Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1921-01-14
EARLY REVIVAL
{ IN AUTOMOBILE
INDUSTRY SEEN
February to Mark Resumption
of Manufacture in
Ma Or Plants.
BUYING PUBLIC RIGHT

DETROIT. Jan. 1.-THE backbone of
the idIeness in automobile factories has
been broken. The middle Of February
or the first Of March will see every major
automobile manufacturing plant and
majority Of the smaller ones back at
work
When these plants resume work. it is
generally predicted, a majority Of the
vast army OF unemployed will be back
at their jobs. In Detroit alone there
are over a hundred thousand affected by
the temporary shutdowns of the plants,
announced in December and early this
month for inventory
That the plants will open is made
certain with the announcement that the
Ford Motor Company Will resume pro-
duction in February.
It IS unofficialIy stated that Feb. II is
the day when this huge plant, employing
$1,000 men. viii swing open its gates.
b F. Craig secretary Of the Highland
Park plant, principal production center
Of the Ford company. said today he
hoped and believed the company would
resume operations even before Feb. II.
GENERAL MOTORS
CONTROLS MANY PLANTS.
Officials Of the General Motors Cor
poration. the largest automobile COM
bine in the world. were prone TO remain
silent when asked for the probable date
Of re-opening Of the large plants con-
trolled by the corporation. II Ford re-
opens his plant ahead Of the rest the
majority Of the others viii fall into line
as was done when. like n bolt from the
blue. Ford announced his price cut for
his automobile last September The
General Motors Cooperation controls
such plants as the Buick, made at Flint,
and Oakland. made at Pontiac, the Odds
mobile, made at Lansing and the Cadtl-
lac, made al Detroit. These are the big
gest selling machines made by the cor
poratiou. There are several other COM
pauies over which the General Motors
holds a ruling hand.
IN Detroit there are twenty five au
tamobile manufacturing concerns. The
Cadillac and the Scripps Booth are the
. only ones controlled by the great cor
+ p0ratiO
The Detroit Employers Association
Z said there has been a gradual and steady
Improvement in the automobile situation
in Detroit in the last several weeks. A
week following the temporary shut downs
several companies commenced re employ
ing men on q pRrt-time basis. and now
there are 1900 men back to work. The
automobile companies said these men,
while not engaged in actual production,
are repairing the machinery for a great
{ er production than ever"
DODGE PLANT
, EMPLOYS $1,000.
Detroits second largest automobile
factory. the Dodge, will open at about
the same time Ford resumes. It is stated.
The official announcement of the open
ing was expected 10 come from New
York before the close Of the automobile
show. More than 5000 men are en-
ployed in the Dodge plant in normal
times.
Coincident with the passing of the
crisis came the announcement that Henry
Ford may establish an air craft in
dustry IN Detroit. W B. Mayo. chief
engineer OF the Ford company. recently
returned from a tour Of Europe, where
he visited the principal cities which are
aircraft production centers and made 4
close study OF each, at the request Of
Ford. It was said by Mayo today that,
while the European countries use air
planes far more extensively than the
United States, few, in comparison, are
manufactured there.
7 viii advise Mr.. Ford that 1 be-
Eeve such venture will be a com
merciaI success Mayo said.
More automobiles and more airplanes
is more than likely to be on the tongue
OF every one interested in the industry
in a few months. That the buying
public is right and that a greater
production than ever must be made, is
seen IN reports from New York Of the
large number OF sales during the auto
mobile show.