The Detroit times., 1916-12-05
ID etroit' s Prosperity
Not Based On Conflict,
Says Auto Expert
STUDEBAKER
PLANS EXPANSION
Will Increase Employees
to 10000 Within
Two Years

IN the war stopped today ad
verse results would not be reflected
upon the automobile Industry in De
iroit." saws George L. Willuan. nd.
Nertising manager and assistant
sales manager OF the Studebaker
Corporation Of America. This tact
undoubtedly viii prove interesting
TO Detroitcrs and outsiders who
imagine tbat The nhenomcnll pros.
perity OF the automobile indnstrE IN
this city hinges upon business r.
suuug from thu European conflict
The American market has
scarcely been touched. The war
has taugh, this country the eco.
nomic necessity for self-propelled
vehicles The demsnd is increasing
daily and the Detroit supply this
year has fallen greatly below the
call OF the domestic market
Bearing these facts in mind and
considering that moro than so per.
cent Of the automobile industry IN
Ms country Is housed In Detroit
n s not 20 bc maryellcd ~ that
this city has its greatest prosperity
yct TO DC enjoyed as regards t9
connection with the emoluments oI
\ the automobile manufacturing Dusi
nos
Las year 'he studebaker Cor
poration did q war business agarc
eating several million dollars IN
lnc present year not one cents
worth OF war business has been
transacted and vet the total not
profits from operation will evceed
by many millions the mark ests},
hshed last year watch WAS record
Present indications are that
within the next two years tho
studebaker Corporation viii employ
20 900 workers in Detroit whereas
5000 are now on The payroll. W.
expect in that time 10 increase our
annual output to 100000 cars a yoar
which viii bring the aggregate pro
duction TO more than 800. .000, 00o
year
During the past ~ months We
could have sold 30 per cent more
cars for each month on the average
bad we possessed the facilities for
increased manufacture on that bas-
IL. Two years ago this corporation
started a program OF extension 10
care for the manufacture OF 100 600
cars a year. At the present time
We ere producing more than 10000
machines yearly and within the mex
six months our production IL eX
pected 10 exceed the 100000 mark.
The unusual amount of manu-
featuring going on IN all lines in
this country has made Il difficult
for Us 10 proceed with plans for
enlarging our various plants In this
city. Whereas formerly we could
obtain certain machinery and have
- installed within six months from
order. II nov lakes two years on the
average for the same accomplish
msn' However. We have our plans
established and in course or cXecu
tion which will at least double our
production in the next two years
or so.
The war has done more than any
other single factor in bringing the |
United States 10 a full realization |
OF the need for motor.drivcn vehi- |
cles In the past two years the !
country has. metaphoricdlly speak
ing. been transformed into a motor |
driven nation instead OF a horse.
driven one
The manufacture ot automobile J
trucks and all forms OF commercial !
vehicles constitute the biggest elc /
ment OF automobile Development IN /.
the future Tho farmer and city !
business man alike have perceived /
the positive economic necessity for /
he sellpropelled conveyance. En- |
ropcau reconstruction viii add stim
ulus 10 the world demand FOR auto I
trucks and the general world trade |
war TO eusue after the present con.
nlct will make il necessary Tor |
his country 20 keep abreast or the |
situation and the automobile viii |
plgy big part in the work
ut is reported that several other +,
automobile concerns in this city are
ont mplating big additional outputs !
IN the coming wear II Is evident |
from all of these Racts that Detroit /
ls f. central automobile manutac.
uriug city has barely emerged from !
ts sWaddlns clothes and hst The !,
lFgoat DEVELOPMENT Do y"t 10 |
Dm, This city d1minates the sit. !
Rtion as far as This country is con ]
Fcinod Win the domestic market /
ssuming such hug proportions no |
coubi can b. cast over this city