Show SLUMP IN THE AUTO BUSINESS Bottom Seems to Have Dropped Out Notwithstanding Boosting Efforts of Manufacturers New York Indications Indications point to the bottom having fallen out of the auto auto- I I mobile The manufacturers It is reported in trade circles are making strenuous efforts to keep up upa a n. show of ot continued prosperity but It is also said that they are not sellIng sell sell- Ing lug their product but are storing machines machines machines ma ma- chines throughout the country at their various agencies to prevent the public public pub pub- lic lie realizing the true conditions of the market Several large concerns are laying of off men and giving all sorts of reasons reasons rea rea- sons Eons for so doing except the statement statement statement state state- ment that they are overstocked Two or Dr three of ot the largest factories recently recently recently re re- re- re closed entirely ostensibly for forthe forthe forthe the purpose of taking inventory but the workmen were not given any definite defInite def def- mite time at nt at which to again report for work and it is not expected that these factories will again be in operation operation operation oper oper- this year A well known automobile agent of this city said yesterday that all cars would undoubtedly be selling at from Crom 25 per cent to 50 per cent less than present list prices within the next two or 11 three months He added The trouble with the automobile business Is that the farmers and people people peo peo- pie of or the smaller cities and towns have not taken as kindly to the Idea as was anticipated The farmers farmer find that the cost of keeping them In repair repair re re- re- re pair pall and operation is more than the tho cost of or keeping horses to perform the same ame work and wJ while Ue there was for fora a time time a tendency among the farmers Carmels to Invest in the machines the for cars from froni this class of buyers has practically stopped and I venture to say we will not again sell to the farmers farmers farm farm- ers to any extent until prices are materIally materially ma ma- reduced |