The San Francisco call., 1910-03-05
PROMINENT AUTO
BUILDERS IN CITY
Morris Eckhart of the Auburn
and w. e. Stokes Tell of
Trade Conditions
By R. R. L'HOMMEDIEU

Automobile row was visited yester-
day by several very prominent men of
the automobile trade, a number of
them having arrived in the city in the
last few days Morris Eckhart Of the
Auburn automobile company of Au-
burn, Ind, was the guest of the Wag-
ner-Renif motor car compa ny, agents
for the Auburn car. Eckhart gave
some very interesting statistics con-
cerning trade conditions in the east.
and especially the outlook for the
present season.
He was most emphatic in his state
ment that there will not be enough
cars built to supply the demand. The
shortage, although not evident at this
time, is accounted for from the fact
that the buying season, outside of the
south and east of the Rockies, will not
begin until next month. And when
that time is reached, Californians who
have delayed purchasing, will realize
the truth of this statement AT the
present time Californians have prac-
tically been able to get cars at dates
10 suit their pleasure, but when the
selling season elsewhere begins the
agents in those sections will have TO
receive consideration. 1t will mean
that California motorists have passed
up their golden opportunity. and viii
then have TO wait their turn TO be sup
piled.
Another point that Eckhart makes
is that some factories have oyersold,
figuring that some dealers where there
is keen competition, may not be able
TO take their allotment From the
present indications Eckhart feels that
there is not a single dealer in the
standard makes of cars but what viii
more than be able to sell his aliot-
ment- This will mean that he will not
be able to get all the cars expected.
The Auburn company has sold its
output and is merely now running on
a conservative basis fulfilling contracts
and making deliveries.
Accompanying Eckhart were his wife.
daughter, sister and mother and father,
who came west TO enjoy the beauties
Of the California winter.
w Z. Stokes, general sales mana ger
of the Olds motor works. is in San
Francisco. visiting the Howard auto
mobile Stokes sees another difficulty
that faces the California buyer who
defers buying until next month. 1t is
a well known fact that the railroads
have not enough rolling stock, or, in
other words, enough of the peculiar
sized freight cars required TO move all
the automobiles that will be ready for
shipment during next month. The
railroads which keep in touch with
conditions, are not going to tie up a
lot of this rolling stock by sending it
to California on at least a Is day haul
with the same number of days re-
Quired for return, when ii is possible
to use the same rolling stock for short
hauls in the east and thereby keep
the cars earning the large freight
rates demanded for handling automo-
biles. 1t viii be found that factories
will be willing TO ship if necessary
cars can be supplied, but eastern rail-
roads are not going to allow their
rolling stock to travel so far west
ward under these conditions.
l.. Z. ogden of the United manufac-
tHrers of New York was another Wis
itor to the city yesterday. He is max
ing his headquarters with Highson
& Melton. coast agents for the United
manufacturers. Ogden is here pre-
pairing for the demonstrating crew,
which is working its way northward.
The United manufacturers is composed
of the Jones speedometer company,
Weed chains company and several
others.
Ogden's work and that of his crew
is educational They demonstrate
practically TO the owners of motor cars
the superiority of the products they
handle, and in that way create a de-