Los Angeles herald., 1910-04-17
FOREIGN TRADE IN
AUTOS HAS GROWN
United States Sells $1,000,000
Worth of Our Machines
Each Month
FRANCE Is BIGGEST EXPORTER
Bio Increase in Imports Among
Data of the Industry'S
StatiStiCianS
FRANCE IS BIGGEST EXPORTER

Ten years ago the trade in automo-
bies was not of sufficient value to
justify the bureau of statistics of the
department of commerce and labor in
making a separate record of either the
imports or exports, the few automo-
biles entering or leaving the country
being included under the miscellaneous
class Of "all other articles In July
1901 however, the bureau began to
record the exports, which, in the fiscal
year 1902 amounted to about $1,000 OOO
and since that time the value Of au-
tomobles and parts thereof exported
to foreign countries has been in round
terms 0,O0oOO0, of which total about
$25 000, 900 has developed in the five
years ending with December, 1909, with
a prospect that the fiscal year 1910
will show an export record Of fully
900.
In imports the record was not es-
tablished until July, 1905, when the
total automobiles and parts thereof i'm
ported amounted to S4,000,O00 in the fis-
cal years 1906 and in 1907 over $1,000
600, but falling below that figure in
succeeding years. making the total i'm
portation for the five years ending De
cember, 1909. for which a record exists.
about SIS. 900 900 of automobiles and
parts thereof. The shipments of au-
tomobiles and parts thereof to Alaska,
Hawaii and Porto Rico are not includ-
ed in the figures quoted above but
amount in the past five years to about
$2,000.00 making the total value of the
automobiles passing in and out Of ports
of the United States in the past five
years about S45, 900
IMPORTATIoNs OF MOTOR CARS
The imports are chiefly from France,
italy, Germany and the United King
ifafl1l
cry country in the world though the
largest number go to Canada. the Unit
ed Kingdom, Mexico and Australia. The
number sent to Canada in the fiscal
year 1909 was 1880, valued at Sl,45I129'
to England, $50 machines, valued at ST.
673,914; to France, 200 machines, valued
at S643 692; to Mexico, 200 machines,
valued at $3.50. 1862, and to Australia, 127
machines valued at SS1426. The prices
of those sent to European countries
are, as a rule, higher than that Of the
machines sent to Canada, Mexico and
Australia, the average price of those
sent to France being over $4,000 each.
according to the prices and numbers of
machines reported to the bureau of sta
tistics; those to England average near
ly $4,000 a piece; those to Canada about
1920 and Mexico about $l40O each, and
those to Australia less than $3.50 each.
The total number of automobiles ex-
ported in the fiscal year 1909 was, ac-
cording to the bureau Of statistics, ng-
ures 1884, valued at S5,3S7,0 ,021, an aver
age value of about $500 for a machine
and the number imported 1924 valued
at $2,905391, showing also an average
of about $1700 for each machine. The
distribution of automobiles extends to
all parts of the world, the number of
countries named by the bureau Of sta
tisties as the destination of automo-
biles exported in the fiscal year 1903
being not fewer than fifty, and includ-
ing India, China, Dutch East Indies.
Japan, GALAXY islands, Egypt, French
Japan, Canary islands South American
countries, West Indian islands, Gibral-
tar and Portugal.
FOREIGN BUSINESS IN 1909
The figures for the calendar year are
larger, and show also higher prices, the
number of machines exported in the
calendar year 1909 being 1866, and the
stated value being S6.SS903l, an average
of nearly $1,000, these figures including
only the shipments Of machines TO Tor
eign countries, and not including the
shipments to our non-eontiguous terri
tory. or the parts of machines which
are included in the grand total stated
below, in comparing our own exports
of automobiles with those of other
countries.
France leads the world as an eX-
porter Of automobiles, with the United
States second in rank. Statistics com
piled from the official publication of
the countries named show that the eX-
ports of vehicles of this class in the
latest year FOR which details are at
hand were: From France in 1908, $24.-
1853 900; the United states in the calen-
dar year 1909, $S,667.39I, the United
Kingdom i'm 1909, $7.6l0,26l italy IN
1908. S5.533, 600, and Germany IN 1908,
So 031 600.
At the largest gathering OF automo-
bile manufacturers eyer held in TINS
country the members of the Assocla-
tion Of Licensed Automobile Manuiac-
turCrs at the New York headquarters
discussed general trade conditions. The
meeting lasted throughout the day. IL
was definitely decided that the 1911
show at Madison Square garden shall
be Of two weeks duration, the hrst
week being devoted to the exhibition
of pleasure cars and the second 10
commercial cars There was voted Il
return of Is cents a square foot ON the
last show at the garden, in accordance
with recommendation of Col George
Pope chairman. The annual dinner
followed the meeting.
Governor Frederick II. Warner or
Michigan was the guest of honor and
Job e. Hedges acted as toastmaster.
The sneakers included Commissioner
Edwards of the street cleaning depart
ment COL Charles clifton, Arthur Brls-
bane and Col. A. l.. Pope. During the
evening a loving cup was presented to
Charles Clifton and piano 20 Mrs.
Clifton.
Governor Warner. i'm speaking of the
automobile industry in Michigan said:
'"That Michigan has good cause for
pride and Recommendation because
of its position in the automobile world
may be found in the fact that cam
vass made by the labor department Of
the state i'm 1909 disclosed the fact that
there were then thirty-tWO auto
mobile manufacturing establishments
i'm the state. You all know that the
number has been materially increased
since this canvass was made, nearly
one year ago. The aggregate of in
vested capital i'm these companies was
S34, ,2S7 500, an average of $1,0u,4S7 per
company. The output of these facto-
ries included touring cars, runabouts,
buses, delivery wagons, Wagonettes,
trucks, commercial vehicles and all
other types known 10 the business.
The Michigan plants reported an an
nual capacity of 271 44O vehicles, and
the aggregate value of their actual out
put was $13500j, 800. Tho whole num-
Der Of persons of all classes employed
lyy tbc automobile factories Df Michi-