The Washington herald., 1912-06-02
AUTO INDUSTRY ON
PERMANENT BASIS
wsll-knOwn Local Dealer Tells Of
Progress Made in Past
Ten Years.
By WILLIAM P. BARNHART,
Arent for EFeritt Cara

Assui for EEeritt Cara
The growth OF the automobile industry
in the last ten years has been little short
OF phenomenal During that time It has
sprung from what was practically an
experimental stage until It Is now on
the same sound basis that prevails In the
steel Industry, the cotton and woolen IN
dustries, and other Of the stable manu-
featuring businesses which have made
this country the manufacturing center
Of the world II may be said that never
before has any industry so quickly set
tied down into such a state OF stability
and magnitude as has the automobile
business, which now, as IL generally
conceded, is the greatest in volume Of
any Of the classified industries.
I believe that the business has reached
this point solely because It has given
the world a new and certain means OF
Individual transportation. OF as impor-
tsnt field in the worlds progress as the
older inventions OF the steam engine, the
telegraph and telephone. The develop
ment OF the industry in the last few
years has given to the buying public
standard line Of reliable, sef-propelled
vehicles, ranging in price from 500 or
800 upward. thus supplying every class
OF buyer within easy range OF his pur-
chasing ability.
!. No longer are the economics Of the au-
tomobile disputed The business man, the
farmer, the average citizen, In every
walk OF life, has found the automobtle
q necessity Of modern times. The day
has passed when motor cars could be
regarded as mere toys or playthings' Tor
they have now taken their place as the
most useful. rapid, and economical
means Of travel over short and moderate
distances.
There are now at least l55 different
factories beyond the experimental stage
and producing cars IN considerable num-
bers. There are Eixty-fve companies
now producing motor trucks or CONNER
ciaI vehicles exclusively. There are in
the United States alone more than So
COO automobiles registered in active use,
and Il Is probable that at least 5000
more are in active service in localities
where stRte registration is not re-
ouired. During the last year, at least
Do, 900 automobiles were sold in this
country, and over 10000 cars have been
manufactured during the past ten years.
II is estimated that for next year, up
ward OF 10000 automobiles will be man
ufactured in the United States. Surely,
any industry or manufacturing business
which can employ close to 10000 men,
which has a combined capital OF SOo,-
coo. OOO and which has reached this mag
nitude in a single decade Is more than
remarka ble,-it is even wonderful
II appears that prices have ABOUT
reached the level which will be main
tanned as far as actual cost in dollars
and cents is concerned, for It seems as
~ the bottom had been about reached
by means Of manufacturing In large
volumes. by the modern business or
ganizations interested, and by the au-
tomato machinery and modern meth
DDS which have been applied 70 the
trade. All this has resulted in the
giving Of a better automobile to the
buying public than was possible for
double the price five years ago. II
may not be generally understood. but
II is nevertheless a fact, that by build
ing automobiles in reasonable quantity
by modern machinery, a result can De
produced far superior in every way TO
the old-time system Of building by
hand and in consequence small num-
Der. There is but little difference In
price between high and low grade steels,
for example, and II the cost OF exact
automatic machinery for producing from
this material the best parts that science
can devise, is spread over q sizeable out
put, the cost per car to the individual
can be kept surprisingly low. By these
methods, every part is manufactured with
the utmost precision by machines which
cannot make a mistake.
OF course, as time goes on, various
improvements and betterments will be
adopted. This year. 1t is noticed that
the majority Of cars are being equipped
with self-starting devices. The tend
ency in motor design. while emphRsiz-
ing simplicity and automatic operation.
is leaning toward the six-cylinder type.
The success Of our own new Everitt
models Of this type has shown the de-
mand in this field. AS one season fol-
lows another, it is apparent that new
things will be discovered, new designs
brought out and great refinements in
various details manifest themselves, all
contributing their share in the ultimate
perfected car.
I do not think, however, that any
great basic changes may be expected
within the next few years. As has been
true for several seasons, such changes
as occur are in detail rather than in
principal, with the result that man
who purchases a car to-day OF almost
any class, may be reasonably sure that
this purchase will not quickly become
a back-number, but that on the other
hand, his money has paid for q gener-
Gus amount Of transportation service
supplied in most convenient and eco
nomic form, available for a number Of
a.