Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1916-09-23
fax b. a. 1ARANIousl

by q. A. TARAkTouS)
Two million passengers cars, de-
cidedly better In appearance, with
some mechanical refinements, and,
contrary 10 the general impression,
lower in average price per car, are
70 be manufactured by the automo-
bile industry during the 1917 season.
The man in the street, who has been
talking motors ever since the great
war began, shrugs his shoulders
when the motor industry Is mentioned
and mutters something that seems TO
indicate his belief that said industry
should be put In straight-jacket for
its own good and that Of the public.
He says, this man OF the cement
sidewalks, that two million cars are
too many; that we are near the sat-
turation point and that they'd better
look out what they're doin'." He
is always 4 bit vague, our man in the
street, but he says that prices GER
tainly arc going TO be higher because
the announcements say that they are,
but he agrees rather grudgingly that
the cars certainly look better than
ever; that they are roomier, better
equipped and offered in bewildering
array Of attractive body designs.
But the man In the street Is alto
gether wrong in his structures on pro-
duction and confused as to prices He
fails to consider that the larger pro-
dncers have In most instances de-
creased prices on cars so that the
average price per car now Is lower,
although the average list price Is
higher. The average list price is the
average OF the list prices, while the
average car price Is obtained by d.
viding the total production into the
total talue Of the production.
Production in 1917 win reach 2.000.-
600 cars unless the leaders In the mo-
tor industry are all wrong in their
anticipations. I have before me re-
ports from practically all the large
manufacturers and from most Of the
small ones and they inevitably indt
cate a total production Of more than
1900, 00e. Ford figures have not yet
been given out. but we certainly are
justified In expecting more than 500.s
900 cars and those who should be in q
position 10 know insist that the Ford
organization will put out 10000 cars
during the 1917 season. Then we
may count on Overland for approx
mately 100000. Chevrolet for 19s .0D0,
Stndebaker for 100000. Buick Tor 160r
600. Maxwell Cor more than 100000,
Dodge for something In excess OF 90s
900. Paige for 10000, Saxon for more
than $4,000, Hudson forever 5000.
Jeffrey for 1900. Packard for 1900,
Oldsmobile for over 5000, Mitchell
for 10000. Haynes for 10000, Hupmo
bile for $1,000, Franklin for 10000
and Chandler for 10000.
Considered analytically, this pro.
duction is not abnormal. Remember
that the average rate of increase IN
production since the Industry began
is 40 per cent per year. In the light
Of past experience then. the increase
from close to 1,500, 900 In 1916. to the
1917 estimated figure, does not seem
unnatural. In 1914 American makers
produced 573,11l cars and In 1915 the
number was increased 8s2,61S. Ma
terials cost more today than ever be. !
fore. the labor situation Is not wholly
satisfactory and machinery is not so
easily obtained as 1t was before the
war. Yet, In spite OF all these ad.
verse CONDITIONS, American motor car
manqfaturfrs are going 70 increase
ther prooucuon py lettering their
penuiacturing methods. by simplify.
ing tine onassis through the elimina'
tlon ol certain parts and BY making
Few design changes OF q costly ma
ture,
ifouuctlon mas direct bearing on
price aEa since production will in
crease We naturally assume that
pylces WIZ So down. This y exactly
true the price Of the average fin.
isnea alt0mqpile VIII be lower this
season t1an ~ 1916. but the average
list price VIII be higher. this latter
being due e the fact that 80 many
makers OF medium and high price
cars nave Increased their prices. The
large producers have dropped prices