El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1918-01-12

ossIBu.Y 10 American industry
II Is In as uncertain a condition as
J. the motor trade at the present
time. To obtain some facts relative
10 the possibilities CT southwestern
dealers being able TO obtain cars and
trucks during the coming IL months,
a representative Of The Herald spent
seven weeks among the factories A
total OF ~ factories-trucks, cars and
tires-were visited. Every important
factory between Kansas City and New
York vas visited by The Herald man
Arriving in Chicago, I heard the
widest rumors" reads his report. Il
intended writing weekly articles LOT
Tie Herald while away but the
runlors were so plentiful that ola
NOS know where 1 was at conSe-
oueatly 1 decided to investigate fully
before writing anything One report
said that the REQ plant had oeen
Turned into q munitions factory ana
that there would be no Reo cars OF
trucks. I went to lansing and found
thst the REQ, like ali other Dig plants
had merely decided on a plan OF using
American citizens only and that some
OF the discarded aliens had started
tie stories. REQ was producing ABOUT
125 cars and trucks day
assured OF steel.
Another report in Chicago was
that there would be no steel available
FOR other than war purposes az
tended a meeting Of manufacturers IN (
Detroit on December at " hich Il was
made plain that there would be plenty
of steel for all purposes
-Stiu a third report was that oIu,
Dodge, Hudson. REQ, Bupp, Winten
ana Pierce-ArrOW were TO be taken
over by the government to manu-
facture munitions and the now famous
Liberty army truck. As matter OF
fact. I found that, while all the com
panies named had placed their equip
meut and resources at the disposal OF 7
the goveruT ent, they were not AZ All
hsmpered in taking care OF orders
from the public In fact' Jew OF lheL1
were devotinE more than small por-
ton Of their plants to government /
work for the simple reason that the /
war board has so allotted the manu-
facture Of parts for government
orders that no burden falls on any
S.e INDUSTRY or firm. One big De
troit auto firm is deToting Dig
share Of its efforts to airplane manu- /
facture but is still taking care OF I
large amount OF commercial business I
while a big truck plant IN Weste n /
New York is practically devoting us I
efforts to the assembly OF the LID
ertv truck PARTS. The other plants I
are merely manufacturing parts.
Output Below lols EnEure.
"While the factories with proper /
financial backing are planning on an /
output OF from IS 10 S. percent OF 1
the 1917 figures, it is likely thaI there \
Will be e shortage OF both cars ana /
trucks before the season is well ad- I
vanced- Already there IS a snortase
OF sheet steel, used in bodles- me i
big Ford plant. for instance, Is pro- i
ducing 5000 chassis daily but only
portion Of this big output is being
equipped with bodies. The scarcity OF I
sheet steel is said to be due TO the I
facf that the munitions plants are
taking a big portion OF the producI /
OF Their olling mills for shells How
ever. this viii soon be remedle0 ana I
bodies will be more plenu1ul as the 4
new rolling equipment gets into op-
Grafton
You won't hear as much this year
about genuine leather upholstery as
IN the past. However the chemists
have been busy and the writer saw
some Of the leather substitutes that
looked better than genuine leather
and these are claimed TO have even
better wearing qualities than the
leather.
Army Gets Many ROadsters.
One reason for the possible short
age OF cars for commercial trade IS
the demand from the army for cars
FOR officers. In one Detroit plant,
practically every roadster that IS
turned out goes TO tue army. con
need 10 name the car for Fl PasOans
are familiar with the car so much
used by army officers on the border.
How ever, il is doubtful II this factory
viii be able to supply the big demand
that is sure to come and great many
cars Of other makes. planned Tor com
trade, viii have 10 80 to the
army.
Several factories have gone under
financially during the past Few
due to a Tightening OF the
money market but the old line cars
and trucks are more firmly es-
tabIfshed than ever before. You won't
lind SO many new makes OF machines
on the market in 1918 as was the case
IN 1917 but the popular old timers
that have gone along for three Iour