Producers & Carriers

Profits. Half-year earnings hit a new high, reported the Federal Reserve Board after a preliminary sampling of 629 industrial corporations. Their combined take of $2,136,000,000 was 23% over last year's.

Airmail. U.S. Post Offices began to take domestic air parcel post (over eight ounces and up to 70 pounds). Private companies will continue to handle air express and large commercial shipments.

Railroads. The Pennsylvania Railroad came up with a $216,700,000 improvement program, biggest in its 102-year history. On the Pennsy's shopping list are 192 new diesel engines and 395 new passenger coaches. Eventually all its through trains will have children's playrooms and movie theaters.

Television. Two new television sets, each the cheapest in its class--a table model with a ten-inch screen for $249.95 and a "consolette" for $279,95--were brought out by Tele-Tone Radio Corp.

Aircraft. The balm of $46,563,685 in defense orders, said Lockheed Aircraft Corp.'s Robert E. Gross, had turned his company's postwar deficits into a $5,310,151 profit for the first six months of 1948. To see it through the rest of the year, Lockheed had a $196,421,000 backlog, most of it in military orders.

Autos. Unfilled orders on automobile dealers' books totaled 7,300,000, an 11% increase since Jan. 1. The National Automobile Dealers Association figured that the industry would need 26 months to take care of the current backlog alone.

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