The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1911-04-29
AU 7 D N 0B|LE Is
KING; DETROIT
HIS THRONE
Manufacture Of Motor Cars Curiosi-
ties Here a Dozen Years Ago, Now
Constitutes City's Principal In
dustry and Is Still Growing.
Advent Of the Horseless Age an Abb
sorbing Chapter in History OF
Worlds Progress.

To King Automobile. Detroit DOVE
In grateful obeisance.
No monarch in the history Oh inc
world ever enjoyed such undispuleu
sway as this uncrowned ruler WHOSE
I, ascenoency began with the dawn VI
the twentieth century, whose uonain
has increased until IL knows no pouh
daries and whose throne Is the city
OF Detroit
When Detroiters speak OF thelr
home city as the center OF the auto
mobile industry, they are not poasc
ing. They are merely stating iacl'
and a fact, moreover, that Is recos-
nized and conceded by the world at
large. There Is no chance for any
argument on that score. IL you ara
AT all skeptical. lust run over the list
OF motor car and parts manufacturers
located here, or, better STILL take
week off and make a personal lnspec'
ton OF the plants. touching only the
high spots. II you are stili In doubt
consult the shipping records OF lps
various railroads running out OF De
troit for the past IL months, and you
will be quite ready TO concede ina
Detroit is the hub OF the universe as
far as the making of motor cars Is
concerned.
There was a time when this city
was known TO the outside world prin-
cipally as stove center. IL also
gained distinction as the home OF the
largest pharmaceutical plant on the
globe, distinction it still enjoys.
The fact that. in single decade, the
business OF making motor cars mas
forged ahead until Il has taken front
rank among local industries Is no re-
Election on any other limo OF trade
On the contrary these other Local. In
dustries have fortified their advan-
tageous positions in their respective
fields and have saved Detroit from be-
coming known as one-industry town.
In 1899, the motor car was prac-
tically unknown In Detroit except as
a curiosity. In that year an outside
concern, attracted by the city's nat
ural advantages. moved here and be-
gan manufacturing operations on
small scale In q plant out Jefferson
ave. Two more companies came into
existence In 1901, and third in 1908.
all starting in a small way From
. 1904 the growth Of the industry was
nothing short OF phenomenal, for the
world at large had recognized the
practicability OF the moor vehicle
and wa camoring for cus.
Here Are the F1cts.
There are now In Detroit 10 COM
panies engaged In manufacturing and
marketing gasoline pleasure cars.
three companies manufacturing cleo
Ill iola nj
featuring commercial cars. These
are not all separate concerns, how
ever, as some Of them manufacture
both pleasure and commercial cars.
Allowing for the Implications, there
are 81 individual corporations. The
combined capital Of these companies
is $35,500.000. They employed, dur
ing the greater part of 1910, 27,200
men and turned out 114,100 cars. val
ued at 1914, 500, 000-catalogue prices
AS against 45.500 cars valued at
$54,30O,00O in 1909. These figures are
based on confidential information fur
nished the Detroit Board Of Commerce
and are regarded as absolutely reli-
able. The capital now invested is
more than double the total invest
ment Of s15,200.000 In 1909. as will be
noted. while the number OF men en-
ployed In 1909 was 10000 as compared
with the figures given above, 27,200.
In addition TO the car manufacturing
concerns, there are more than 40
companies whose principal business
Is the making OF motor car parts and
accessories. The estimated output
for 1911 Ia conservatively placed at
142,600 cars. pleasure and CONNER
cial. representing a total value OF
nearly $4,000. 900.
These figures tell their own story
and require no calculation.
The extent of the local industry
was strikingly exemplified on the oc-
casion OF the last annual automobile
show, In January, when the spacious
Wayne pavilion, even with temper.
airy annexes. proved far too small to
Accommodate all the applicants for
space, with the result that an over.
fow" show was held In a north end
factory. At the time Il was stated
that. In the number and variety OF
cars shown, the combined shows
constituted the greatest display of mo-
tor cars ever shown In this country.
IL attracted visitors from all over the
United States and some even from
foreign shores, who were eager to
see Just what had been accomplished
in the way Of new models. equipment.
increased efficiency, ETC.. in the
worlds automobile center.
The history of automobile shows
furnishes a good index to the develop
ment OF the industry. The first 81
hibition Of motor cars I'm this country
was made In New York city IL years
ago this fall. In connection with a
bicycle show. and created but little
interest. In 1900. another show was
held In New York. at which 35 cars
we're exhibited. What has now come
70 be known az the First Annual Au-
tomobtle show, was held In 1901,
undsr the auspices Of the Automobile
o1sb q America, and the place was
Nsv yes2, - coursa It ran nom