New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1922-08-12
Auto Plants Face
Shutdown Due
To Lack Of Goa
Factories Working at Full
Blast 10 Get Out q
Many Cars as Possibl
Before Cut Is Necesssri
sy,o.si Dsspatea 10 IN. Trss-s

NtfCf0l UtfDnIfH 70 Tvs IFtrtA<
DETROIT, Aug. 1.-THE sutomobii
industry throughout the entirs Mich
gan territory IL working now on
two weeks coal supply. Notices 20 I'll
effect have been sent out 20 msnufst
turers by the Detroit power eompsnis
20 that factory operation may b
planned % meet q total closing AZ N
end OF that time. Unless coal In sizsbl
quantities Is received before the "a
piration Of these two weeks, II IL De
clarod the power companies will b
compelled % reserve their fuel 10
lighting purposes only.
Many Of the larger factories Wit
power plants Of their own are ~
eeiving coal in small, infrequent ship
ments, and BY carefully conserving n
they have built up reserves which wi
enable them 20 run longer than ~
factories dependent on produeln.
power companies. These large fac
factories, however, are only equippe
% run az about Is per cent Of opera
tion on their own power, 30 that an,
production that Is maintained will b
unimportant.
Edison Company officials declare thu
even II the coal and railroad striks
we're settled Immediately II would b
impossible % get sufficient fuel
maintain operation on full schedule
Careful analysis OF the countrywide
situation has convinced them that IN
dustry will be greatly affected Dunn
the winter months BY power shortage
A. best IL l. hoped that this shortse
will not cause total closing Of fad
tories FOR long or short periods, bu
that Il will be possible q keep fac
tories working at least 30 per cen
OF the time
Effect on Price Changes
II Is impossible 20 tell a. this tint
whether the price changes have hslpe'
or injured the general market for ears
All factories are working AZ full bias
% get out as many cars as possibN
before the coal situation makes :
necessary 10 eurtsil operations. Their
has been no dropping Of schedules u
any plants, the only thought seemini
% be % push production 20 the hms
az this time. With sales continuing a
something like the pace set In thi
spring any surplus Of ears At this tint
would be rapidly snapped up. II salei
are found 10 have fallen OF there maj
be large enough surplus 20 keel
dealers supplied until the fuel situa
ton has improved sufficiently 70 per
nit resumed operations.
Price or no price change, IL scent
certain now that factories with vel
organized production and sales depare
men's will be little affected. Almor
an large producing factories, thotl
In the middle class field especially
have brought their prices down 30 tina
they again are all about on the SAINT
price level This should have a tend
ency 20 keep business pretty vel
divided up. without largely increased
production. and this seems unlikely
now for any Of them, the new price,
will simply mean lower earnini
power all the way round.
Factory Expansions
Expansions in factory space In thi
industry are mainly intended 70 pro
vide for tho increased demand ~
inclosed ears. Throughout the EARL
part Of the year most factories vsri |
seriously handicapped for space ade
cuate % turn out closed cars In keep
ing With the demand. As Il Is REGARDED
certain that this demand for inciosei
cars will continue 20 grow, faetorei
are extending their working spsee g
meet extra requirements. PraeueaHi
four times as much space Is needet
20 turn out closed ear as an opsi
because Of the additional time that
closed car Is on the assembly.
Deliveries Of cars are going forwsri
rapidly. no particular disturbances o.
shipping schedules having been noted
Il may be necessary 20 drive away carr
in larger quantity than CUSTOMARY
later on. but this contingency has mol
risen vet. Deliveries 20 the fsetoriei
OF rarts and materials are MAINTAIN;
ING regularity and have not caused
perceptible slowing in general opera
ton. II anything. railroad de.iveiie,
have improved slightly In the ias'
week.
A development in the Industry
brought about principally by the IN
creased inelosed body business, Is tht
Gradual spreading out OF contracts foi
bodies 20 many maufacturers, "hers
formerly they were more or less con
eentratcd In the hands Of few. BODY
manufacturer in all parts Of the eovn'
try are receiving contracts from De-
troit car companies, 10 insure deliver.
ies In adequate quantities. In the
snrin0 months, with contracts In re"
hands. the congestion Of business De.
came lntolerable, and the result OF I'M,
-. Il, the suroadinQ out OF