Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1906-10-17
THE AUTOMOBILE INDUSTRY.


could be found in the statistics of
the Department of Commerce and
| Labor.
During the fiscal year just closed
! the manufactures of autos in the
United States has amounted to more
than $26,000,0OO. To this may be
added imports of machines to the
value of 100000.
| The incl case in the use of autos is
| indicated by the fact that in 1900
we manufacture them to the value of
less than 81 100000, and imported
them to less than the amount of
81 100000.
On the other hand, we exported
100000 worth of autos in the last
fiscal year. About half of these went
to Europe and the balance mostly to
Canada, Mexico, the West Indies and
Australia. OF the imports fully two
| thirds came from France and the
remainder from the United Kingdom,
Germany and Italy in about equal pro-
portions.
The industrial effect of the United
States of the increased use of auto
mobiles (while il cannot be fully
measured because of the large mum
Der of people employed in their care,
repair, etc. is indicated in some
degree by the figures of the census,
which show that the number of wage
earners in the automobile manufacs
turing establishments of the country
increased from 2,242 in 1900 to 1929
in 1905; that the wages paid in,
creased from $1,320,65S to $6,17S,59O;
the salaries of officials, clerks, etc.,
from $294,77O to $1,O60,425; and that
the materials used, which of course
largely represent labor, increased
from $1,S04, 2S7 to $11,65S,1 1873.
The importance of the automatical.
ly propelled vehicle in its relation 20
the commercial aud industrial adj
vancement Of this and other coun-
| ties, is perhaps, even greater than
as a mere factor in our maunfactur-
ing activity. This is especially true
of countries and districts where lack
| of transportation whether in the
form of horses, railways or canals,
| has been an obstacle to attempts to
develop mountain, desert and tropi.
cal regions. The fact that the au-
tomobiles, whether built primarily for
passenger or freight transportation.
is being rapidly adopted in these re.
gions where other facilities are
scarce, suggests great possibilities in
production and commerce through
their use.
Reports from the American consuls
and others have shown the practical
! application of the auto in many of
the comparatively undeveloped coun,
tries, especially in the tropics, in
| Guiding Mexico, the West Indies
South America Africa, India, the
Malay peninsula Java, China, Japan
and the Philippines, all of them sec,
tons in which animal power for
transportation is scarce and devel,
cpment delayed by reason thereof.
But it is not necsssary to look 50
far afield to see the increasing adap.
ton. 1t was said that the auto win.
dicated itself during the kdays fol-
lowing the great fire IN San Fran
cisco. That was merely an instance
ia point. 1t is vindicating itself every
| day in all parts of the country An
| illustration of increasing recognition
CT its value i afforded locally by the
| decision of our municipal authorities
t. procure an automobile for police
and ambulance purposes. That is in
line with progress in other cities Of
| the Union
AS the bicycle had its influence
| in extending the radius of industrial
residence in and around our cities,
so the auto is extending the radius
of suburban residence for the well.
to-do classes. It's application to the
uses of tradesmen and draymen IS
another hint of it's increasing import.
ave.
For ordinary pleasure of business
riding the use OF the auto is increas-
lag by leaps and bounds. No statis-
tics are needed to establish that
fact. 1t is one of daily demonstra-
ton.
| IN view OF LneSe commercial, indus
trial and utilitarian facts, opposition
to the automobiles must necessarily
disappear 1t will not answer to say
that it frightens horses. So do rail.
road trains and electric cars. So dill
bicycles. But no one now a days
thinks of objecting to these facilities
Of transportation on that ground; or
if they do. their objections meet with
scant consideration.
Ncr is it to the point to argue that
reckless autoists endanger human
life and limb So do other means OF
transportation unless carefully man.
aged. And there is the point of the
matter. 1t is not the use, but the
abuse of the auto that is dangerous.
So the sooner chauffeurs learn to
distinguish use from abuse. the soon.
er the auto will be generally accepted
as a public utility of undeniable
value.
MaA 4