Masonry Magazine April 1974 Page. 20
Washington Wire
exists for a significant tightening of the minimum tax, which makes everyone pay something even those with legal tax shelters. Single taxpayers can expect relief from high taxes, too.
THERE'S A GOOD CHANCE THAT INFLATION will really abate later in 1974. First, to be sure, there will still be some more of the recent strong surge. The big spurts in commodity and other wholesale prices registered recently have not yet been transmitted through the manufacturing stage to end-prices. But analysts doubt that the surge will be repeated once this wave has passed. Both wholesale and consumer prices could drop to more sedate rates of growth. For example:
* Petroleum products including gasoline will go up in price for awhile. But after this adjustment is built in by mid-year oil-product prices should come close to stabilizing.
* Food prices are also expected to subside during the second half. They were a key source of inflation during 1973, and a major one this year. But a change is now under way.
* Grain prices are due to fall back when record harvests come to market. Acres planted and yields are substantially higher.
* More beef will get to supermarkets soon, and at lower prices. Cattle on the range will be coming to market in big numbers.
* Dairy products probably will keep rising through this year, but not at anything like the size of the gains last year.
* Consumer durable goods likely will increase in price as 1974 rolls on. But softening of demand will slow the upereep.
MIM Seminar Attracts 73 Participants
John Heslip (standing, center), executive director of the Masonry Institute of Michigan, and Al Hazewinkel (standing, right), of Hazewinkel Brothers, Grand Rapids mason contractors, stop to chat with some of the Michigan architects attending the institute's recent seminar on designing with masonry. Seventy-three architects, engineers, building officials, mason contractors, union representatives and material suppliers attended the educational confab in Grand Rapids. Among topics discussed were reinforced masonry, masonry panelization and methods designed to overcome material shortages. The audience also was treated to a showing of the International Masonry Institute's new film, "First Principles."
"the best damn concrete and mortar pump I've ever used!"
THE THOMSEN A7
Says Douglas M. Reily, President of Doug's Concrete Pumping Service, a fast growing Southern California concrete placer.
"This is my first A7. After 90 days of operation, my volume has increased, and I've been able to pump harsher mixes, lower slumps, at longer distances than ever before. It's been great for block fill, bond beams and floor topping jobs. Recently, we placed 130 yards on a slab pour in five hours through 2-in. line. "Now, that's good pumping in any language."
Sleek and powerful, the Thomsen A7 offers a big 4-SPEED drive for safety, power and volume variations, water lubrication for increased efficiency of the pumping pistons, and a full flow hopper with positive feed. New Easy Flow manifold design allows for lower cement content and lower slumps. Delivers up to 35% more volume, pumps 1/2-inch minus material, pumps 50/50 mixes. Rated to pump up to 28 cu. yds, per hour, but has actually pumped 35 yds. per hour.
ROYAL® INDUSTRIES THOMSEN DIVISION Contact your nearest Thomsen distributor for complete information.
130 W. Victoria, Gardena, Calif. 90248 Phone (213) 321-8380