Plant and Equipment (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2016

Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]

Plant and Equipment

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

		March 31,
	Depreciable Lives (Yrs)	2016		2015
(In thousands)
Land and land improvements	—	$	246,820	$	225,721
Buildings and improvements	25	634,816		581,076
Cylinders	30	1,504,566		1,461,600
Bulk tank stations	10 to 30 (Average 17)	846,344		789,881
Rental equipment	2 to 10	496,383		466,833
Machinery and equipment	7 to 10	1,057,142		988,857
Computers, furniture and fixtures	3 to 10	296,408		338,316
Transportation equipment	3 to 15	366,221		369,034
Construction in progress	—	110,341		83,741
		$	5,559,041	$	5,305,059