This Week In 1930 (cont.)

From July 8, 1930
"US car accident deaths in 1929 hit a new high of 33,060, including 81 on Independence Day." (US has about 250M registered cars and trucks now vs 27M then - US 2006 number was 42,642.) "

From July 10, 1930
"P.K. Schuyler, pres. Federal Bridge Co., says automotive demand for roads and bridges has far exceeded capacity of government construction. "Traffic moves along the existing highways at a good speed for some five or 10 miles, then when the highway enters a congested area there is a considerable delay encountered, particularly on Sundays and holidays." Cars are now dependably capable of 60 to 80 miles per hour, "yet these speeds can be used only at infrequent intervals." Calls for more private construction, particularly of toll bridges."

From July 12, 1930
"In spite of current overcapacity in steel (production at 60% of capacity), the industry leaders including US Steel, Bethlehem, etc. are still investing in expansion. “It would be a poor country if the big industrial leaders threw up their hands and quit on every little depression” [TW: this seems to be the attitude prevalent in China at the moment, likely with same resulting overcapacity problems]

From July 17, 1930
"Editor: "We can feel for a certainty that business is scraping along the bottom along with most commodity prices, which should begin to firm up due to the marginal producers finding the going difficult and finally being eliminated ... The great American public is not so badly off as some people would like to have us believe."

"France proposes "United States of Europe" federation. Britain cool to the idea, but it's probably workable without them. However, German participation would be essential. German response "conciliatory in tone," but raises some big obstacles, indicating desire for revision of the World War peace treaties, "including, presumably, alteration of certain of her new boundaries and removal of the treaty restriction upon her military establishment."