The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1920-10-23


year aud lasts
Size. 1919 1920,
I too and under ......... slb,l27 zt9.1to
y TO IA tons ....,....,. 1897 ss,Ise
~ and tons ........'. 1852 issse
over tons .............. 1850 1875
sis.ss. 5000
During the present year, 165 manu-
facturers Of trucks have actually been
In commercial production. This state
menI however does not tell the
whole story. because the bulk OF the
production Is IN the hands Of few
| companies.
In fact tho fifteen leading manu-
fscturers built In 1919 a total OF 21o.-
500 trucks. or IS per cent of the 1917
output. Approximately the same pro-
duction percentage will apply this
year. Ii will be seen. therefore. that
fifteen or twenty leading companies,
each able to maintain reasonable pro-
duction schedules. can bring the total
production for one year up to 4 fgure
| approximating that of last year. IL
may be said at this point that the
| larger companies just indie - wall
come nearer to their original produc-
tion schedules than Will the $50
smaller manufacturers whose total
output constitutes only 20 per cent
Of all trucks made.
| In May OF this year. 1882 trucks
were built in Detroit territory alone:
in June the output in Detroit terri
| tory was 1928. Since June there has
been a gradual decline on the part or
all companies. and even q temporary
| cessation on tho part of some or the
smaller companies. A number of the
most important concerns. however.
are still producing heavily. For In
x.rhl m
out rs per cent more trucks during
the present calendar year than in
1919. Another company. which built
| approximately 10000 trucks last year.
will turn out nearly $4,000 this year.
| Two other companies, whose produc-
ton last year averaged about o,OOO
apiece, will build this year 5000 and
1. 900 trucksc. respectively. Generally
speaking. the fifteen leading truck
manufacturers who build nearly ~
per cent Of the total number pro-
duced will average about 20 per cent
to rs per cent over last year, while
the large number of small companies
who collectively built 20 per cent OF
the total will fall below this figure,
bringing the average for the entire
Industry to about 1s per cent over the
1919 truck producing figures.
MARKET NEVER BETTER
! There Is every reason to believe
that the productio ion Of trucks in 1921
| will show an increase OF at least 80
per cent over 1920. The potential
market for motor trucks was never
better. 1t has been estimated that
farmers alone will require 100000
trucks in the next few years as
| against 100 900 now on farms. The
financial situation of necessity must
adjust itself in the near future. The
last reports from the Bureau Of Crop
Estimates. at Washington, show that
the composite condition Of all crops
OF the United States on September i
was per cent above their ten-year
average on that date, IT per cent
higher than on August /. and - per
cent higher than final yields last
year.
The harvest season Is here, and
banking interests from the Federal
Reserve Board down to the smallest
country banks understand the vital
necessity for moving crops promptly
at harvest time October IS will SEQ
the peak Of the grain movement
financing reached. 1t Is to be cx-
pected, therefore. that the money
market will be much easier during
| the next few months to permit free
movement Of crops from farms to
centers OF distribution and consump-
ton. Prices for farm products, while
somewhat lower than last year
should return nearly as much money
to the farmer in view of the fact that
labor for harvest in the Middle West
| ern States was less expensive than
last year. with large sums Of money
in the farming centers. 1t is to be ex-
pected that there will be a direct
| flow OF money into regular business
| channels generally. and into auto
motive trade circles in particular.
| PROSPERITY AHEAD.
| The demand for trucks at present
| is restricted only by the credit situa
ton. The easing OF the money mar
ket. therefore, will restore normal
conditions.
Already number Of important
tractor manufacturers are entering
the farm truck feld in anticipation
OF a great farm demand for a more
rapid means OF conveyance. Recent
changes in the prices OF certain
building materials Is stimulating the
contracting business. 1t Is conserva-
lively estimated that II will take at
least five years to even partially allay
the demand for more houses. This
work obviously will require hundreds
OF thousands Of additional trucks.
1t Is not feasible in a brief article
to point out all features which enter
into a consideration of the potential
truck market but calm and un-
biased review Of fundamental condi-
lions Indicate that truck manufac-
tuners are facing a period Of great
| prosperity a. soon as the present
temporary financial depression Is
| Tyahe Jonrnal