CORPORATE DIVIDENDS are running far ahead of last year despite rising costs of business, declining profit margins for many companies. Cash dividend payments in the first ten months this year hit $8.7 billion, up 12 1/2 % from 1955.

STATE-RUN INDUSTRIES in France will lose 39% more this year than in 1955. Because government keeps lid on prices they can charge to hold down living costs, nationalized railroads are expected to lose $234 million, coal mines $40 million, gas utility almost $16 million, electricity companies $14 million, Paris subway and bus lines almost $34 million. Exception is state-owned Air France, which is expected to earn $900,000 in 1956.

FUEL-INJECTION system on new Chevrolets will cost $484 extra. Reason: high cost of tooling up and low production. Chevy will make only 10,000 fuel-injection units in first year.

PULLMAN FARE HIKE of 7% starts Jan. 1 on railway sleepers if ICC approves. Pullman Inc. says raise will add $6,500,000 to annual revenue, offset higher costs.

KILLARNEY VACATION haven will be developed by James Robertson, Florida buyer of 163-acre island in Killarney's lower lake (TIME, Aug. 20). Real Estate Broker Robertson will build 20 thatched-roof, ranch-type bungalows of eleven rooms each, offer them for sale at $42,000 to $56,000 apiece.

NEW SOFT DRINKS will be tried by root-beer maker Charles E. Hires Co. This winter Hires will test ginger ale in Philadelphia area under brand name of "Purock." Scheduled for spring trials: grape, orange, perhaps cola flavors.

FREE LIFE INSURANCE is gimmick being offered by banks, savings-and-loan associations, to attract new savings accounts. Banks insure life of depositor in amount of his savings, up to $5,000, usually require no medical exam. Some banks absorb premiums, others cut savings interest to make up the premiums.

RAILWAY MERGER of profitable 1,800-mile Central of Georgia into 5,100-mile St. Louis-San Francisco Railway is being sidetracked by ICC. Examiner found that Frisco acted unlawfully in buying up 56.2% of Central's voting stock for $17 million, because it did not get prior ICC permission. If full ICC board approves, Frisco will be forced to surrender control of Central to triumvirate of Illinois Central, Seaboard, Frisco.

FARM-INCOME RISE is expected for 1957. Agriculture Department says that heavy exports, soil-bank payments, rising population, will push up farmers' income despite rising costs of farm labor, equipment. Higher prices are predicted for pork, fruit, vegetable oils, feed grains. But prices will edge down for eggs, vegetables.

PRIVATE PILOTS are alarmed over new proposal by Government Air Coordinating Committee for all-weather, 24-hour control of every plane in sky by ground stations. Pilots of nation's 65,000 private planes fear order would force all flyers to get expensive equipment to apply for instrument ratings. Probable outcome: commercial and military planes would have high altitudes all to themselves, fly on instruments only, while private flyers would be held to lower levels, allowed to fly by either vision or instruments.

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