San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-08-24
More Careful Selection Of
Workers Has a Good
Effect.
FORD BOOSTS OUTPUT
Car Manufacturers Watch
Henry for Price
Changes.
BY j. {. RONLE.

Copysisht by the San Antonio Light.
New York. Aug. 2S.-Although the
price Of copper continues to hover
around the 1l-cent mark, one of the
chief problems of the mine owners of
the West has been solved
Efficiency or labor n the mines has
shawn marked improvement and now
is higher than at any time since the
mines were closed down during the de-
preston of 1921.
This is due, mine executives say. to
the fact that since the purchases Of
silver under the Pittman act ceased
some months ago, silver producers have
been making more careful selection OF
labor. retaining only the best men.
The result has been a distinct gain
in general efficiency.
Domestic consumption of the red
metal las been sustained by the ire
menlous electrificat' and power
projects under way and by building
construction although the increased
competition is giving keen anxiety to
eastern manufacturers Of copper prod
ucts.
Made First Copper Rods.
Manufacturers of the Naugatuck
valley in Connecticut and in other Sec
TONS of New England watched with
close attention the formation Of the
Premier Moxley-Mervis Company Of
Chiraro. and the beginning of construc'
ton Of a SiT0.000 copper wire and rod
mill in that city. Until that project
6, Il faI .hara ,,,slf
ufacturing copper rods between the
Nangatuck valley and Montana.
Rumors, still unronfirmed, that the
American Brass Company contem-
plates. erection of copper wire mill
in Kenesha. Wis. also aroused appre-
hension in the East.
Most of the New England manufac-
tnrers. however, have come to the con-
clusion that these projects have
arisen in reply 10 expansion OF
,Afmgnh rather than through the posi-
hility of capturing markets now held
by the eastern makers.
So long as present demand is main
tain9d, they say, there is room for
both.
Tho copper ore producers. however.
reGard tho outlook as uncertain in
view Of the unsettlement in Europe
which normally absorbs the copper
SURVIVE and. together with the owners
Of 'ead and zinc properties, they are
watchins the automobile factories and
bulare construction for any. slacken-
ing in ihe activities of those consuming
industries.
Manufacturers Watch Ford.
As September 1 approaches, the at
tention of the automobile manufactur-
ers is turned toward the Ford company
in the hope of obtaining some linking
as TO whether any change in prices is
contemplated.
Ii is known that the largest pro-
Queer intends to increase production to
10000 ears a day and it is expected
that 49,. 900 Fords will be turned out
in September unless production is in
terfered with by slight change in the
model
Orders still total above 2O00Oo.
Although there have been no changes
in the prices of cars in the Ford class.
sentiment in the trade is that any
change by Ford viii be quickly fol-
lowed by the others.
The majority of the Detroit plants
are again nearing cap; ity production,
the increase being due largely to de-
mand for the new models.
The August output will compare
favorably with some OF the banner
spring months and September's out
turn will be higher still.
The present daily production record
indicates better than anything else that
there is no slump in the industry.
pAfhe care with which manufacturers
are studying conditions may be est-
mated by the fact that the Chevrolet
Company has 3SS field men reports
cendtio by telegraph each MoLG-y.
Question Commissions Powers.
Close students of the anthracite coal
situation indicated belief today that
efforts by the Federal Coal Commits
sion TO fix the blame for failure OF
operators and miners to reach an
agreement might be followed by legal
action against the commission by the |
rarty on which culpability is placed. |
The commission, they pointed out. was !
formed on the r.ght and wrongs of pol
sihle controversies.
Attempts to "fix the blame" some |
believe, would therefore place the COM
mission in the position Of exceeding its
mowers and lay it liable TO court.