Evening star., 1922-09-16
CLOSING Of FORD
PLANTS IS BEGUN
Exorbitant Coal and Steel
Prices Blamed for Loss :
of 100000 Jobs.
MAY HIT OTHER CONCERNS
Five Detroit Factories and Many
Assembling Houses Over United
States Affected.
MAY HIT OTHER CONCERNS
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press
DETROIT, Mich, September 16.-As
a protest against paying what he be-
lieves to be eXorbitant prices for coal
and steel. Henry Ford today began the
process of closing up his huge industry.
With the suspension complete when
the last shift of workers leave the vari-
Gus factories tonight approximately
10O,O 900 men will have been rendered
idle for an indefinite period. The plants
affected include the five factories in the
Detroit area and numerous assembling
stations throughout the country. Other
concerns, the output of which goes
chiefly to the Ford company, also are
expected to suspend operations
In announcing the contemplated clos
ing several weeks ago, Mr.. Ford de-
clared no coal shortage existed. That
brokers We're holding enough coal to
supply the needs of the country and
that the public was being ''gouged' by
the dealers He also criticised govern
ment agencies for their method of ap-
portioninG coal.
Improvement During Week.
The past week brought some improve
ment in the fuel situation. Ford officials
asserted yesterday, but this, they said,
did not warrant a change in the sus-
pension order.
The first layoff of men occurred last
midnight at the River Rouge Blast
furnaces. where about $4,000 are en-
ployed. When shifts were changed
the workers turned in their tools and
were told not to return until notified
of nf VI
thousand men are to be retained at
this plant, however, to tend the coke
ovens, which cannot be allowed to
cool.
At khe Highland Park plant the
night sforce went to work as usual.
brought the same notice given the
steel workers. The day and early
night forces We're to be checked out
in a similar manner approximately
10000 men are employed at this plant.
The remainder of the workers af-
fected are employees of the Dearborn
tractor factory, the Lincoln plant, a
factory at Worthwhile, and those in
cities outside of Michigan.
Most of the factories likely to be
affected by the closing of the Ford
industries. through the loss of their
chief market. are located in Detroit,
or nearby Michigan cities. They
sories not made by Ford shops and in
many cases are only equipped for this
work. No authentic information as
to the number of employed in these
shops could be determined today.
Prices Found Too High.
Since deciding to close his factor
les, Mr.. Ford has held daily confer
ences with his executive in an effort
to solve the fuel and material prob
lens but in every market considered,
he said he found prices higher than
he believed they should be.
The rail strike cut off fuel supplies
from the Ford mines in Kentucky
and transfer difficulties prevented
shipment of coal from other nom
union fields over the Ford railroad.
the Detroit, Toledo and Ironton. This
led to charges by Mr.. Ford that the
federal fuel administration was not
functioning as it should and that the
Interstate Commerce Commission
had failed to meet the rail and coal
crisis. There was no alternative, the
manufacturer declared. but to pay
profiteering prices" Rather than do
that. he declared. he would keep the
plants closed indefinitely"
Inquiry today failed to disclose any
other Detroit manufacturers who
contemplated action similar to that
of Mr.. Ford. Some of the local plants
were reported working on short fuel
rations, but manufacturers as a
whole believed they would be able
to obtain supplies sufficient to avert
suspension.