Plant and Equipment Plant and Equipment (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2013

Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]

The major classes of plant and equipment, at cost, are as follows:



		March 31,
	Depreciable Lives (Yrs)	2013		2012
(In thousands)
Land and land improvements	—	$	203,362	$	184,522
Buildings and improvements	25	511,818		470,561
Cylinders	30	1,360,059		1,335,113
Bulk tank stations	10 to 30 (Average 16)	663,140		613,011
Rental equipment	2 to 10	334,844		275,285
Machinery and equipment	7 to 10	897,040		826,949
Computers, furniture and fixtures	3 to 10	277,254		254,178
Transportation equipment	3 to 15	312,402		288,678
Construction in progress	—	26,014		58,123
		$	4,585,933	$	4,306,420

- Definition

Tabular disclosure of the useful life and salvage value of long-lived, physical assets that are used in the normal conduct of business to produce goods and services and not intended for resale. Examples include land, buildings, machinery and equipment, and other types of furniture and equipment including, but not limited to, office equipment, furniture and fixtures, and computer equipment and software.

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