Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-12-18
AMERICAN LOCOMOTIVE
PREPARED FOR PEACE
Engine Orders Will Keep Local
Plant Daisy II Shell Max
ing Stops.
ENORMOUS ORDERS BOOKED
Will Keep All Engine Builders Busy
Through Year 1917, Regardless OF
Extent Of Munition Orders Here
after Received.

Whether the war In Europe con-
tinues or peace comes the prospect Ia
That the Richmond branch OF tn.
American Locomotive Works will be
running at fullest capacity through
out she coming year. Even though no
more she'll orders come, the company
has locomotive orders enough to keen
all OF Its plants going through 1917.
For the past year the Richmond plant
has been making shells for the alles,
having now the largest payroll in the
history OF the local plant. Orders for
engines from number of roads In this
section have been placed. with The
reque,it that they be built at the Rich
mond works. but the company has been
unable to comply. as the entire plant
Is busy making shells.
The WALL Street Journal says
American Locomotive. in the period
from jury I. when It's fiscal year be-
gan, to December Is. closed orders esti-
mated at $56,000,000. These figures do
not include orders for munitions taken
by the Montreal Locomotive Works.
which are understood to have been
substantial. OF this total of bookings
little more than halls, or between
$2s.Ooo.Oo0 and s3oooo.ooo. was for To-
comotives. the remaining business rep
rcsenting contracts for shells and
fuses.
Total business on the company'e
books for delivery during the 1867
fiscal year. and into the succeeding
fiscal period, are placed at ss4,00o.o00.
including the carry over from last
year and exclusive OF business taken
at Montreal during the past three
months, which would probably bring
the grand total to over 800, 100000
OF this total It Is likely that we'll over
$4,000, 900 still remains to be filled, or
more business than has ever been ac-
complished in any single fiscal year.
EFFECT THE SAME,
WHETHER PEACE OR WAN
American Locomotive is fortunately
situated at present In that, whether
the war be continued or not, the ef-
feet on the company's profits should be
about the same. II there Is any ad-
vantage one way or the other. 1t Is
on the peace side. as pace negotiations,
even if successful, would naturally
take three months or more, by which
time practically all the munition busi-
ness now on hand will have been filled.
Equipment men say thai there Is an
immense food Of equipment business.
both foreign and domestic. being
damned up by the high war prices.
which would ensure large orders for
some time ahead. In fact, so great Is
the present pressure of equipment bust
ness that the company would gladly
reconvcrt to regular manufacturing
purposes the only engine plant in this
country. it's Richmond plant. now fill.
Ing war orders.
Incidentally, should the war con-
tinue and no more she'll orders come
to this country, American Locomotive.
through its Canadian subsidiary, would
still be able to show large munition
profits. while devoting all it's Ameri
can plants to the making of engines.
Some of the most important motive
nv m
connective since the beginning of Its
fiscal year are given in tho following:
Russian government, 1853; New York
Central. lis: British War Office, 100;
Italian state railways. 100; Chicago
and Northwestern. IT: Paris-Orleana
Railway. so.
I'm addition to the heavy domestic
Inquiry for engines. American Loco
motive is likely to close orders in the
near future for nearly 800 engines for
England and France. Russia. which
has just closed for total of $50
engines with the company, will prob
ably increase this order within the next
month or two. And 1t is expected tina t
Russia will place orders here for fully
500 engines next year. Of which Amer
lean Locomotive should get about half.
American Locomotive, 1t is under
stood. Is now producing at the rate
of about $S0.000.ooo year. Orders
now on It's books. therefore. are suf-
hcient to ensure full operations at the
present rate-until near the end of
,he caienuar year 1917. and. with orders
In prospect. it seems likely that pro
ductlon VIII be maintained at full
speed until the middle OF 1918 at least
With continued full operation,
throughout the two fiscal years ending
juno 80 1913. American Locomotive
common should show net for tha thr.s
years 1916 to 1918 Of at least donhIs
It's present market price.