The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1911-04-08
known trade Journal, as follows:

! Michigan ~ S.009 10000, oS4 s
/ Indiana 1852 l7,791.l52 2
! ohio 3246O 54901 SIT 81
| Naw YORK BITS sT730,2i3 y
! Illinois 27.SSs 46.l30.3S3 g.
! Pannsyiyanta s9T22 56.346,g12 A.
Massach usstts.. 22s2tt 2G2iii' 80 9,
Wisconsin o,oto ~ aSt'eSoaa O
| Missouri ...... 10 800 2I,Ssb,3Ve W
Minnesota $50. 1890 2O.loe'V-i "
| Neu Jaraav s4O7S 5T,640.56l D.
! MARYLAND 452s 1645.422 IL
Iowa 49,. 10.902 l7.425,iil 5,
Scattered .... 1885 l.o6S,SSl'lfs =
Totals .44o.72s sl.63s.ssS.Sos Il
The total number OF plants devote'
to the manufacture OF automobiles
parts and accessories Of every descrip
ton Is 11,165 by q very conservative
estimates. What this means In wages
and In the general prosperity OF th'
country II 10 impossible TO reduce t(
figures.
How Auto Has Improved.
The first few years OF the modern
automobile were disconcerung IL
many respects, due TO the influence
Of the rigs that were pulled by horses
and to the fact that the patrons o.
the industry. while they knew nothing
whatever about the building OF auto
mobiles, felt quite satisfied that II
they could not have horse In front
they should have something else,
says Automobile. These same pa
irons, not being satisfied that the
something" would be provided by
the makers OF influence, were much
inclined 20 furnish the necessary i'm
petus, and II 10 feared that some OF
them really succeeded in getting what
they thought they wanted. The echo
OF IL all sounds too discordant to lend
the impression that these patrons
were content
in the course OF time the builders
OF automobiles were able TO convince
a growing clientele that II was not
necessary for q buyer to advise the
makers In the customary mechanical
ways, and the principles which under
lie business in general taught these
makers how to maintain the integrity
OF their investment, and to disregard
suggestions. however good they might
prove to be In the long run, Insofar
as they might upset the plans In pro-
cess and become inharmonious.
1T 10 q little difficult To get the
American user into the state Of mind
which will permit him TO clearly ap-
preciate the fact that an idea, how
ever good 1t serves In France, for IL
lustration, might be valueless In Am
erica, and that scheme which at
tracts the notice Of the German may
be obnoxious for q hundred reasons
when Il IL transplanted, and that the
heavy construction Of the English car,
although II is intended TO portray sta
bility, has nothing much TO recon-
mend II when the weight must be car
ried on pneumatic tires over the ups
and downs OF American roads.
The American designers, while
they have had many opportunities TO
copy the expressions OF the automo-
bile art as they come from other
lands, have been compelled to take
cognizance Of experience, and one OF
the misfortunes OF the time Is en-
tirely due 10 the narrowed field OF
vision OF the used as compared with
the many opportunities TO see from
the vantage point OF the designer. The
American idea is winning out; where
IL had ten friends yesterday II has a
thousand today and when the tomor-
row Of the automobile industry comes,
Its enemies, II II has any, will reside
In chateaux In foreign lands, and their
enmity will be bitter In proportion as
their experience Is broad.
Standardization the Trend Today.
"A few years ago, when the Ii
censed Association OF Automobile
Manufacturers was instituted for pur-
poses which seemed TO the members
TO be beneficial. their deliberations
soon led them to reach the conclu-
sion that the problems involved should
be amplified and that the path to the
final Standardization OF the ANTONIO
bile should be blazed The first move
In this direction eliminated In The
organization OF what was then called
The Mechanical Branch" The body
polite OF this auxiliary body was
made up OF the chief engineers OF the
various allied makers, and they met
with great frequency for purposes OF
discussion. the comparing OF notes aud
the elucidation OF the problems IA
volved The literature OF the mechan
ical branch was ultimately the basis
OF system OF standards which was
finally promulgated under the auspices
OF the Society OF Automobile Engin.
GERS, and when the mechanical branch
became inactive its records OF expert
ences and standards were placed at
the disposal OF the Society OF Auto.
mobile Engineers, forming the nucleus
OF an effort which has since been ex.
tended TO the good of the industry.
The best guarantee that purcdas.
ers can possibly have OF the stabi'
ity OF the American.made automobile
is present I'm the concerted effort az
the American automobile engineers.
and the fact that they are members
OF common body, and that they meet
at frequent intervals for the purpose
I OF comparing notes. Is assurance
enough to the buyer that ~ the Amer.
ican-made type OF automobile differs
In important particulars from those
which come from afar. the reasons
for the differences, whatever thsy
may be, are paramount"
The sAoisy Of Automobile Ensin.