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Show The Enterprise Review , September 1, 1976 Page 12b Transportation Study Impacts Railroads Railroad managers, truckers, manufacturers and others using transportation systems may be affected by a newly published study conducted by the U.S. Department of Transportation. It will be the subject of hearings to be held September 20. Results of the study will eventually determine which railroad lines will get how much of an allocated $1.6 billion from the federal gov At the public ernment. hearing, an administrative law judge from the Interstate Commerce Commission will hear complaints or suggestions about how that determination is to be made. According to William H. Roberge, Jr., counsel to the Commission, the study has several potential problems. During a recent visit to Salt Lake City he explained the study bases much opinion about railroads' value on questionable assumptions. For instance it assumes that the value of a railroad system's cargo is equivalent to the cargo's weight. It bases a railroad's class (and the amount of funds it is eligible to receive from the government) on the weight of freight it carries, rather than on the value of that freight or who the tracks service. What influences density of freight?" Roberge Economic changes, the quality of service, trends in commodities, land use are all factors that should probably been considered to make this study accurate. Instead, it was based simply on the tonnage railroads asked . reported carrying over the past five years. The study has potential far-reachi- effects on the ng present railroad system. The ultimate goal of the liegisla-tioof which this study is a n, part, is to create a national This goal railroad network. would encourage mergers of railroad companies and sharing of track lines. It forces us to ask, Is competition good in the rail industry? Does it, in fact exist? Roberge be the would What said. affect of such a national system on local service? he added. Roberge stated he expected Utah to experience a transportation boom as a result of the abundance of coal here. That coal is needed all over low-sulph- ur the country, and we will need a transportation system to carry it, he said. Chain s Earnings Increase Albertsons, Inc. reported net earnings increased 11 and sales increased 15 for the period ended July 31, 1976. For the first six months of the current discal year, the net earnings increased 11 and sales increased 16. Sales for the to increased period $368,732,957, compared to $321,188,076 last year, and to $705,704,454 compared to $609,459,489 for the first six 13-we- ek 13-we- Everybody's yot the deep plush carpets, the wood paneling and the chandeliers. ek months. Net earnings for the quarter totaled $4,923,916, or 65 cents per share, as compared to $4,427,612, or 66 cents per share a year ago. Net earnings for the first six months of the fiscal year totaled $8,614,911, or $1.14, compared to last years $7,770,725, or $1.18. Although earnings increased in both periods, the per We give you service. Fast, personal, and at the most reasonable rates. share amounts declined slightly because of the dilution caused by the new Working with us is a pleasant experience. We're experts in dealing with people - as well as in making First Mortgage Loans, FHA, VA and Conventional. You and your buyers will enjoy dealing with us. We put the real in Realtor. We validate your parking. And we also have the deep plush carpets, the wood paneling and the chandeliers. Come in. Let's get acquainted. shares sold in January. Average shares and equivalents outstanding during the period totaled 7,556,293 as compared to 6,657,340 during the same period last year. Although sales achieved record levels, said Warren E. McCain, president of this 7 Lombard Mortgage and Thrift Suite 500 Continental Bank Building Salt Lake City. Utah 84101 ? First Mortgage Loans FHA, VA and Conventional - Telephone (801 ) 532-742- 4 tt iOUMMOUSMG LENDER supermarket chain, earnings increases did not quite keep pace with the sales increases because of intensive price competition in several of the companys larger markets. The company opened new stoes in Hillsboro, Oregon, and Hawaiian Gardens, California, and closed three older stores during the quarter. Skaggs-Albertso- ns In addition, the partner- ship opened new stores in Pensacola and St. Petersburg, Florida during the quarter. |