The Detroit times., 1911-04-15
AU To N 0 bile Is
k|NG; 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 Ao'
sorbing Chapter in History OF
Worlds Progress.

To King Automobile, Detroit po"s
In grateful obeisance.
No monarch In the history Oh the
world ever enjoyed such undlsputeu
SWAY IA this uncrowned ruler whose
ascendency began with the dawn OIL
the twentieth century. whose domain
has increased until II knows no ooun'
diaries and whose throne is the city
OF Detroit.
When Detroiters speak or their
home city as the center OF the auto
mobile industry, they are not ooast'
ing. They are merely stating a fact,
and a fact, moreover, that Is recos'
nized and conceded by the world at
large. There is no chance Tor any
argument on that score. III you arc
al all skeptical, just run over the isl
OF motor car and parts manufacturers
located here, or, better STILL take
week off and make personal lnspec-
t!on OF the plants, touching only the
high spots. III you are still In douDl'
consult the shipping records OF tue
various railroads running out OF De
troit for the past II months, ana you
will be quite ready TO concede tha-
Detroit Is the hub Of the universe as
far as the making of motor cars ID
concerned.
There was time when this city
was known 10 the outside world prln'
clpally as a stove center. IL also
gained distinction as the home or the
largest pharmaceutical plant on the
globe. a distinction 1t still enjoys.
The fact that. in single decade, the
business OF making motor cars mas
forged ahead until 1t has taken front
rank among local industries Is no re-
Election on any other line or trade
ON the contrary, these other local In
dustries have fortified their sdvan..
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 plant out Jeferson-
ave. Two more companies came into
existence in 1901, and third In 1908,
all s,a. ting III a small way From
1904 TIE growth of the industry was
nothing short OF phenomenal, for the
world at large had recognized the
practicability OF the moor vehicle
and wac ciamoring for cars.
Here Are the Flcts.
There are now in Detroit 10 COM
panies engaged in manufacturing and
marketing gasoline pleasure cars,
three companies manufacturing cleo
trio pleasure vehicles and Is manu-
featuring commercial cars. These
are not all separate concerns, how.
ever, as some of them manufacture
both pleasure and commercial cars
Allowing for the applications, there
are 81 individual corporations. The
combined capital of these companies
Is $35,500,000. They employed, dur
ing the greater part OF 1910, 27,2O0
men and turned out 114;100 cars, val
ued at 1874. 600 ,000-catalogue prices
AS against 45,500 cars valued at
$54, 100000 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 $15,200,000 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 Is conservatively placed at
142,600 cars, pleasure and CONNER
cial, representing a total value OF
nearly $150,O00,0OO.
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
flow" 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 good index to the develop
ment OF the industry. The first ex.
hibition of motor cars In 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 80 cars
were exhibited. What has now come
to be known as the First Annual Au-
tomobile show, was held I'm 1901,
under the auspices of the Automobile
Club of America, and the place was
New York, Of course. II ran from