Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1910-10-02
GEMS AND AUTOS COMPARED
R. A. Palmer of Cartercar Company
Gives Figures on Both.
BIG MONEY SPENT ON JEWELS
Auto Man shows Difference Between
Expenditure on Diamonds and
That on Automobile
Diamonds Get Most.

while all this talk is being passed along
about the great extravaganza OF the nation
in buying automobiles" said r. A. Palmer.
secretary and general manager Of the
Cartercar company. Il find It very inter-
esting to look into the matter Of other ex-
travagances and make comparisons. For
the time being, we will admit that the
automobile is nothing more than a luxury
the plaything Of the rich.
How does the amount Of money put into
them compare with the amount spent for
other Injuries? We need nothing more ac-
curate than government records. stats
tics are looked upon with a shudder and
listened to with deaf ear by the average
person, and for that reason few realize
what is spent They never look it up. But
they imagine the automobile Is an excep-
uon. 1t is a case similar to the habit some
are said to have of not liking to look ex-
penses in the face
1T 10 an indisputable fact, however that
there was brought into this country alone
from other nations last year luxuries which
amounted to the total sum of $3.50, 900 600
While these stupendous figures are in mind
remember that the total vaius ton Of the
automobiles built IN America during the
same time was only S1S5, 10000 or a littlc
more than half as much.
LuNuricH from Abroad
with still greater interest it is noted
that Of this amount spent for luxurles from
other countries, three articles, each worn
purely as decorations, viz:-diamonds, laces
and embroldenes. cost the buyers Of this
country at retail at least slS6 100000. This
alone would buy all OF the automobiles built
here. And but a very little of this amount
was paid back for American labor, while
over half that which is paid for automobiles
aoes back into salaries and is thus passed
,I and on.
These figures are only for one year
sull. this expense has been going on year
after year. and no one has said word
about IT,
The most interesting thing about It is
that the automobile is not a luxury nor
rich INNS play thing. 1t is so classed in
instances. but there are five cases where
1t is a necessity to one where it is not.
The family that lives a few miles from
town has used horses an carriages for
years, MAbey have always owned the best
horses vthey could afford. In instances
farmers have driven teams worth $l,O00
and carriage worth from 500 to 500 more.
Now these people drive automobiles and
save horsefesh and time
There are hundreds of men in cities
who are doing just double the work they
were able to accomplish before they owned
an automobile. Is it an extravaganza for
such people TO own a car? In almost every
office in every large city a few years ago
were pale-faced, puny, ,ickly looking fell
lows who were called men. They tried all
kinds of exercises TO make health. Look
over the pages Of the magazines of those
days and notice the many advertisements
OF patented devices and schools to make
men grow healthy. And these schools
thrived.
Auto Brings Good Health.
What has been the result since the auto
mobile has been brought within the reach
of thousands of these people? They are
stout, husky chaps with muscles of iron
and brown upon their cheeks which equals
their country brothers. 'Red-blooded' has
become a term which is much in vogue.
Did you ever hear 1t before the automo-
bile arrived?
But 1t isn't the office man who gets
the benefit His family accompanies him
when he rides after office hours The re-
suit is a great Improvement in health. In
stead OF month Of fresh air during the
summer vacation, It is a delightful trip
daily. Yes, possibly a suburban home all
the time. Who ever knew Of diamonds or
OF aces doing this good-or OF any other
good outside of gratifying a desire for dis
play? The automobile is indeed a factor
in American life which cannot be removed
1t is there to stay and will last as long
a. the world stands or until some more
improved method of transporting ndivid-
uals from place to place quickly and eco
nUmically can be~devised Few are they
who, once owning an automobile, go back
to the horse and carriage Voluntar ily"