The Washington times., 1923-10-31
AUTO FACTORIES
RUNA FULL
CAPACITY
Great Tension Exists Within
the Industry, However, Con-
cerning Next Year.
By MARSHALL b. WALKER,
Cosmopolitan News Service.

CO8mOpOlthn NOWS CCAbAOSs
DETROIT. Mich, Oct. 31.-Ihe
end of October sees the motor in
dustry running true to 1928 form.
With only two months left of the
most prosperous year in history,
manufacturers are thinking ana
acting more in preparation for the
New Year Meanwhile production
is keeping up to and, in several
instances, is exceeding expectations
of few weeks ago.
Externally, these next two months
are expected to appear quiet, but
inside the organizations there IS
great tension. Talk of prospects
every indication it will be g. banner
year for most of the companies.
those who watch the industry pre-
dict that for a few 1924 will bring
hardships, and only mighty efforts
can prevent some of the more un.
stalAs companies from going to the
wall.
Other Markets Watched.
Every one is watching his step
in laying plans for the next year,
and although domestic city demand
is receiving its share of attention,
manufacturers eyes are turning
more and more to foreign fields
and the rural districts.
The biggest foreign sales will be
in South America and Europe.
Recent years of efforts to improve
rural highways, coupled with the
increasing interest with which farm.
via iVRep 1nA Ii
Is expected to result in far
greater demand for autos from
the country districts.
So far as October is concerned,
plants are operating on relatively
high schedules. No attempt is
being made to approach the rec
ords of spring months. Conditions
in general are far better than in
the corresponding period a year
ago and no more than the GUS
tomary slowing up is looked for the
remainder of the year.
Sales during the last quarter are
not expected to maintain the high
volume of summer, but production
is steady and will continue until
the first of the year when both
output and sales are expected to
pick up considerably.
Studebaker's South Bend, Ind,
plant now is operating on a five.
days a week schedule ana me
of the higher grade workers who
were let out a few weeks ago have
returned to work, Due to the
heavy demand for closed cars.
which is being felt among all
makers. the Detroit Studebaker
plant is operating on a full sched.
ule.
Packard Speeds up.
Packard's October production is
expected to exceed that of the
corresponding month last year.
Hupp was to complete shipment
of 5000 cars before October 81, or
200 more than the schedule set the
first of the month. November pro-
duction will be close to 5000, as com
pared with 1,S43 last November.
Dealers are reported to be selling
az fast as shipments arrive. The
plants at Jackson, Mich; Racine,
Wis.,. and two In Detroit are at ca.
pacity production
Willys-Overland announced that
October output would total Is, 900 in
stead of 1900, as stated earlier, 12,-
900 already having been made up to
a week ago.
in excess of Al 200, and Lincoln has
set a new record of PIT cars for the
last week.
Liberty is increasing production,
and Columbia, which recently
bought Liberty. is bringing output
nearly to normal
Buick Expects Gain.
Buick expects October production
will exceed September.
REQ sales this year will total
$50, 900 900, it is stated unofficially.
Interesting announcements con-
corning the industry made during
the week were: Ford OF Canada de-
clared the long expected dividend of
10 per cent, payable November 10,
to stock of record November 5;
Packard net earnings for the fiscal
year ending August 81, were 81, ,0S1,-
499, a gain of $4,965,6 ,673 over the
previous year; Carl E. Johansson,
world-famous precision measure
ment authority, has assumed an ex-
ecutive position with the Ford COM
pany, which has obtained American
rights to make Johansson's fine
measurement Instruments; condi-
tions in the used-car field are i'm
proving, dealers facing less heavy
losses