The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-11-24

The Automobile industry ought TO fur
nish q line on what tho Developments
will be In other branches OF business
an the immediate fdture. Here is a vast
business whose production was TO have
been cut 100 per cent. by the first of
January rext II the German fighting
machine had not collapsed so uneX-
pectedly. Already many OF tho largest
manufacturers had turned their output
entirely to war work. Because this
great industry may be taken as an
3ndex for others Pr-,tters' Ink has had
SIS Detroit correspondent outline the
situation rs II exists in that city, where
the majority OF the large automobile
plants are located.
When the armistice was signed with
Germany Detroit had on It's books
\ orders for $1,000. 100000 in munitions
Some Of the contracts were practically
filled, while In others only the beginning
had been made. The great bulk of them
were held by automobile and accessory
factories. The resumption OF the manu-
facture of automobiles and trucks 1t is
believed, will take place with extreme
rapidity and with little loss of produce
tion. The automobile will find the mar
ket bigger than ever before, due TO the
accrued demand during the period OF
the enforced curtailment of production,
In 1915 automobile and accessory
manufacturers in Detroit employed n
total OF $4,000 men on indoor work.
Tho average daily payroll was about
$4,000, the number OF cars assembled
$4,000. with value Of 100000
THO total investment was in the neigh
borhood OF S275,o00,o00. Thus the auto
mobile industry represented moro than
ons-half Of all industrial employees In
.,,a los ah - NJ Sf,a Fnr arfa a
capital.
Now these factories will resume the
production OF passenger cars and the
conversion TO a .peace basis can he ac-
complished, figuratively. over night.
The Government has promised that the
reduction in war contracts will be grad
,IaL but II can scarcely come too rapidly
for Detroit's automobile industry.
During the war the majority of auto
mobile concerns continued TO produce
cars, although on a curtailed basis. This
curtailment was to be 100 per cent by
January /. but the new order OF the
War Industries Board allows an i'm
r1ediate resumption of a rs per cent.
production. Thus the ar1nlstice comes In
time so that automobile concerne have
all OF their mechanical processes in
working order ready to begin production
OF automobiles on a large scale irnmedi-
aiely
our passenger car motor rnanufac-
ture," says w. r Angel OF the CONT
mental Motor Corporation. can be put
hack at full production on the pre-war
basis on a two or three day notice on the
outside. The process will involve merely
lie changing OF dies and jigs, which we
have in readiness. and we can be BOOM
Tag along as though nothing had hap
paned. We are looking for the biggest
increase In business the industry has
ever known"
: similar view Is held by Lee Ander-
ecn, vice-president and sales manager of
dhe Hupp Motor Corporation. THE au-
tomobile industry he says. els entering
the greatest era of prosperity in its his
tory, both in the home and foreign mar
ket. Not only are the motor cars in
America worn out, but those in Europe
Sre even In worse condition. Naturally.
with the industry practically destroyed
ir Europe. America must furnish the
srotor cars. and the result will be tre-
ynsndous foreign business. Our plant
can be put in shape for normal produc-
zion at once. All that we need Is the
word from Washington"
Z The opinion OF Alvin Macauiey. presi-
dent and general manager of the Packard
Motor Car Company. Is interesting. THE
automobile demand before the war con-
d!tions lnterfered was at its maximum
he said. 1.-THE business declined not for
lack Of demand, but on account OF war
conditions. which made transportation by
automobile of secondary Importance. In
brief, the industry was called to the
co'ors. Now that the stress and strain
Incidental TO equipping for war against
the Germans is past the automobile de-
snaud certainly will reassert Itself. Gen.
orally speaking. predict that the auto
mobile industry will reestablsh Its
former splendid proportions as rapidly
a. Is wise in existing circumstances