq. ft.) than any other building in the world, and have a heliport on the roof.

DISTILLERS, who once bottled only their premium brands in decanters, are stampeding to get their lower-priced whiskies into decanters in time for the holiday trade. Schenley, first to bottle a blended whisky in decanters, has already had a 400% pickup in fall sales to wholesalers. But other distillers are close behind: Owens-Illinois Glass Co. is now making decanters for eight distillers v. only two last year.

THE Air Force will spend $250 million to increase production of B-52 bombers and tool up Boeing's Wichita, Kans. plant as a second source of supply for the bombers, now being made only in Seattle. Production of North American's supersonic fighter, the F-100, will also be stepped up, even though testing has not been completed, because the plane performed so well in its first flights.

AGRICULTURE Secretary Benson hopes to shift more of his big lending operations on commodities to private lenders. Under his plan, the Commodity Credit Corp., which now has $3,476,300,000 tied up in crop loans and inventories, would sell part of its loans to banks, guaranteeing them 3% interest if they handle the paper work, 2 1/2% if they do not. Thus, private banks, not the Treasury, would put up much of the money for new support loans.

BRITAIN'S Jaguar Cars Ltd., whose sleek sports cars lead all other imported makes in dollar sales in the U.S., hopes to get more of the American market by cutting prices. Reductions range from $190 up to $889 (e.g., from $4,039 to $3,345 for its open two-seater sport), Jaguar's first big price slash in the U.S. auto market since World War II.

INVESTMENT bankers can expect less SEC red tape. Among pending reforms: 1) shortening of the 20-day waiting period before better-grade debt securities can be sold; 2) shorter registration forms for investment trust and high-grade bonds.

OIL companies may shortly be asked by the Government to join forces to build a huge new defense project: a mammoth, 36-in. oil pipeline to bring oil from Texas and the Midwest to the East Coast. The "Giant Inch" would cost more than $200 million, deliver from 750,000 to 1,000,000 bbls. of oil a day, more than three times the capacity of the Big Inch pipeline.

TWO big auto suppliers, Timken-Detroit Axle Co. and Standard Steel Spring, will shortly merge as the Rockwell Spring & Axle Co., with combined assets of $155 million and expected 1953 sales of $400 million. The two fit together nicely: Timken-Detroit supplies parts for trucks and tractors, Standard springs and bumpers for cars.

ATR freight carriers, whose business has skyrocketed 2,000% since 1946, expect to boost minimum air freight rates 25%. The hike, tentatively okayed by CAB, was requested by Slick and Flying Tiger, all-cargo carriers. But American Airlines, which leads all others in ton-miles of freight carried, is fighting the increase on the ground that it will "scare off customers."

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