Evening star., 1924-04-04
AUTO TO THE FORE
IN MIDDLE WEST
Increased Car Manufacture
Strong Factor in Gauging
Industrial Activity.
by j. C. ROYLE.

Special Dispatch to The Star
NEW YORK, April 4.-The business
men of the middle west and. indeed,
of the whole country. have been put
ting the micrometer on the auto
The manufacture of motor cars has
assumed such Importance in the pro-
duction and sale of raw materials
and has such an influence on other
business today that they are watch
Ing every move which may bear on
their own schedules and prospects.
There is no question but that these
observations have shown that a
slump made its appearance in motor
manufacture two weeks ago. There
has been no dependable evidence of
serious curtailment in automobile
output. There were indications, how
ever, that the producers of some of
the higher priced cars and of spe-
cialties might have to hold down
production for April. May and June
to the level which has obtained
since January /. The leading manu-
facturers of the more popular priced
makes. however. have steadily insist
ed that they saw their way clear and
were confident that the turn of the
spring weather would bring an
avalanche of buying orders.
Large Stock in Dealers Hands.
That flood of orders is more neces-
sary this year than ever before be-
cause stocks in the hands of dealers
are admittedly larger than ever in
the history Of the industry. The
leading producers say this rush is
hai att
tude has been confirmed by the fact
that every clear, bright. warm day
has been followed by an uprush of
retail buying orders.
Many irresponsible statements have
made their appearance, which alarmed
business throughout the country. a
lay-off some time ago of 500 Buick
workmen was expanded to 5000. a
diminution of the Ford force of less
than 300 was magnified 10 10000 dis
rnissalS, and its basis was only a
change in factory machinery and rep
resented a purely temporary condi-
ton.
Spring May See Change.
1t is entirely possible that the late
spring may entirely change the pres
ent prospects. Unless demand Is con-
sistent production for the next sixty
to ninety days necessarily must be
curtailed to allow present stocks OF
of purchasers. However, according
to the views of axle and wheel man
ufacturerS. who govern their move
menta closely on demand, the slump
is beginning to wane.
The Timken Detroit Axle Company,
one of the largest manufacturers OF
parts declared today its customers
were taking aXleS at the same rate as
earlier in the year. They claim there
has been no perceptible shrlnkase'
al -
nounces that April Will be record
month, so far as its production is con-
cerned.
Ford and Studebaker are crying for
deliveries of parts. The HUDSON Motor
Cumpany's figures for March showed
an output of 1870 cars, compared
with 1000 for February, while the
April schedule of this concern calls
for an outturn of 1900. The Dodge
Brothers dealers report for last wee
showed ar. actual shortage of cars IN
dealers hands. The Ford Company
this week is again taking on few
new employees and the Ford April
schedule will approximate pr0duc-
ton close to $4,000, compared with
10000 for March.
Two Admit Curtailment.
To date only two companies in De-
troit admit curtailment from the
March level and these Suppleme ent
the announcement by the statement
that sales conditions have improved
slightly in the last few days.
Conditions are still spotty, with
some companies showing slight losses
in sales. and others, Ford among
them, gaining. The Ford report for
the last ten days Of March shows as
many actual retail deliveries as dur
ing the first twenty days of the
month. Some sales departm ents
maintain that ten days OF warm sun
shine throughout the country would
clean up all surplus stocks.
Whatever may have been the effect
of the weather on domestic sales, the
foreign demand for American cars
has been steadily maintained This
is shown by the real anxiety ex-
pressed by manufacturers as to
whether there actually was enough
American vessel tonnage to take care
of all export auto shipments under
the preferential rate provisions OF
the merchant marine act, sch heduled tC