60 YEARS AGO THIS WEEK: The Metropolitan Water District was preparing to issue bonds to fund construction of the 242-mile Colorado River aqueduct. The initial $60 million bond issue out of a total contemplated issue of $200 million was expected to be eclipsed that year only by a $77 million bond issue for the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge.

THE NEWSMAKER: J. Paul Getty attempted to break up the annual stockholders meeting of the Tide Water Associated Oil Co., contending that proxies for nearly half the 4.4 million shares of stock were illegal. Getty and his associates claimed that without the contested proxies, management would not have a quorum. The meeting took place anyway, and Getty representatives vowed to fight on in court.

THE NUMBERS: May 4, 1938

Dow Jones Industrial Average: 113.88

London gold: $34.79 oz.

Movie matinee ticket: 30 cents

Frigidaire refrigerator: $425