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

Z
Few Really New Models.
REPORTS from the New York show
state that 300 new models were dis
I played But the new models were nJi
( new in the same sense as in previous
years. In the great majority Of cases
| some minor changes have been made
| in the appointments or accessories
/ possibly the chassis has been length.
! ened an inch or a new arrangement
worked out for the springs which
makes the car hang an inch lower
I With prices advancing, it is bu
natural that the factories should have
/ some 'camouflage' to cover up the
fact that they are compelled to ask
more in 1918 for practically the same
perhaps, had the greatest changes OF
any line represented in Ell PasO and
the Studebaker changes really make
new models.
IN justice to the factories. however,
Il should be said that they are en-
deavoring to hold down the prices
for they are hoping that the high
water mark will be reached any day.
They don't look for any sensational
advances in price, following the new
prices announced at the New York
show and these prices have been set
so that the margin OF factory profit
is, in almost every case. smaller than
would have been the case in normal
times.
transportation Is Problem.
Transportation is the big problem
that now faces the manufacturers;
transportation Of material to the
plants and then the finished product
to the dealer. Take the case Of the
Buick. as an instance. On the day 1
visited that factory, 22j Buick cars
were driven out OF Flint and I was
told that this was but an average day.
Some Of these care we're to go as far
a s Atlanta, Ga. The weather that
day was cold, six degrees below zero,
but even cold weather isn't holding
back driveaWays Of Bucks Another
Flint factory, the bort. was also re-
sorting to the Driveway to a great
extent
Shipments OF cars to the Atlantic
seacoast and New England were held
up by the fact that coal shipments and
munitions, as well as fOodstuffs, had
the first call on railroad equipment
and there was almost a steady en-
barge on motor car shipments
south Has Best Chance.
1.-THE south will have a big ad-
vantage in getting cars, according 10
president A Ward, Of the King. He
Is one Of the most optimistic OF the
motor car men and believes that the
factories will be able to build all
the cars they can ship and that the
railroads will be in better position
10 handle motor car shipments south
OF the Mason and Dixon line than in
the north.
There was no evidence Of a rubber
scarcity at Akron. the tire center Of
the country, but there were whispers
Of a scarcity ok fabric, which is just
as important a part Of tire as the
rubber. The GOODYEAR plant was par
ticularly pleased with the cotton Sc
cured from Arizona and you viii find
all the big companies after Arizona
cotton within the next year or two.
Buy Now And Save Money.
Summed up. the motOrist can look
for advancing prices. difficulty in
shipments from the factories and
possibility that some Of the popular
makes may not be obtainable at all.
Il Pasoans who intend buying pas
seuger cars this spring are advised
to place their orders Immediately and
take advantage of the prevailing
last year. what viii they be in 1918
with a factory output OF only Is per-
cent OF last year,
s'The war board realizes that motor
trucks release for war service many
men who, under horse delivery sys-
tens. would have to stay in com
mercial life. And the motor truck is
fast becoming a big factor in long
hauls. The Goodyear factory, for in
stance, maintains line Of five ton
trucks between the factory at Akron
and Boston, Mass. Eastbound, these
trucks carry tires; westbOund, they
carry fabric from the New England
cotton mills to the tire factory.
Long Haul For Army.
THE L. s. army is now running a
truck train a day out OF Detroit.
bound for Maryland. These truck
trains, each consisting Of 80 trucks.
carry full loads OF war supplies. This
service is sometimes in the nature OF
an experiment during the winter but
It is believed that long distance hauls
b. motor trucks will be a big item
in transportation this coming sum
mer.
Packard Service Helps.
THE Packard factory is assisting
the business men Of Detroit in this
respect. They have established an