Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1917-12-06
auto Restrictions
ARE not drastic
Further CurtailneDt of In.
dustry Not Likely, An.
nounces Judge Lovett
TRADE OUTLOOK
IS NOW BRIGHT

The automobile situation, so far as
It concerns curtallment due 10 short
age Of alloy steel or other materials.
or further priority orders with regard
to materials for the industry, is in a
considerably easier position than a
week ago. The announcement Of Judge
Lovett, administrator Of the Prlorltles
Transportation act. to the effect that
fumors Of further curtailment to the
industry are untrue is reassurlng.
This means that apparently no re-
strictions are contemplated in add
tion to priority order No. ?, which
prohibited the use Of open TOP freight
cars for the TRANSPORTATION OF auto
mobiles and parts for passenger cars.
The automobile industry Is a unit In
according the entire use Of these cars
TO coal movements, which Is not by
any means in a satisfactory condition
todov.
The steel situation has been relieved
materially during the week. not by any
official announcements, but rather by
definite statement that have circulated
through official Washington. The most
important one is that Il is now ad-
miited on rany hands that the order
restricting shipment Of alloy steels TO
passenger automobile factories was
never intended 10 have been issued.
Through some channel or other IL was
given out, and 70 is only after the au-
tomobile industry has drawn attention
- Ia
explanation 10 the effect that the re-
stricting order should never have gene
out has been forthcoming
The automobile manufacturing stu
alton In the Detroit zone Is much bet
ter than 1t was a week ago Manufac-
turers Of assembled cars are holding
up much better during the last ten
days than previous to that time Re
ports show that several Of the largest
producing factories are running at 20
per cert. normal Dodge Brothers are
still behind in orders Ford produced
1900 cars one day last week. which is
a high-water mark for that company.
Reports from Buick. Cadillac. Over
land, REQ and others. show that con-
dltions are building up, according TO
Automobile Industries.
The extent 10 which many makers
can continue production on q mini
mum OF alloy steel is mot assuring to
the industry. Several makers have
practically turned over 10 a high car
bon steel basis, except for a few parts
on their cars. so that the percentage
Of alloy steel essential is so small as
not to be a factor 10 be considered In
any curtailment program.
Considerable difference Of opinion
exists regarding the alloy situation
One large producer Of alloy steel in
this city last week admitted that he
was operating at 60 per cent capacity
and is very glad to have obtained an
order Of considerable magnitude for
alloy steel a week previous. II it were
possible TO get reliable information
from many other alloy steel producers
there might be some Illuminating side
lights on the situation.
In many quarters official Washing
ton Is backing up somewhat In It's talk
OF non-essentials. Many are finding it
more difficult 20 define a non-essen-
tial than they imagined three weeks
ago. There still is a great amount Of
apparently determined concert Of ac-
ton In many publicity channels to
place the automobile industry before
The public as a non-essential and to
dwell on the fact that &c might be cur
tailed, rather than TO place before the
public the facts Of the steel situation