Evening star., 1914-08-02

cepted. It Is through the work OF tne
chemist that the engineers determine tne
exact composition of the materials which
shall go into the cars: and IT is the
chemical test which checks all of the
materials purchased subsequently. to
make sure that they come up to the
standard required by the manufacturer.
In some Of the great automobile fac
tories there are. engaged wood cutters
whose skill lays the foundation of the
perfected motor car. From the final blue
prints of ten engineering department
these craftsmen build up wooden models
Of each part. When their work is fin
fshed practically the entire car is model.
ed In wood. It is only toy car, but
It. is one of the most important toys
ever built, for from its modelled forms
are pressed out of steel, the crank cases
and transmission cases are made in
aluminium, the door handles and levers
are formed in brass
In this industrial toy shop. too, one
gets the first glimpse of the eventual
form Of the perfected car. All wood
patterns are. carefully numbered and
registered. When any particular model
of car has reached the wood pattern
stage, the period of preparation is COM
pieted, and then comes the actual build
ing. But to build cars requires ma
terials. and to secure the materials for
an automobile factory requires, some
times the services of more than a
dozen expert buyers. The purchasing
department is one Of the most important
in an automobile factory. Upon whether
the materials which go into a car are
well purchased or badly purchased de-
pricing Of the car itself. 4
Auto Business Prosperous.
Despite persistant reports of depres-
sion in business, the automobile industry
continues at a steady pace along the
high road of prosperity. To accentuate
the contradiction it is pointed out that
conspicuous examples of increased busi-
cars. possession Of which might be re-
garded as luxury.
During the first six months of the
calendar year 1914 the Packard Motor
Car Company. for example. established
one of the biggest sales records in the
annals Of that concern. During that period
the company's net sales totaled. in round
numbers. $7.0O0.OO0 and the output of
motor carriages was utterly inadequate
to supply the demand
In explanation Of these conditions,
Alvan Macauley, vice president and gen
eral manager Of the company. made the
following statement to The Star auto
mobile representative yesterday:
"The manufacture and sale of automo-
biles is, perhaps, the only special busi-
child in the United States feels a deep
and personal interest. Every one that
hasn't an automobile hopes some time to
have one. Those who fortunately own
car are looking forward to the time when
he can have a new and better one. The
automobile business has been described
as the greatest self-advertising business
the world has ever known. The entire
people are Interested not only IN haVhiS
an automobile. but in having the most
xl,Ni,, Hr-fn al
have been very much impressed by the
eagerness with which the school boy
studies the features Of the various cars.
and promptly forms his own opinion OF
the various new models as they appear.
'aThe American tendency is to buy what
is most desirable, with the cost as sec
ondary consideration. also there Is
noticeable tendency toward keener appre-
citation Of style and luxury In motor car
riages. Every automobile manufacturer
appreciates the force Of the awakening,
and is catering to 1t in SO far as the SELL
Ing price Of his product will permit
At the Cadillac Plant.
A visit to the plant of the Cadillac Mo
tor Car Company told the story OF
another successful year with this con-
cern, despite all gossip and rumors to
the contrary. Things were rather quiet
about the plant, as attention Is now be-
ing turned to the product for 1915. Last
wear this company produced 14.OO0 cars
and the indication Is that for next season
this number will be Increased about 81
per cent. I beheld a sight on the occa-
sion Of my visit a few days ago. which
I have rarely seen at this season of the
wear In plants Of this character. 1t was
In the draughting division of the plant
on the second floor. Here l found 131
draughtsmen busily engaged designing
the new models and preparing drawings
of every working part Of the machine
which Is to be produced for the coming
year. AS far as the eye could reach
could be seen this large staff of young
engineers working over their boards. witt
pencils, compaSes and rulers. arranging
the minutest details from which the cars
are to be built. In other parts of the es-
tablishment men Of the same type were
engaged in drawing plans and designs
for the dies and jigs. which are ais,
necessary in the work which Is to follow
was particularly interested in wha
my guide told me, that there were forty
seven milk counters scattered Throughout
| the plant, where the workmen could pur
chase milk at any time during working
hours The milk is purchased In larg,
quantities by the company and sold {,
| the workmen at exactly what the com
pany pays for 1t. two or three cents {
pint as the case may be. In this man
ner l,75O pints are sold daily to tn,
l employees Another department which II
open free2tp the workmen is the emer
gency hos ,al. Two physicians are con
stantly in attendance upon the workmen
and whether the patient is hurt in th
plant or taken sick and needs medica