New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-12-17
New Lists Coming Out
Next Month to Show
Higher Figures
FABRIC IS BIGGEST
ADDED EXPENSE ITEM
Rubber, Labor and Over
heads All Rising, with
No Relief in Sight

Advances I'M the prices Of tires. IS
forecast IN The Tribune fortnight
or more ago. is the subject Of an arti-
Gle in Automobile Topics out yester-
day. Labor, materials and overhead
costs all have advanced in such ratio
that a l. per cent increase in tire
prices the first Of the new year is said
TO be inevitable. Crude rubber prices
are high. but the rising charges for
fabric make it sure that tires must
90 up.
To quote in part the trade publica-
ton mentioned:
The 1917 crop Of Egyptian cotton
cannot possibly get into the mills of the
American tire makers before the mid
die Of January. 1915. The crop OF
American cotton, only small quantities
of which are employed b. the tire
makers. together with the Sea Island,
will not be available until the middle
Of October. 1917. Between the cotton
field and the tire factory lntervenes
long period Of seasoning, spinning,
conditioning and weaving, and quite
apart from the question Of supply, as
relating 70 quantity and quality, the
labor and materials situation calls for
establishments of their own affairs by
the intermediate crafts. SO far as the
fabric question alone is concerned,
therefore, IL looks as though there
were no relief in sight for al least two
year..
"Thc labor cost in tires is up about
1872 per cent, while ia the same period
the average price Of materials has ad-
vanced more than 30 per cent. over
heads have risen % per cent also, max
ing an average Of about - per cent ad-
vance ia the total cost Of the tire, as
matter Of fact. DESPITE the employment
of the most rigid economies.
due TO these economies. however,
particularly those made in the way OF
revising. selling and distributive sys-
tens, the actual advance to be made
will have 70 absorb only a part Of the
total increa~c in cost Of manufacture.
For this reason IT is probable that
about - per cent will mark the aver
age advance In lists.
even 50, IL is not unlikely that some
OF the smaller companies will have be-
fore them an exceedingly perplexing
pIObltU NNtI II'rtuN UGltlldl HlDNhe
are depleted and IL becomes necessary
70 replenish them At prevailing prices.
The pinch is likely go be felt during
the last six months oi next year, al
though even to-day IL Is not possible
20 purchase tire materials At anywhere
near the market ranges Of year ago.
1.-THE association of rubber and tires
has always seemed so close that IL will
come - d surprise TO most of those
who deal in tires 70 find that rubber
itself has been relcgatcd 10 second
place. While to-day rubber rules
around s. cents. with the future ex-
Dccted 10 bring 10 even .ower, this does
not promise much relief, for in any
event 10 Will not compare with the ad-
yances IN Sea Island and Egyptian cot
tons. which even now arc selling in the
neighborhood Of 1920. Interruptions
in shipping, due TO submarine sctiyi-
/ ties in the Mediterranean and else.
where, and other considerations, prac-
tically make certain continuance of
high prices for this material, at least
while the war lasts