Evening star., 1935-05-26

quarter of last year reveals that
throughout the year the total !
proXimately 565,000 units.
While there are many factors that
indicate that the present ratio of sales
this year to last year should be con-
tinued. it seems almost too much to
hope that a total of $4,000 would be
reached this year. Nevertheless, these
figures seem definitely to indicate that
the former 1929 record of 527,057 will
be beaten by a wide margin and it
seems safe TO estimate that the total
for 1885 will run between 200 and
$4,000 units.
One of the chief sustaining factors
IN the 1885 truck market, of course,
will be Government expenditures under
the S4 800 900 900 works relief measure.
Added to this will be the impetus
given to other enterprises through the
increased flow of Government money
and the reflected gains in general
business during the past year.
Federal housing work, farm relief
work, drought relief work, flood con-
troll work plus Civilian Conservation
Corps activities, all of which have
been in progress during the past year,
should prove dominant factors in
strengthening the truck demand dur
ing the remainder of 1885 In addi-
ton to the spending by Government
agencies a general upturn in business
has brought with it need for re-
habilitation of production facilities,
which in turn creates a demand for
increased transportation, including
new trucks, trailerS and tractors.
Automobile manufacturing breathed
a composite sigh of relief when news
of the Toledo strike settlement was
broadcast. The effect of it was to
start more than 81 900 persons on the
way back to work and to allow IL fac
tories in 10 cities to resume production,
so states North American Newspaper
Alliance report, which continues:
The end of hostilities allows the in
duStry to retain the "open shop" prin-
ciple unchanged, with wage and other
concessions made to workers acting
on their own collective responsibility.
Credit for the peace has been ac-
corded to William S. Knudsen, execu-
tive vice president of General Motors,
by the chief executives of other fac
tories. whose interests lay at stake
during the tie-up period. KnudSen's
attitude likewise got the praise of
F. j. Dillon, organizer for the A. F.
of L., for prudence and statesman
ship"
The strike in the Toledo plant, which
builds transmissions for the Chevrolet
Motor Co., lasted three weeks. Its
effects had caused shutdowns in Gin
cinnati, Cleveland, Atlanta, GAINESVILLE,
Wis: Fort Smith, Ark: Kansas City,
st. Louis, Baltimore and Tarrytown,
N. Y. Had it continued much longer.
more than 100000 persons would have
been idle and many other plants would
have been put out of production dur
ing season in which automobile
manufacturing is leading other indus
tries in recovery.
One of the main consequences was
reduction of the Chevrolet Co.'S
production by more than $4,000 units
during the week ending May IL. The
volume previously had been main
tained at around $4,000 units per
week. Five out of nine assembly
plants underwent brief Shutdowns.
Agitation for the use of alcohol made
from agricultural products as blend
with gasoline in future automotive
fuel has been renewed as one result
of the conference of agriculture, in
dustry and science held recently at
Henry Ford'S Dearborn Inn. The pro-
posals, originating with Midwestern
agricultural and university represent
ativeS, met with prompt rejoinder from
spokesmen for the Petroleum Indus
tries Committee and the American
Petroleum Institute.
The discussion, which recently took
place, was anticipated on the previous
day when the institute called upon
the Chemical Foundation to join in an
investigation of the relative merits of
alcohol-blend and straight gasoline.
To finance it, AXtell j. Byles, the in
Stitute president, suggested to Francis
p. Garvin, head of the Chemical
Foundation, that both organizations
share the expense, estimated at
$4,000.
In letter to Garvin, Byles said the
petroleum industry did not share the
optimism of the Chemical Foundation
as to alcohol-gasollne blends.
Neither can our industry conceive
of any public benefit which might
accrue as a result of the proposal to
make mandatory the blending of al
cohol with gasoline" the letter added.
Byles cited results of several tests of
blended fuels made year or more
ago. One, conducted by the contest
board of the American Automobile
Association, in cooperation with pro-
moters of blended fuel, resulted in a
report to the effect that blended fuels
were more expensive and less satisfac-
tory than straight gasoline.
As his first major move, since TAX
ing office, in his campaign to make the
Maryland highways safer for motorists
and pedestrians, Walter r. Rudy,
motor vehicle commissioner, an
nounces the Inauguration of courtesy
week throughout the State, beginning
today and continuing through June 2.
An annual custom in Maryland,
courtesy week is a call to the citizens
of the State to do their part in re-
ducing the number of accidents that
spread death, injury and destruction
on the highways, said Mr.. Rudy. He
pointed out that the purpose OF the
approaching campaign was to concen-
trate the attention of motorists upon
their attitude toward each other and
the general public.
Courtesy week is entirely In the
hands of the public" commented Mr..
Rudy. There are no inspections, no
restrictions and no requirements. It is
simply an appeal to all drivers to be
courteous to each other and to the