Evening star., 1922-08-30
BY j. c. RoYLE.


NEW YORK, August 3o.-1t ts
strange that the alarmists over the
fuel situation have not heard the
rumble of the automobile truck. Ears
Of industrial leaders, whose books
are bulging with orders, are not so
deaf. and they are preparing to sup
plement railroad distribution OF
bitum;nous coal. by adapting their
motor trucks and delivery wagons to
fuel transportation.
Apparently the reverberations of
the motor-truck exhaust have not
reached the accustomed ear of Henry
Ford. Thousands Of additional men
went into the pit mouths of the
bituminous mines today, and with
blast, pick and shovel increased the
streams Of coal sliding into the bins.
In view of this fact 1t was pointed
out vigorously in industrial circles
that Ford might we'll have arranged
to supplement his railroad service
with the products of his motor plants
and hauled ample fuel into~his fur
mace rooms on his own wheels to
avoid necessity Of a September 16
shutdown.
Real Motives OF Ford.
The announcement OF the proposed
closing of the Ford plants undoubt-
edly has had an effect on the auto
industry and others closely affiliated
with it. but it has scarcely been the
effect expected when the announce
ment was made public. Business
circles are not in entire agreement
as to the real motives behind the
Ford announcement, but one opinion
quite generally shared is tnat Ford
has put up the bars against the
profiteer in coal and steel
In effect he has said: If I cannot
run my plants without being party
to coal profiteering, l will not run
sentiments cannot forget that recent
price cuts in the lower grade cars
have started a new trend in the au-
tomobile industry. Talk of Ford hav-
ing to close down because orders have
fallen off is not based on fact. A
said today that orders for Septem-
ber are enough to keep the plants
running at capacity and still leave
the output 5000 cars behind deliveries.
It is not likely that other manu-
facthrers of automobiles in the De-
troit district or elsewhere will shut
down unless their supplies are cut
off, which is not expected, according
to a dispatch today from Phil 8.
Hanna of Detroit. an authority on au-
tomobile plant conditions.
Expect Trade Diverted.
Business men of Detroit showed less
of spirit of doubt today about Ford's
n1r hut
down, other manufacturers look for
considerable business to flow to them.
Many voice the opinion that vigorous
action of some kind can be counted
on as a result of the Ford announce
ment and that his plants will not be
closed
The Ford statement has had a de-
cided effect on steel market. however,
introducing nervousness and uncer-
tainty. Ford stated producers were
asking him $3.50 for bars, jump Of
20 cents. According to dispatch to-
day from H. B. Laufman of the Pitts
burgh Leader. an authority on the
coal and steel situation. the Carnegie
Company is quoting $1.S5 to 81 on
plates, shapes and bars, while a can
vass of independent producers shows
minimum price of 81 on large lots.
with higher quotations on small guam
titles.
Ford JOlts the Trade.
Naturally. other consumers are in
auiring How Gomez" The steel mar
ket was on an even keel until the
Ford announcement, but now buyers
and sellers are hesitating and the
trade has had a severe jolt. How
ever, there Is so much business In
sight that the withdrawal Of the Ford
company from the market. even If it
takes place, may not lower steel pro-
duction.
In Chicago there is much specula-
ton as to the real significance OF
Ford's announcement. It was pointed
out that auto production slackened
last month, and this Is believed to
have been due to a falling of in de-