Document 7MLy1QBMRz9n74YmMoEkrajja

I personal slants on doings of interest to power men--some significant, some just odd Supercritical-pressure studies emphasize efficiency gains. Pot example, Wostinghouse engineers report thot a 200,000-kw turbine-generator, to operate at 5000 psl, 1200 F and two reheats, would yield a. 5 to 6% gain in oven-oJ) plant efficiency compared with a conventional unit (2000 psl, 1100 F). if this looks small, apply it to the roughly half-million tons of coal such a plant would burn yearly. And don't overlook the big economic factor hidden by concentration on heat-rote comparisons -- drastic potentiol savings in investment cost from sharply shrinking size of nearly oil mojor equipment elements ond structures. Electrical election promises ore no better thon any others, according to UP. Seems that Mayor Giovanni Morlnl of Verona, Italy, promised power for one of the suburbs. When he didn't deliver; a landowner filed suit. Court dismissed the case: The mayor wasn't bound by promises made os a private citizen. Atomic-warfare plans seem to be coming down to earth after stratospheric Jitters occa sioned by Russian H-bomb claims. No ono disputes the seriousness of the situation or the need for far-reaching re-examination of defense policies. -Immediate steps, however, are those: (1) Up to $1 billion moro for interceptor alrcroft, warning sys tems, etc. (2) More emphasis, within current budgets, on research and development, particularly of guided missiles. (3) Creator encourogement to industry to disperse facilities and take protective steps. Atom-bomb protection - and a substantial measure is possible - will got increasing attention in months ahead. Oetoliod surveys of essential facilities are well under way by Dept, of Commerce and other ogencies; industry odvisory committees will be osked to help develop protective measutes for specific gituotforts. To encourage building of bomb shelters, blast walls ond other protective struc tures, in existing plants as well os new ones, Office of Defense Mobilization allows a S-yr. fast tax writeoff on 100% of cost of such measures. Footnote to jingle printed here last month comes from J P Warren, power consultant with Dow Chemical Co, Freeport, Texas. Down there, they say: The mon who knows how will always have a job The man who knows why will supervise him But the man who knows how ond why will own the plantl Expansion and modernization of American industry will continue high In 1954, just about 4% behind 1953's record-setting capital investment. That's the gist-of a pre liminary survey of plans for capital spending just mode by McGraw-Hill's Dept of Economics. Good-news note: electric-power industry is one of several expecting to spend os much (or more) in 1954 os in 1953. Economy drives, now much in vogue as a result of ''recession" talk, always remind me of a railroad chief of motive power who harped on economy day end ntgnt. Examining a locomotive-engineer candidate ono day, he sold, "you're heading info a single-track curve when you see another headlight shining 'round the bend. Whet would you do?" The answer bore testimony to his preaching: "I'd slam on the brakgs, shut off the lubricator, and Jump! *' NOW-"PUSH-BUTTON" WASHING FOR ELECTRONIC AIR CLEANER tow. a new, low-cost, automatic precjpi* tion* washer cuts maintenance costa and Waste* unpleasant Inside-tbe-duet washtag of cells. & unions device features moving nozto. making precipitron the easiest electank air cleaner to service. After thor- cleaning the laics, the washer reWb adhesive. Enure operation is under jjsh-button" control. Laboratory and TM tens have proved that moving-nozzle is a "must" for proper cleaning. Typfi PX PRBCtprTRON, the electronic air deaner, traps microscopic airborne partictes of dirt, dust, grime and pollen which would pass through conventional filler*. It fits into any heating, ventilating or air conditioning ductwork. Learn how precipitromwIIJ keep ihe air In your building dirt-foe at negligible cost. Call your local Westinghouse-Sturtevont office, or write: Westinghouso Electric Cor- Ktion, Sluitevunt Division, Hyde Park, on 36, Massachusetts. Maintenance men no longer need to enter enclosure to dean raecirmioN. New "push-button" feature does away with hot, wet tasks. b. sure ...if frt \^festinghouse. POWER 01C6MIW ,r53 *!* i