Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-11-14

tons are better equipped with rea!
statesmen. and are better financed.
This much is certain, the present
lull has taught both manufacturers
and dealers the necessity Of educat-
ing motor truck statesmen and OF
Merchandising trucks along very def
mite and clearly defined lines. Deal
er organizations OF the right tyne,
who have recognized the necessity OF
having real statesmen on the payroll.
who have not made long time sales
with small initial deposits, and who
nave not been tempted into rash
| trades merely for the sake of dis
posing or new trucks. are riding easy
these days and Will be ready for
| the resumption of business in the
| fal!. The other kind Of dealer or
ganization is having hard Shedding
ana many have fallen by the way
side.
That motor truck demand will
again be insistent and large with the
coming of autumn and winter
| months is almost certainty Credit
restrictions are even tighter today
man they were a month or more
BACK. as far as motor truck paper
~ concerned. but with the moving
| OF the crops and tho return Of much
or the crop money 10 circulation, this
SITUATION liz almost certain to ease
up. This much Is true. the crops this
year arc almost universally bumn-
"rs. and IL the railroad companies
can only do their share, there will
be plenty of money in circulation
this winter.
There is a slight Improvement no
,iceaoie in the railroad situation,
though not enough to cause any ma
tloha! celebration rs yet. Until the
crops are moved. there will be no
great car service change in the East
The raise in rates granted the rail-
roads will have It's effect within =
rev months, however, as orders have
already been placed for cars and To-
comotives. and more are on the way
that will begin TO make n difference
when deliveries are made.
An Improvement in rail service Is
absolutely essential 10 complete
easement of the credit situation. for
under present conditions there is g,
tremendous amount OF money tied up
in goods and materials in transit
and In last years crops yet unmovcd.
In Iowa alone, nearly 10 per cent
OF last years crop is still on the
farms and In elevators.
Tho rail situation is not an un-
| mixed hardship for the truck manu-
facturer. rs 1t has been great fac
tor in pushing truck sales for inter
city and terminal hauling, and this
| demand sun maintains. IL would
| seem that an intelligent and deter
| mined cooperative effort on the part
| of truck manufacturers to foster and
| develop this type Of business would
| be we'll worth while at this time
Truck Manufacturers Optimistic.
As to tho future of the motor truck
business. 1 have found nothing but
| optimism among truck manufactur-
| crs. Many look upon the present
| slump as q good thing for the bust
| ness in many ways. as 1t will weed
| out many undesirabcs. and will bring
! homo to dealers generally the ncccs-
| sity OF good business methods in han
ding truck sales. both in financing
| them and in sales plans. 1t has
shown the manufacturers. TOO. that
| more care must be exercised in tn.
future in tho selection OF dealers, If
| n permanent organization is to be
| built up. and this lesson will doubt
| less have it's effect in stabilizing the
| business in time to come.
Retail dealers already report n re-
| newed demand, gradual. 1t liz true,
but very noticeable, and the indus
try generally is looking for n fair
| autumn business. with real demand
again in evidence with the coming
] OF i32l-