The Washington times., 1916-01-08
CAR MAKERS READY
FORSTEEL SHORTAGE
Automobile Builders Organized
and Strlngenoy Anticipated
by Longtime Contracts.

No one Is moro sharply affected by
the present steel shortage than q the
automobile maker, but there Is good
reason to believe that the ORGANIZED
strength Of the automobile industry
hay prove sufficient to tide over tiic
difficulty and prevent the development
OF serious consequences. The atnomo-
lie manufacturers wore never in bet
ter pcBftion to co-orerate in overcoming
obstacles than, they are today. With
an unsurpassed demand for their
products and with the many nlanufac.
turing economies that have been iptro.
duced with in the past two years, the
stringenoy Of materials is practically
the only cloud IN tile slty and this can
,ess pc d'sGsiled by prosmpt rt, acton al1ne Gn
ffned.~
Source of Relief.
A possible source Of relief for the
automobile makers is said to lie in
a revision of steel specifications.
whereby certain refining processes
can be moro cheaply and quickly car
ried out Such notifications, it 10
declared. can be introduced without
affecting the strength and durability
Of the metal, and are believed to be
generally favored by the steel makers.
who claim they are at present handi-
capped by too rigid restrictions, which
influence adversely both deliveries
and, to some extent. prices. as we'll.
sulphur content of the carbon steels
that are widely used in automobile
manufacturing, and which are pro-
duced under the standard srecif1ca-
tions Of the Society Of Automobile En-
are almost universally employed by
the automobile makers, call for q
sulphur content in carbon steel Of not
to exceed Ave hundredths Of one per
cent; 1t Is claimed by accredited AIT
10 permit considerable increase in
sulphur without inpairing the
strength of the material or its hot
working properties to an appreciable
extent.
Basis of Controversy.
Tests conducted by DR.. J. S. Unger.
Of the Carnegie Steel Company, ere said
to have demonstrated the truth Of these
assertions in thoroughly scientific
manner, and the whole subject. which
has been made the basis OF q long stand
ing controversy. is to be reviewed at
the winter meeting Of the society. At
that time UnEer's Investigations will be
presented before a gathering of en-
glneers representing leading automobile
makers from all parts Of the country.
Opportunity will also be given for a
discussion Of the steel situation in all
it's aspects. and producers and con-
sumers will be brought together in such
way as to enable them to weigh the
possibilities of Improvement that may
lie in a readjustment of their relations.
Never before have the automobile
makers heen SO we'll able to meet and
conquer a common obstacle as they are
today said Christian Girl. president
Of the Perfection Spring Company, Of
Cleveland. And this fact must be taken
into account in any consideration Of the
possible influence upon the automobile
market of the present difficulty in OBJ
tanning materials for the coming year.
! make this assertion because I believe
the, overdemand for materials is des-
tined to continue indefinitely. certainly
outlasting the war by year or more.
during the early stages of the European
reconstruction, and because American
manufacturers in all lines, in endeavor-
ing to adjust themselves to It must
necessarily suffer embarrassm II
nothing more grave. Those who per-
ceive the trend of affairs in due season
and guard against it, however. will be
the ones who will suffer the least. And
in this respect | think the automobile
industry is deserving of the utmost
confidence. Furthermore, the very
preparedness of the automobile maxi
ers. which is making itself increasingly
evident, Is bound to react In their favor
should the situation become as serious
as 1t is anticipated in some quarters
that it may"