The Washington times., 1923-04-12
By w. s. COUSINS.


copyright, 1923. by Cosmopolitan
News Service)
NEW YORK, April 12.-Practical-
~ without exception, the manufac'
turers Of passenger cars and motor
trucks have been and now are en-
joying one Of the most prosperous
seasons.
The expansion of domestic trade
and business has greatly enlarged
the field of usefulness for the motor
truck, while the prosperity resulting
therefrom has enabled thousands of
) American families to enjoy the
comforts and convenience furnished
by the automobile. Though COM
petition between the various com.
panies has resulted in a considerable
marking down of prices for popular
models, the bulk production and the
systematizing of the manufacturing
of accessories has been an important
factor in reducing the cost of pro-
duction.
Huge Production Figures.
Figures compiled by the Auto
mobile Chamber Of Commerce show
that in 1920 the total output of
passenger automobiles was 1883, 158
and of motor trucks S22, 039. In
1921, the year of general depression,
the output Of passenger automobiles
had declined to 1,514,000 and OF
trucks 70 154,54O. But these records
were completely shattered in 1922
when 2,334,790 passenger cars and
about 100000 trucks were produced
and distributed by American manu-
&Acturers.
DESPITE this enormous output,
however, many Of the representative
manufacturers Of automobiles have
been unable to keep pace with the
demands Of their customers, and at
the opening Of the New Year the
automobile selling trade was clamor-
ing for thousands Of cars to meet
their most urgent demands. Taking
the hint from the selling end OF the
industry, manufacturers made every
effort to speed up production and
in the first three months of 1923
turned out S24,507 cars, indicating
this years production may reach
5000, 900 cars. In the month OF
March alone, however, production
was nearly $4,000 and orders were
so far ahead Of production that
manufacturers set a goal Of 100000
cars for April.
Over 100000 Registered.
The present registration of auto
mobiles in the United States is
12,3S,375, which theoretically allows
one car for every second family.
In view Of the fact. however, that
some of the weather. families are
operating upward of twenty auto
mobiles each, 1t will be seen that
a good many thousand families are
still without this popular means of
transportation.
The General Motors Corporation,
the second largest producer in the
country, turned out 214,799 cars in
1921 and 456.763 cars in 1922, the
financial results of which converted
a $44,49O, 900 deficit in 1921 to a
surplus of $45.066, 900 in 1922. The
Studebaker Company, which pro-
duced 1864 cars in 1921, turned
earnings increased from $10,271 900
claring a special stock dividend Of
rs per cent, the Studebaker Corpor.
alton advanced it's cash disburse-
ment from So to SO q share, and
as the result of it's extremely
profitable operation in the first
quarter Of 1923 has appropriated
over 100000 to the extension of
its plant.
The Ford Motor Company bids
fair to realize it's ambition to pro-
duce 5000 cars a day. In 1921 this
most prolific producer of gasoline
wagons manufactured about mil
lion cars, tractors and trucks, and
its 1922 production amounted to
1851 1888. For the first quarter Of
1928, however, it produced 389 900
cars, compared with 100000 in the
first quarter of 1922. Almost tden-
teal conditions prevail with the
other important producers of auto.
mobiles, including the Willys-Over-
land, Hudson, Paige, Chandler, Mack
Truck, Maxwell, Packard and Pierce
Arrow companies.
Accessory Trade Booms.
Closely related to the manufac-
turers of automobiles are the pro-
ducers Of accessories such as carbu.
retors, tires, tops and coverings, en-
gines, brake Innings, ETC., In all of
which business has enormously in
creased since the middle of 1921. The
stock market record of the securities
of these companies has been a fairly
reliable barometer of their varying
fortunes, and in practically every
instance the record has been an ex.
tremely favorable one. Among the
more active stocks in this class are
the American Bosch Magnetic,
Stromberg Carburetor, Stewart. War.
ner Speedometer, Fisher Body and
Kelsey Wheel.
Manufacturers of tires have beer
confronted with a number of seri
GUS problems, but none more i'm
portant than that of securing theiI
necessary supplies of raw rubber
Since more than Is per cent of raw
sugar is produced in the colonies
Of the British empire. and with ex
portation restricted by the so-calleC
Stephenson plan of the British gov
eminent, American rubber manu-
facturers have been giving serious
consideration to the possibility o
opening up new sources of produc
ton for this most necessary com
modify. They have secured tn
cooperation of the American Gov
eminent which, with the aid of
100000 Congressional appropria
ton, will make a thorough invest
cation with a view to deveIooin
new areas for production of crud
rubber supplies. Tire manufac
turers estimate that over 10000, 90
tires will be necessary to meet tn
requirements OF the automobil
trade during the coming year.