Time Clock, Feb. 13, 1956

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URANIUM BOOM will exceed all estimates, predicts Henry C. Anderson, planning manager for General Electric's atomic-power department. By 1975 atom-powered electric plants will be consuming 22,150 tons of uranium annually. Amount of ore required: 9,000,000 tons, several times current production.

PAY-AS-YOU-GO PLAN for highways has been approved by President Eisenhower. Since congressional Democrats are against financing a $25 billion, ten-year road plan by floating revenue bonds, the President has agreed to go along with ideas of financing the highways by increased user taxes on gasoline, diesel fuel, tires, etc. Possible federal tax increase: $1 billion annually.

SMALL INVESTORS, 58,000 of whom invested in the New York Stock Exchange's Monthly Investment Plan, are doing well. Of the 50 most popular stocks bought since the plan was started two years ago (current total: 737,000 shares worth $28.7 million), eight increased more than 100% in value, while 16 others jumped between 50% and 100%. Top favorites: General Electric, RCA, General Motors, Standard Oil of New Jersey.

NEW HILTON HOTEL (there are now 28 in three countries, eight more abuilding or under contract) is planned for Tokyo. Facts: 450 rooms, $6,000,000 cost, 1958 opening.

ATOM POWER PLANTS will be built by seven public and private power groups, if they can get clearance and financial aid from the AEC. The seven groups (among them: utilities in Alaska, Ohio, Michigan, Minnesota, Massachusetts) want to build small 5,000-kw. to 40,000-kw. plants, costing upwards of $10 million each, turn out power competitive with conventional power plants.

PORTAL-TO-PORTAL PAY will be increased under a new ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court. In a pair of cases, one involving packinghouse workers, who sharpened their knives before work, and the other dealing with battery plant workers, who had to take showers after work, the court ruled that the activities were essential parts of the day's work, thus had to be paid. Previously, such extra payments were outlawed under the 1947 Portal-to-Portal Act.

COLOR-TV OUTLOOK is so good that RCA is converting some of its black and white production lines to color, will boost production 500% to 120 sets an hour. Forecast: more than 200,000 RCA sets this year v. about 30,000 for the entire industry last year.

MOPAC REORGANIZATION is in the homestretch after 22 years of bankruptcy. The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled against a group of dissenting Missouri Pacific shareholders seeking to block the reorganization under which common stockholders would get 40,500 new shares of stock and preferred stockholders 1,750,000 shares. If the ICC approves the plan, reorganization may be wrapped up within 60 days.