Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-07-02
BOSCH MAN FINDS
OUTLOOK IN SOUTH
BETTER THIS YEAR
Says Business Will Be Good
In Future With lnten-
ri. sive Selling

manager of the American Bosch mag
neto corporation. has just returned
from a six weeks circuit of the eastern
and southern states, having visited 50
leading cities in that time. The trip
was made for the purpose of investl-
eating general conditions and studying
their probable effect on automotlVe
sales during the next six months
The conclusions which Mr.. Bartsch
drew as a result of his investigation
were Interestingly outlined IN a letter
inst received BY Mr.. e. /. Mackay OF
Great Falls Starter & Battery com
pany, the official Bosch service STA
ton in this city. =
Mr.. Bartsch found the south to be
very 'spotty'' insofar as general busl-
ness is concerned. Cars were selling
we'll in some places and not we'll at
all in others: for instance in Virginia
at least 80 per cent of the cars IN
that state up to the time OF his vlslt'
had not been re-registered. Ihey We're
standing idle because of lack OF funds.
The same situation held in South Car
DINA and in Georgia.
The unusual situation referred to
was evidenced when he visited A town
like Winston Salem. n. c.. and found,
for instance. that the Hudson Essex
distributors we're sold out and were
after more cars. while business IN
Savannah was very quiet; as a matter
of fact, five or six banks had closed
during the past six months.
In North Carolina many textile fac
tories were working overtime while
those cities which depended On farm
trade for their support were dong
very little business. 4.
Conditions in North Carolina and
Florida are, at the present time. bet
ter than in other states IN the south.
North Carolina looks good from a
future point of view as does Florida.
but both states can be included in that
circle of hesitation which circum-
scribes the entire south. However,
while previously not listening TO sales
talks or merchandising efforts. there
now exists a more receptive state of
mind.
The present difficulty. if it can be
called such, is due TO some extent to
the enormous amount of unpaid bills
and the refusal Of banks to accept out
of-town paper, which, Of course, is
quite natural. The fact that the farm
ers as whole lost practically all the
money they had because Of the drop
in price of their products is the basic
cause for the backward condition Of
the eastern southern territory.
There naturally exists, too, a large
amount of unpaid loans to farmers
who will of necessity hold off until
the next crop comes through and until
they know definitely the prices they
are to secure.
Cotton possibilities looked fair with
n possibility of improvement from a
price point of view. as il seems as
though there would he a definite short
age through the entire south. This,
of course, will cause a rise in price
of this commodity m or later. To
bring the supply of America back to
that Of last year we will have to raise
12.600.O0O bales-better than 30 per
cent increase over 1920-21-but this
cant happen this year. From this it
would seem that next year will be a
banner year in the south and it is
desirable TO plan sales accordingly.
Up to the time of Mr.. Bartsch's
visit, there had been a general short
age of rain in South Carolina. In fact,
no rain had fallen in Florida for two
months. 50 this state, while generally
good territory for sales directly after
the tourist season had closed, has turn
ed to one of conservatism on account
Of the drouth.
However. it can be said that condi-
tons are definitely IN the improve
ment side Of the ledger and. with per-
sonal and intensive merchandising ac-
t~ivities. a fair amount of business car
be secured. After September the south
east should improve materially. Watch
North Carolina and birmingham. Ala
~ >, q thaGo SoctinnS nr. roriJlu i'm
proving.
The central south has naturally
been materially effected by the flood
situation in the Mississippi valley.
Unlike Florida. there has been an cx-
cessive mOun of rain and it had been
impossible TO plant crops Of any ma
ture. II seems. however. that the flood
situation subsidized just in the nick of
time for the planting of cotton. there
by greatly Frightening the outlook
throughout the Mississippi valley.
With possibilities Of n cotton short
age and improvement in the weather.
the central south ought to prove fairly
good tor the automotive business. Al
ready the cotton shortage has caused
81 tncieaS" in the price Of stored cot
ton. which has caused the sun TO shine
a little brighter in Alabama, Missis-
tiPBi anu southern tennessee. ,
In the north central district, sur
rounding st. Louis. the coal strike has
materially affected that district and
business is not as good as one might
expect. Naturally. the reaction caused
by the flood in the section south of
81. Louis has slowed up business for
the entire section. but that will be
temporary. AS for the coal strike,
just when that will be over DO one
hazards a guess.
In the Chicago territory. in the
southwest and in the central west,
spring has been about two months be-
hind and has been the cause of a drop !
off in business, which usually peaks
up" in March and April. A late spring |
has also retarded business in the Ohio
territory but good business can be ex-
pected in this territory from now on,
AS the farmers become more
and more optimistic. as they undoubt- !
eddy will, and provided of course that
they secure good crops and good
prices.
Mr.. Bartsch noticed a particularly
intensive activity on the part of "gyp"
battery and tire manufacturers in the
west and middle west, an activity that
bids for the attention of the so called
legitimate manufacturers.
Generally speaking. however. there
is a definite lack of pessimism and a
general looking up. which suggests
that the near future. whila IL cannot !