Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-05-12
Facts and fixtures

1t Is well recognized fact that Second
Growth Hickory supposed to be used in
tne manufacture Of automobile wheels and
reiloes, Is fast becoming a rare article.
We are living in the steel Age" and
the logical conclusion is that steel, will
soon suppiant WOOD in the manufacture
OF automobile wheels. The Berntson Spring
Wheel Company is the PIONEER In this
most important industry.
1T CANNOT BE DENIED that the An
tomobile industry In this country is NO
longer fad; 1t has come to stay.
It's record reads like a dream of wealth
gone mad-a golden dream that would
have crazed King Midas himself.
The World Wide Magazine under issue
OF recent date. is authority for the state
ment that
Walter e. Flanders started In the an
tomooile manufacturing business with a
capital of $1950OO.0O. and sold ont in
twenty months for $4,000. 900. O0-a profit
OF nearly 5000 per cent In less than two
years
That ''The General Motors Company.
with capital Of $4,000 600 90. earned
disidends OF $l2,OOO,O000 net in the year
1900"
That "The Chalmers Motor Company in
A"AV ulVlOc0d OF 80 cent
in cash and 1000 per cent In corporate
stock
That ''Ihe REQ Motor Gar Company has
paid 30 per cent annually on Its stock in
the last five years
That "A year ago The Cadillac Motor
Car Company was sold to the General
Motors Company for s457O. ooo. 90. ana
that the net profits Of this concern for
1910 We're 5000 a4.oO. or about So per
cent on the amount paid for the plant,
which Ia considerably more than the amount
invested by the original company"
And yet the automobile business in in
its infancy.
There were $50, 600 cars put ont last
year-total value. $40 900 200. 90. Yet the
stupendous sum OF 81. 9O2, 33S. 600. 90 was
spent on horses and mules.
The automobile Is finding new uses every
day-agricultural and Industrial; and care
fui statfsticians compute that today only
per cent Of possible business is being
done by automobile manufacturers.
This means that twenty times a. much
business could be done than is done: and
1t also means that the man, company or
corpora tion that controls the manufacture
and sale Of a useful commodity in con-
nection with the automobile industry has
fortune at command.
What commodity II more essential to
this industry than wheel with q solid
tire that rides like a pneumatic and elm
mates all tire trouble?
The Berntson Spring Wheel Company IL
In position to control the manufacture
and sale Of such q commodity. 1t does
not expect to sell all the wheels used in
connection with the automobile industry.
On the contrary. even per cent Of the
actual demand for automobile wheels would
enable 1t to pay handsome dividends to its
stockholders.
According to reliable statistics there are
at the present time In actual use in the
United States alone over soc. 900 auto
mobiles. and 1t Is certainly safe to pre-
sumo that at least 10 per cent Of the
owners Of these automobiles will be OBJ
liged to buy new tires and inner tubes
during the coming year. This is a very
conservative estimate, and the Berntson
Spring Wheel Company proposes. within
the very near future. to be in . position
to equip at least one-half Of this number
Of automobiles with their patent spring
wheels. In connection with any style Of
standard tire desired, which would mean