Evening star., 1923-02-03
AUTO PRODUCTION
AT RAPID PITCH
Ford Orders Indicate Status
of Industry-Price Cutting
Considered Unlikely.
BY ]. C. R0YLE.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
NEW YORK. February 3.-The
Ford Motor Company today has or
ders on its books for $4,000 more
cars than it can build in February.
That is one of the best indications
of the status OF the automobile in
dustry today. Ford dealers have
requisitions on file for 148,000 cars
and trucks for February delivery, but
the Ford production schedule Is being
held down to $4,000 because OF gen
eral conditions affecting manufactur-
ing, such as labor supply, delay in
raw material deliveries and other
factors.
Tne Ford Company. notwithstand-
ing its advantages in the way of OBJ
tanning raw materials, despite the
iact that 1t owns its own railroad,
Is unable to get under way ct the
speed 1t would like to attain. The
company frankly stated today that
tnere Is every prospect of 4 shortage
OF new cars when warm-weather pur-
chasing begins.
Rumblings OF Price Cuts.
There have been rumblings for the
last few days regarding the immi-
| nence of price changes by one or two
big companies. but. taking the Ford
situation as an indicator, IL seems
unbelievable that any large company
VIII soon disturb existing price re-
lations. This opinion was freely ex
pressed today by automotive experts
| in Detroit and other centers. If such
changes are in prospect the officers
of the companies involved are keep
ing their plans profoundly secret
Nearly every large Detroit produc-
q ~ NF AA In
uarys in the history OF the industry
and went into February with pros
poets no less rosy. Steady advances
in steel prices might force prices up
ward If increases in other costs keep
pace.
The automobile experts who look
well in advance into the future are
beginning to concern themselves
result of the recent increase In
demand for closed automobiles IL Is
estimated that this country now
| uses 100000 feet Of glass, a year.
/ The total manufacturing capacity or
the plate glass plants is estimated at
| 100000 feet. With demand swing.
Ing more and more toward the closed
car models, the ability to obtain plate
glass supplies may be key to the
future Of the automobile industry.
Cities After Terminal.
The handling of the export business
| Of the Ford Company is certain to ur-
dergo marked changes. Organization OF
a steamship line to carry the Ford cars
to foreign countries has not yet become
an accomplished fact, but Newport News
and Norfolk are bidding actively against
| each other to bring the Ford export
terminal to their respective cities. In
| this connection Norfolk interests now
are negotiating for the purchase Of the
| Army base at Norfolk
! Advances in gasoline prices are count
| ed on by the oil trade in view Of con-
/ tinued leaps in the quotations for crude.
! Operations Of the steel industry as
! whole are estimated at better than Sc
per cent OF capacity. and scattered ad
! vances in price Of some products is
expected.
The opening Of the international to-
bacco and allied industries exhibit to-
day marked the beginning of strenu
Gus campaign to counteract anti-to-
bacco propaganda throughout the
country. and also a sales effort to pro-
vide adequate markets for the LOSS. .o41,
7s4 pounds of chewing. smoking and ex
| port types Of tobacco in stock in this
! country.
Copyright. 1927