Omaha daily bee., 1910-02-20
INDUSTRY ON A SOLID BASIS
After Many Vicissitudes Automobile
Has Forced Recognition.

fAANGE NAdn NlClbaluuoeU AulOmODlAG
Has Forced Recognition.
Like the self-made man, the motor car
industry has forced recognition and re-
spect. 1t is probable that no industry has
ever started with so much to overcome.
In the early days the financier's lack of
belief and faith in the ultimate success
was well-nigh universal. AS the industry
grew, the opposition of the banker seemed
to more than keep pace. But progress, de-
velopment and demand could not be
stopped-there was too much merit behind
the proposition. When this was yet a
struggling industry, seemingly founder
ing and cropping in the dark for a guiding
light, a statement was made by one who
had doubtless made a study of the stun
ton, that it would take a panic to really
develop the automobile industry.
This statement has since proved almost
prophetic, and the man responsible for the
statement must be credited with unusual
foresight, although he probably realized
but little OF the real truth this statement
carried. The depression of 1907 measured
the stability, strength and soundness OF
our country and every branch of trade,
and 1t will be remembered that probably
no other line held its own while the auto
mobile business continued to grow in
spite of the would-be Encouragement on
all sides.
Results ave proved that there was little
reason for the depression beyond the lack
of confidence and belief that the general
demand was not staple. and the remark
able part of it all lay in the fact that the
most discredited industry at that time,
the automobile, was the greatest help in
averting a panic and restoring such confl-
denee as was scarcely hoped for. The fact
that the automobile business would not be
kept down caused the thoughtful to pause
and consider.
Why the remarkable record?
Saving of time and lessening of distance
are two important factors in our modern
civilization. The motor car is the great
agency which has met these requirements
in a practical way, and to a degree never
dreamed Of. and Il possesses a third and
important virtue of being able to do this
at a very marked saving in cost. II is the
going motor car which has forced recog-
milton, and 1t is today quite as indispensa-
BILE as the telephone. telegraph or railway
train.
1t is safe TO predict that we have not
more than scratched the surface OF the
possible demand for the motor-propelled
vehicle. The motor car was first looked
upon as the rich mans and the sports
mans toy-later. as a pleasure vehicle, To
be classed as a luxury. but today we are
forced to admit that 1t is the practical
conveyance Of the future. 1t would be
quite as reasonable TO expect the trans
continental traveller to return to the prai-
RE schooner as for the motor car user "a
return to the hOrse-drawn vehicle. In
fact. the step from the horse-drawn We,
hicle to the motor car is quite as ad-
vanced as turning to the use OF the rail.
way cars. except that the use of the motor
car is brought home to us in a more gen.
eraF and telling way,
We have seen an industry spring up IN
a night. as II were, and move from moth.
ing TO a position Of probably fifth In i'm.