The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-11-12
M tor Makers Turn Attention
to Work Which Will Help
Military Operations
FACTORS CONSIDERED IN
LENGTHY CONFERENCE
Steel and Coal Vital Needs of
Army and Navy-Oil and
Rubber Promise to Reach
High Cost Levels

Washington, November lit is be-
Heved here tonight that before the
war is over the production and use of
pleasure automobiles In tho United
States will be entirely discontinued.
This Is the opinion after a weeks con-
ference between the motor makers and
the council of national defense.
II developed these predictions and
facts:
]. All steel. coal and factory faclii-
Ties will be needed for essential war
purposes.
l. Military and naval demands for
fuel will send the price here to the
European level from ninety cents to
si.s6 gallon with the most stringent
regulations of its use.
3. Tires, taxes and inability to get
spare parts will further make the
casual use of an automobile impossible.
I. Makers OF pleasure cars are aban-
coming that end of their business for
necessary government work,
The council OF national defense lie
asking many auto factories to devote
their energies to making war trucks
and asropiane parts. IL has announced
that II will. II need be, commander
several plants. 1t has not however.
announced that lite action will, in the
sni. curtaii auto production by so per
cent. Ultimately. fl Is believed the
tirely discontinued.
All this steel the country can pro-
duce must be turned into guns, ships.
war trucks tanks. etc. There will not
only not be ero0gh TO make new cars.
but with each succeeding week tho
production OF spare auto parts is de-
creasiRg. In a few months II Will be
practically impossible TO obtain parts
to repair breaks.
Even IL the steel were available the
auto makers conid NOT get coal to run
their factories. because only essential
manufacturers will receive fuel from
the fuel administration And again. II
The auto makers could get both steel
and coal they would not be able TO get
railway cars in which TO ship them.
A result. Toledo. Detroit ard In
diRnapoIis. which between them pro-
dree 90 per cent OF the pleasure cars
aseSd In the United states. are even
now turning sharply 10 government
business. practically abandoning pleas
ure car production.
British and American naval demand
fer osl@ have hit the American and
Mexican markets so hard they threaten
20 drain them. OIL from Asia Minor
and India Is hard to get because Teu
ton submarines are so active In the
Mediterranean.
The cheapest gasoline In Europe Is
IN England. where II costs ntnsty-fve
cents a gallon. Even then. It can be
had only by presentation OF a royal
permit. Private Consumption - practi-
oaily forbidden. In italy II is 81 and
IN France si,7s.
Tires are almost gone from Europe
because the governments need all the
rubber they can ship for war uses. In
England and France they cost sec
each and In italy 800. The only car
IN Germany wearing pneumatic Is the
HAtser's.
The automobile owner faces a lively
prospect of additional taxation from
the coming session of congress.
Auto m Akers went home from their
conferences here last week prepared
to cooperate with the government 10
the utmost. even X II means complete
abandonment Of their pleasure car bus
mess Several went home with huge
contracts and others are still here
seeking them. Two Indianapolis con-
Germs took away contracts agwreEating
3ab,o0o.c0o and Detroit and Toledo
manufacturers Jared evan better.
Prediction has been made here dur
ing the week that ono moro full year
Of war will make automobile operation
hare As rare as II In in Europe,