The Real Problem With The Dow

Readers Report

THE REAL PROBLEM WITH THE DOW

It was interesting to see four market observers' solutions to "fix the Dow" ("What to do about the Dow," Finance, Feb. 22). But in light of today's penchant for change, how about renaming the Dow Jones industrial average itself to reflect our moving out of the Industrial Age and into the Information Age: The Dow Jones Info/Services Average (Microsoft, Intel, Disney, McDonald's, Capital Cities/ABC, Time Warner, Gannett, etc.).

And, lest we forget that the Dow Theory calls into play the Dow Jones Transportation Average, formerly "the Railroads," rename it, too: The Dow Jones Transcommunications Average (AMR, American Telephone & Telegraph, Bell Atlantic, GTE, Tele-Communications, Norfolk Southern, etc.).

Beverly Barker

Reston, Va.