The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-11-16
Al TO HOHIIES ~ ROPE.
Chances for American Machines Abroad
France SIN Leads.


An Interesting report upon the auto
mobile indust ~ in Europe has just been
issued by the Bureau Of Foreign Commerce
Of the State Depart en' in Washington.
The facts given We're obtained from the
United States Consul
One Of the chief obstacles to the sale
of American made autos abroad II the high
duty levied by several of the European
countries upon imported vehicles Nat
uraliy. also. more or less difficulty is found
10y Foreigners in repairing the American
product Then the laws of some count ries,
notably Germany, require automobiles to
possess certain features not commonly en-
bodied in the machines made in the United
States The reports Of the Consuls show,
nevert heess, that there is an increasing
appreciation all over Europe OF Uncle
Sans machines.
France stll leads in he industry. There
are over 10000 automobiles in Paris alone.
One firm of French makers has received
orders for machines TO he delivered in
1904 amounting TO nearly half a million
dollars, and the orders of several other
concerns are similarly large.
There il little chance. says Consul-Gen-
ersl Gowdv, for American manufacturers
| To invade the French territory unless they
! can produce machines which will COM
| pete, both in construction and price, with
| the native product. The general import
| duty on automobiles in France il Sll IS on
| 100 Kilograms ego pounds.
Under the presen' tarf, he duty on
| motor vehicles in GERMANY, whose au-
| tOmObile industry now rivals hat OF France,
| il 81 90 on go pounds. 4 bll now IN the
| Reichslag increases the d'rv 10 scale
ranging from Si78 to &5 10
| Two years ago the number of automo-
| biles in Austria was $50, now IT Is l,oh.
| The duty amount, to $50 ~ for each ma =
chine, with an additional duty on motor
| Of S.3i for each 100 Kilograms. Horse I,
| less carriages in that country bring goo
prices. $3.50 being paid for those capablH
| of high speed
The Aust rnn Government has latel
shown a keen interest in the development
| of automobiles for military purposes. IT.
| has ordered six large and heavy vehicles
| for military use, which are to cost u 500
each and are to be capabl" of carrying
| 500 bounds The Austrian State rail-
wav- have also ordered automobile car
| riages for their narrow gauge roads.
In Belgium there il little demand Tor
| heavy machines those most popular beng
OF from six TO twelve horse power, and
| selling al from 81 40 TO 5000. The duty
on automobiles in Belgium is II per cent.
| ad valorem.
Spain now has four automobile factories
| whose vehicles are from six 10 eight horse
| power ana sell AT less IMAM $l,obO edCn
| Most Of the machines imported by that
| country are Of greater power and capacity
| than those made there The import duty
| varies from tl4i1j to slssis for carriages
| with two seats, and from Sl93 to 500 ~
for those with four seats. Spain imposes
an annual tax on automobiles OF SID 40
each. and a small tax per seat, in addition.
| Denmark had only four autos year and
a half ago; now il has over a hundred.
Holland has shown an unmstakable liking
for the machines, particularly those OF
American make
| Italy has few manufact urer; but
| most Of it, vehicles come from France.
| The Russians find no fault with the auto.
mobile but Chauficus there find no END
Of fault with the highways, the condition
of which seriously retards the industry.
Great Britain places no import duty on
automobiles, and consequently offers an
cNce cnj field for competition. The do
nestle manufacturers, being totally unable
To supply he demand upon them, have
| advanced their prices
Practically no automobiles are found in
Canada
| The reports show decided revllsion
against the hig, high power vehicles, and
n sentiment, corrcspondingy strong. IN
favor OF the smaller model.