text: The Company’s expected long-term rate of return assumption is based upon the plan’s actual long-term investment results as well as the long-term outlook 
  for investment returns in the marketplace at the time the assumption is made. The reduction in the Company’s assumption for this expected return rate in 
  the beginning of 2003 to 8 percent from 9 percent reflected the major downturn in returns on debt and equity investments that occurred in the investment 
  markets in 2001 and 2002. 
  
  The Company’s pension plan assets at December 31, 2003 and 2002 were invested in the following asset categories: 
  
  2003  2002 
  
  **A S S E T C A T E G O R Y :**
  
  Equity securities  73%  64% 
  
  Debt securities  25%  28% 
  
  Other  2%  8% 
  
  Total  100%  100% 