Evening star., 1924-09-15
AUTO SALES TAKE
Downward SLANT
Drop Only sIight-PIants
More ACtiVe-Demand for
Copper Gains.
by =. &. ROYLE.

SpF 'ial llspath 10 ne SsaF.
NEW YORK, September l5.-The
general trend of automobile sales TO
the public appears from Geographic
reports from manufacturing centers
TO have taken slight downward
slant in the last fortnight. This
does not apply to the Ford company,
the average sales of which have in
creased until they are now running
at the rate Of 1000 cars a day. These
figures compare with a 1000 daily av
crage in the latter part of August.
Ford officials said today that their
dealers were beginning to wire for
extra shipments and that the agri-
cultural sections of the country
seemed to be waking up. Based on
T.. turns to date. they expect Ford
sales for September to exceed those
for any September in the history Of
the company.
Improvement in sales to dealers
is reported also by the General
Motors Corporation. Distribution of
General Motors cars and trucks to
consumers in August totaled 54,l4a.
the smallest number recorded for any
month since February. but only 1858
less than the total for August, 1928
This is Il decided gain over the com
rariSon between consumer sales for
Motors corporation sales TO dealers
IN August rose to $3.50. the highest
point reached since April.
Plants More Active.
The advance in activity in the Mich
igdn automobile factories is strik-
incly evidenced by the increased ap-
plication for workmen's compen-
Sation insurance. One of the largest
insurance companies in the state de-
clareS pay rolls are increas sing every
where, and that the largest increase
IN policies is among the automobile
companies. although the paper indus
try also has been making advances.
Activity in numbering and mining
throughout the country as ii whole is
indicated by the orders received by
one Lansing company making four
wheel drive truck intended particu-
larly for difficult hauling incident to
numbering. mining and building con-
struction work. This company asserts
It's recent orders have been large and
inquiries numerous
Shipment of raw materials and ma
chinery into the automobile plants
has been on the increase. Few peo-
pie realize the replacement costs
which modern automobile shop prac-
tice has forced on the industry Cen
eral purpose equipment has been re-
placed almost entirely by special ma
chimes designed for some special
operation in manufacture. There is
scarcely piece of equipment to be
found in Il motor car factory today
which was in use seven years ago.
Increased Call for Metals.
Every time new model is brought
out. new machines must be designed
and installed to produce it. The same
applies to tools used in the factories
"Tooling up" for d new model fire.
quently means an expense running
into the hundreds of thousands of
dollars. Once that model is aban-
doned the tools must be scrapped also.
Improvement in purchases of raw
and semi-tniShed materials by auto
mobiles is reported both by steel
manufacturers and brass and copper
producers. River traffic usually is
considered an accurate barometer of
business in the great Pittsburgh steel
district. but although mills are known
to be operating at an increased rate
compared with six weeks ago, river
shipments in the last month fell off
5000 tons. When this was checked
up. however, it was found that new