25 YEARS AGO THIS WEEK: Just weeks after construction began on the Alaska oil pipeline, Atlantic Richfield Co. proposed a 100 percent increase in its initial capacity, raising speculation that it wanted to export oil to Japan Engineering and construction giant Fluor Corp. attributed a 200 percent jump in profits during the second quarter of 1974 to an unprecedented building boom by U.S. corporations.

THE NEWSMAKER

Aerospace analyst Marvin Raphael said stock in Northrop Corp. remained a good buy even though the firm was fined $5,000 for making illegal campaign contributions to President Nixon’s reelection campaign. The donations, which surfaced as part of the Watergate probe, violated a law banning contributions by government contractors.

THE NUMBERS

May 31, 1974

Dow Jones Industrial Average 803.58

London gold $162/oz.

May Co. golf shirt $4.99

Texas Instruments calculator $49.99