Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1909-10-13
Americas, Ga, October Is, 1909.
HOW CAN THEY AFFORD 1T!

The thought suggests itself. in any
town, while watching the numerous
automobiles running about the streets,
how many of the owners of these ex-
pensive machines really are in fl
nancial position to justify such an ex-
penditure for this pleasure. delightful
though it undoubtedly is?
An automobile is undoubtedly an
expensive acquisition to any establish
ment 1t has been computed by the
experts that under the most favorable
of conditions it represents an outlay
of at least $50 a month. The query of
course is, are there not many invest
ing in this luxury who have no moral
right to expend $50 month in such a
way, upon whom there are other de-
mands that are more legitimate and
more pressing and of far greater i'm
portance?
The life of such a machine, to the
average man, is five or six years. Ad-
hitting that car is run for six years,
and that its original cost was $1,000,
this means an outlay per annum of
5000. To this must be added the in
terest at per cent on the investment,
or $72. Then there is the repair bill,
which after the first year is apt to be
quite heavy, with the necessity for
new tires, etc. If the average man
gets off with SO a month for the
small repairs, tires and necessary at
tention to his machine he is a marvel.
But that makes another 1920 year.
And then there comes the operating
expense. and 5000 year will easily
be eaten up in that. Here is 5000
gone in a year, and it is the excep-
| tional man, indeed, who keeps the
items down to these figures.
Automobiling, too, adds additional
| expenses outside of the machine.
Friends are taken out, and that means,
quite frequently, the treating of them.
| This is an item that few consider but
that may mean a serious burden to an
already overtaxed pocket.
The man who has saved enough
money to buy an automobile, and who
has to back it a salary Of only 800
or 1925 a month, had better, it would
seem, look long and earnestly into the
future before he takes the plunge.
| nbaca1 0e +ha 20
craze, the Wall Street Gazette wond-
ers how it is that persons of known
moderate means are able to display
themselves in rushing over the roads
and through the streets in the devil
| wagons
1t takes note that from various parts
of the country, and particularly in
the rural districts and small towns,
questions are asked as to the great
number of automobiles that are seen
on the roads. 1t is declared that in
many cases the money they represent
| is that which formerly was saved up
| to buy comfortable and modest homes,
and it means that thousands of per-
sons will be rent payers instead of
home owners in years to come and
that many of them may be forced
down in times of dull business from a
life of moderate comfort into the class
of the permanent poor
If the savings of men of small sal
airy are going into OUTLAWS for recrea-
ton and diversion of a temporary
character rather than into permanent
| improvements in home buildings or
| the savings bank the people now prof
| iting from the diversion may not be
doing themselves any good turn. They
/ are taking hazards with the future,
| hoing that as needs develop they may
be able to increase their incomes to
meet the cost of living on an auto
mobile basis.
| 1t is difficult to be wise in the midst
OF poverty. The desire OF persons
with small means to bloom out in
some enjoyment that is only attain
| able with money sometimes grows be-
yond control, and wher /; ~ suffer in
consequence of such Indulgence they
deserve a great deal Of sympathy and
pity And, after all, We only learn
| by hard experience.