Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1919-03-23

production or both passenger cars ana
trucks more quickly than might have
been expected. urged on by the desile
to provide continuous employment o.
their large forces Of loyal employees,
who were confronted with the danger
OF being thrown out Of work Temporal,
lily during the winter, as result OF
suspension Of war work.
Most of the truck makers are run
ming at nearly normal production
some indeed at an increased rate over
1s17-while a few big passenger car
companies have been able within the
last two months to get back approx
mately to their last years scheduie
and others have attained to so per cent
or more Of 1t. BY spring. If there are
no untoward developments, the INDUS
try should be running on nearly It's
normal basis.
With their usual optimism, the man.
ufacturers view present unsettled con
ditions throughout the country ana
the civilized world as only temporary
and look ahead to certain future great
activity and prosperity in industry ana
commerce in the United States ana IN
those countries not adversely affected
by the war.
This feeling is justified on the
ground that world stocks of food, cloth
ing, textiles, and all sorts of manufac-
tured articles and various raw ma :
terials are low and must be replenish-
ed: that building and highway con-
struction have been large suspended
for several years and must be resum-
ed; that the shipbuilding program VIII
be continued, and that farm produc-
ton must go on indefinitely at enor-
mously stimulated rate.
GREATER EXPORTS IN SIGHT.
All such activity will call for In
creased and more efficient transporta-
ton, which means more general use
of motor trucks and passenger cars
Foreign markets that have been snu'
off by prohibition against imports OF
motor vehicles, high duties. lack Of
shipping and high freight rates WI
increase their purchases OF American
cars and trucks, which have won favol
in fields where formerly the products
Of Europe dominated.
Normally the production and sale:
of motor vehicles in this country IN
creased at a rate of 40 per cent a year
In 1915 and 1916 the passenger car in
crease was so and 80 per cent, re
spectively, but in 1917 1t fell to 1
per cent, and last year there was
decrease of nearly 40 per cent.
If the normal increase had beer
maintained throughout this four-yea
period the output last year would nav
been approximately 2,250,0OO. instead
of the actual production of 1,O44,754
and there would have been built abou
| 700 900 more cars than were actuail,
made. So there is an apparent snort
| age of that many cars.
For the year 1919 there should be
potential market for 100000 cars, bu
not more than half of this numbe
will be produced, in all probability, ant
| by summer many persons Will p'
wanting cars who will have to g.
without or content themselves VIII
machines that have already been II
service too long and should go to tn
| jur1l dealer.
Hundreds Of thousands of womel
whose husbands, brothers and father
went into the army and navy becam
proficient automobile operators, AM
will not be satisfied to ride as mer'
passengers. but will want cars Of thei
own or will make use of the family ca
| while the male members of the house
| hold are at work. So 1t is probabl
a safe estimate that there are hal
| n million new candidates for car sales