El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1912-03-23
BY FREDERIC J. HASKIN

, has proved a boon to many thousands
| OF families in the United States It has
| brought a new method Of transporta-
ton into the lives Of q large number OF
people in and out OF the cities Of the
country. One or the companies, prOduc-
ing popular priced cars. has gathered
statistics among the physicians of the
country, which show that $4,000 OF them
are using this one make of automobiles.
In many communities clergymeE lind
them a great aid IN their work Men
who heretofore have been forced to live
In town because of slow transportation
by street cars are now able to go out
into the suburbs and live amid the de-
nights Of the country, rearing thclr
children amid the wholesome surround
ings of a country home. and. at the
same time, getting to their business
in less time than they were able to 10
while living in the congested residen-
tial districts, and depending upon
street cars for their transp OrtatiOn-
For number OF years it has been
the fear of automobile manufacturers
that the Introduction Of the popular
priced car would prove the death kneH
OF the high priced machines. It was pc
ueVed that when a good machine could
De oought for $500, very few men
would be willing to pay $4,000. even for
a better one Yet this fear has never
Eaterialized, on the contrary, Il has
tended to increase the sales Of the
higher priced cars in surprising de-
gree It has brought about a situation
IN the country where few well to do
people are willing to be without auto
mobiles, and when they so into the
market for machines. they are just as
fastidtous about getting the best that
their circumstances will allow as they
are when they go to the tailor for
clothes.
It is believed by many that the future
VIII Drlng about even a lower range OF
Prices Tor automobiles A ma jOrity Of
the big manufacturers are long sighted.
and II they can see more profit in
good car at $500. than at $500. by rea-
son Of the greatly increased sales. They
are likely to adopt lower price While
most OF the automobile builders seem
to feel that prices are now nearing
their noEmal status, there are others
VINO believe that as soon as the ideal
car is attained still further economies
IN production and sale may be intro
duced- Under such conditions, it is pos
sible that the number of automobiles
IN the United States in the present
decade may be increased from half
million TO three or four million.
Upzeepfis Problem.
The greatest difficulty in the sale OF
automobiles today is the fact shat the
IlfSt cost IS not the principal cOnsid-
GRAFTON 1t is the cost OF UplCeep and
maintenance Many man who could
invest $500 or $1,000 in an automobile
feels that he could not affcrd to nav
$50 a month, or more. for earas,
charges Once these charges are cut
down In proportion. as the cost of the
LlaCnlneS nave been reduced. the auto
mobile will be brought within the
reach OF thousands y no feel that thew
cannot afford them now.
A French manufacturer has-hft upon
a novel method OF O-nbattfng high
garage charges He has produced what
some one has chosen to call the miss
ing link" between the motorcycle and
the automobile This is a small car
with WlTe wheels and light engine. in
tended to seat two passengers. These
are seated tandem. he driver occupyinE
the rear seat, and the other person
the forward seat The machine is less
than yard wide. and IS so light that
II can be lifted by two men. such a
machine can be stored in thousands OF
PAGES where the ordinary automobile
could not go It Is doubtful if this ma
enlne would ever become popular In the [
United states, but IL IS not improbable Z
tfat some manufacture viii see q SUI
llcient demand for 1t to justify its Dro-
duction in this country.
On the whole the automobile manu-
1acturer has proved his wisdom at ev-
cry step IN price reduction that he has I
taken How much further he will be l
able TO go no one can say. although IL 7
IS probable that when the cars which I
now sell for $500 come down from DO I
to 20 percent more. about the final word !
IN automobile prices will have been
said The present tendency is 10 hold /
the price at last years level. but TO add /
conveniences and talking points TO /
the machines