The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-02-28


e Ks sf = Isl a. sass
Ak hing It's attention on th'
lodiafE futurc@ft is 1ccT8ar for.
f4. not back Every effort is helms
~ TO return az rapidly rs possible
peAce-timc activities. Normally
ontomobile trade is optimistic: II
eF could have grown 20 rs present
wnitude III manufacturers and deal
had not been possessed OF CONF
80 in the growth and prosperity
the Omitted States During the pa 1t
~ circumstances over which the
ltstyy had no control. such as the
effAge of material, restrictions OF
War Industries Board and the
4den Suspension curtsil1nrnf emo
nceIla ton of war orders. taxed tins
&tsnism severely and fer tirae
nded 70 convert II into resilaiSrn.
u this period, like me war is draw
~ to close.
I4 has been remarked within the
40 that some guardian angel
Dane to watch over the automobile
1nStry' II is recalled that the au-
mobile industry was the erst 20 re
yer Its equilibrium after The shock
the financial panic OF l9Q7. that the
St1onal Automobile Show in New
1Rk. which opened coiucident with
~ crash on the Stock Exchange.
lived during the succeeding week TO
pel the gloom that G nguifed the tn
Btry and to restore a large measure
confidence In the business worlf.
- shock that unsettled the world
A0n the great war broke out mere
barred the autom ohile, industry
np0rAriiy. Az Il dragged out It's
nFy length II bore more heavily
- X ~ foreign markets were shut
~ import prohibitions, Increased
E1kkA. lack OF chipping and high
4nght rates. suil the production and
- Of cars and trucks increased at
n0st an Unprecedented rate until
- year. when there was enforced
4nI1ment-
Manufacturers took advantages of
II recent lull TO put into effect Inn
wvemerts In car and truck models
fked out by their engineers aCr~
the year, to reorgnnize their dis
Duting and dealer organiZa tons. 70
ID Out market conditions and fore
- the future sales probabilities, and
n0eAlly to clean house preparatory
= new start Manufae .urers are
Gk1ng back into production az both
nneenger cars and trucks more
fckly than might have been FIX
cled, ur~cd on hv the desire TO PRO
- continuous employment OF their
Ro forces Of loyal employees. who
II confronted with the danger IF
Eng thrown cut Of work temporarily
r1nG the winter &C a result Of sus-
n0ton Of war work
Most of the truck makers are run
- NJ nearly normal production
ne. indeed, at an increased rate
- 1si7---while a few big pas@cu ger
"a companies have been able within
o tast two months 20 get hack ap-
oxfmateiy tc their lest years sched-
A, and others have attained to so
R cent or more OF IT. ny spring, II
80 are no untoward developments
So Industry should ne running on
rnFfy normal basis
With their usual optimism the man
Acturers view present unsettled con-
t3cn sthroughout the country and
~ civilized world az Only temp
Sfy. and look ahead 20 future activity
m prosperity IN industry and com
Sofce In the United States and ir
ooe countries mt adversely affected
y the war In Europe. This FEELING
10gtif3ed on the ground that world
oclks Of food, clothing. textiles and
sorts Of manufactured articles and
r1ous raw materials are low anf
1T be rep!eniehef: that building
M highway construction have beer
Eeiy suspended for several wears
6 must be resumed. that railroads
~ rehabilitation; that the ship
Winding program WIFI he cor timed
NJ that farm prnduc '<~ must 20
~ Indefinitely at enormously Gtir-su-
9oA rate.
An such activity wifi cat for tn
1noed and more efficient transpor a.
II. which means moro general Use
unc&or rtucks and passenger cars
DretKn markets that have been shut
~ prob Editions against imports of
ntor vehicles high duties, lack oi
Dpp1ng and high freight rates. Will
Esease their purchase 81 American
- and trucks, which have won Ia
In fields where formerly the pro-
let's Of Europe dominated. Auto
1Alle and truck makers are studying
o export situation and having plans
increaee their foreign sales
Normally. the production and gales
motor vehicles 10 this country In
Mnaed AT rate of 40 per cent a
In 1915 and 1915 the passenger
Increase was so and so per cent
ocffvely, hut IN 1917 II fell 10 II
eent and last year there was p
base OF nearly 40 per cent. II
normal Increase had been MAIN
led throughout this four-year
I'D the oufpu, last year would have
n approximately .,2bo.o0o instead
Ne actual production OF OATS
there would have been burt about
900 more cars than were actually
ndo. 90 there IL an apparent short
" of that mum Der OF cars For the
ann n HkGENE