Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1917-04-06
URGE DEALERS TO
SPOT FREIGHT CARS
AUTO MANUFACTURERS URGE
HEARTY COOPERATION TO
AID INDUSTRY.

Automobile dealers and the auto
mobile buying public will be in store
for many disappointing delays in the
delivery of their new cars this spring
unless they join forces Immediately
in an effort to relieve the great
freight car shortage, according to a
bulletin received this week by the
Rose-Nepple Auto company from
Dodge Brothers, Detroit.
Already the automobile industry
has suffered heavily and it is now
threatened with an enforced slump
in production because there is no
outlet for the product. This situa-
ton is due partly to the exception
ally heavy freight business, and
partly to the fact that thousands of
specially built automobile freight
cars are being seized by railroads
and shippers in all parts Of the coun-
try and held for their own use.
Thus the motor car manufacture
ers are deprived of the special facil-
tiles with which they had the fore
sight to equip themselves many
months before the shortage. Their
cars are being used to haul farm
products-fruits, potatoes and every
thing imaginable. Meanwhile the
big automobile plants in Detroit are
forced to depend on the very limited
supply of the ordinary box car type
and since these have been wholly in
adequate and since storage space in
many instances has been exhausted,
it has been necessary to cut down
far below the normal production.
May Mean Auto Shortage.
In view of the tremendous demand
for motor cars already in prospect
for the coming spring and summer,
this condition will result in a de-
cided under-production unless there
is relief soon.
The real seriousness of the situa-
ton developed at the annual meeting
of Dodge Brothers dealers OF the
Middle West, in the Blackstone hotel.
Chicago, during the Chicago automo-
bile show. At this time the 800 deal
ers in attendance gave their word,
in response to addresses by A. l.
Philip, general sales manager OF
Dodge Brothers. and A. T. Waterfall,
director of traffic of the same con-
Germ, to do all in their power to have
automobile freight cars returned to
Detroit so that they could be used
! for shipments.
The belief was expressed that
these 800 dealers could establish
themselves as the nucleus of
ntion-wide organization with this
purpose in view and that the result
would be a concerted movement by
the 5000 bona fide automobile deal
ers of the United States in the direc
ton of better shipping facilities
Good results are already apparent
according to Detroit manufacturers
"'Spot' the automobile car,
urged both Mr.. Philip and Mr.. Water
fall. III you find one on sidetracl
in your home city, induce you
freight agent to get 1t back to US. o
wire US the number of the car, ant
we'll both 60 after him. AS long a
railroads and shippers continue t
use our cars for the transportation
of their fruits, vegetables and every
thing else imaginable. the automobil
industry is going to be handicappe
and you dealers will find yourselve
without half enough cars on hand 70
your spring deliveries"
Enormous Number Needed.
Mr.. Waterfall, who was until re
Gently director of the traffic burea
of the Detroit Board of Commerce
gave some interesting statistics o