San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-02-04
FORD CANNOT
GET PLANT UP.
To HIGH SPEED.
Company's February Pro-
duction Will Be $4,000
Machines Short.
NEED PLATE GLASS.
Steel Price Advances May
Force Automobile !
Prices Up.
NEED PLATE GLASS
BY j. c. ROYLE.

New York, Feb. 3.-The Ford Com
pany today has orders on its books for
$4,000 more cars than it can build in
February. That is one of the best indi-
cations of the status of the automO-
bile industry today. Ford dealers have
acquisitions on file for 14S,000 cars and
trucks for February delivery, but the
Ford production schedule is being held
jdown TO 10000 because of general con-
dtions affecting manufacturing, such
as labor supplies, delay in raw ma
teriaI deliveries and other factors.
The Ford Company, Notwithstanding
its advantages in the way of obtaining
raw materials and despite the fact that
it owns It's own railroad, is unable to
get under way at the speed it would like
to attain. The company frankly stated
today that there is every prospect of
shortage of new cars when warm wealth
er purchasing begins.
There have been rumblings for the
last few days regarding the imminence
of price changes by one or two big
companies, but taking the Ford situa-
ltion as an indicator, it seems unbeliev
able that any large company will soon
disturb existing price relations. This
opinion was freely expressed today by
automotive experts in Detroit and 9th
er centers. If such changes are in pros
ipect the officers of the companies in
lyolved are keeping their plans profound
ly secret
Best Motor Industry January.
4 Nearly every large Detroit producer
has enjoyed one of the best Januarys in
fthe history of the industry, and went
into February with prospects no less
rosy. Steady advances in steel prices
Knight force prices upward if increases
Pin other costs keep pace.
The automobile experts, who look well
Pin advance into the future, are begin
sning to concern themselves about the
Supply of plate glass. As result of
bthe recent increase in demand for closed
automobiles. it is estimated that this
country now uses 100000 feet of
glass year. The total manufacturing
capacity of the city plate glass plants
y sxestimated at II 100000 feet With
lemaRd swinging more and more to-,
ward the closed car models, the ability
. obtain plate glass supplies may be
key to the future of the automobile in
| Elustry
The handling of the export business
| Nbf the Ford Company is certain to I'M
lergo marked changes. Organization
sADf a steamship line TO carry the Ford
lars to foreign countries has not yet
| Become an accomplished fact, but New
bort News and Norfolk are bidding
hctlvely against each other TO bring the
| ford export terminal TO their re-
|Mpective cities. In this connection, Nor
Itolk interests now. are negotiating for
lK he purchase of the army base at Nor
| Sok
The opening of additional lines of
Eorsteds by the American Wooden Com
bany Monday, undoubtedly will show
idyanccs in prices similar to those
hOwn for woolens and the already
Htrong raw wool market is expected
b attain additional strength from this
aetof.
Gas Price Advances.
Advances in gasoline prices are
founted on by the oil trade in view of
continued leaps in the quotations for
Srudc. Operations of the steel indus
Try as whole are estimated at bet
er than Sc per cent of capacity, and
catered advance in price of sumo !
lroducts is expected.
Demand for paints, has not been
lhecked, nor has the output of the paint (
slants been lessened. as a result of the !
igher prices and stronger position of
liz lead |
Preparatory buying for the Easter !
fade dry goods trade has been all |
hat the wholesalers hoped for.
The opening of the international to- |
bcco and allied industries exhibit to-
lIy marked the beginning of a siren |
pus campaign to counteract anti-to-i
bcco propaganda throughout the coun-
~ and also a sales effort to provide
llequate markets for the 1,06S041, TS4 |
1lnds of chewing. smoking and export
pes of tobacco, in stock in this coun-
II.