Omaha daily bee., 1912-09-15
One Machine to Every Forty-Five
People Now the Count,
SOME INTERESTING FIGURES
bile Industry shows Enormous
Growth, with Indications
of Its Permanency.


of Columbia the distribution is one auto
mobile for every thirty-five persons.
South Dakota also has one machine for
every forty-five lie District of Column
bia not being a state, though having
the largest number of machines per
capita distribution, gives way to Ne
hraska and South Dakota. Indiana has
one car for every sixty persons. Iowa
Maine and New Jersey have one ma
chine for every sixty persons, equaling
Ir diana In this respect. The per capita
distribution of machines in North Dakota
is one automobile for every seventy-five
persons. Massachusetts,, Michigan. Ohio
and Oregon all are tied.
Maine Leads in Increase.
To the surprise of many Maine leads
the whole country in percentage Of in.
crease In automobile registration, having
ely per cent since January /, 1872 The
only state showing a decrease in auto
mobile registration is New Jersey. which
during the last year has lost 5,2SS ma
chimes, including sixty trucks, which in
all probability were those OF the big New
York and Philadelphia department stores,
These firms, as non-residents, are not
obliged to register under the new law
recently enacted.
Commercial vehicles have increased
considerably in number, as was predicted
last winter. The country's total jumped
from 25,451 in December, 1911, to 31,574 by
July 1, 1912
New York state leads in the registra-
tion Of both pleasure and commercial
motor cars. The total registration OF
commercial cars is 1877, the total number
Of all cars being ao,4o7 California is
second in line with a registration OF
78,6oS.
American manufacturers produced 252,-
$50 self-propelled vehicles during the year
from July 1, 1911, to July l. 1912. The
approximate figures are as follows: Gaso-
line pleasure cars. 22S36s; gasoline trucks,
1880; motor fire apparatus, 700; electric
pleasure cars, 60O0; electric trucks, 1000
Great Britain takes a great many
American made cars. the value Of the
exports to the United Kingdom for 1912
compared to. the imports from the United
Kingdom, the business done in automo-
biles by the United States is far ahead
of that done by our English brethren.
The imports from Great Britain into the
United States amounted during the first
five months of 1912 to only $1S3271.
We Lead in Exports.
. The American made automobile has
established itself firmly on foreign shores.
Not only do the figures given with re-
gard to export and import trade with
England show this, but other statistics
detailing the business with France, Ger
many. Canada and other foreign coun-
tries present the American automobile
business in favorable light. In fact
the United States has settled into first
as the leading automobile exporting ma
ton of the world The value of the ex-
ports Of automobiles and parts from our
shores to foreign countries is steadily in
creasing, while the value Of the imports
is correspondingly decreasing.
The number of companies Incorporated
during the last six months for the pur-
parts and for renting automobiles, run
ming motoring truck and bus lines, con-
Quoting and running repair shops and
manufacturing and selling accessories
S01-gives a fair idea of the activity In
that field since the first of the year The
total number Of those Incorporated dur
ing this year as intending to rnanufac-
ture and sell automobiles and parts is
449, while the others amount to 352. The
total capital invested in these companies
is something to marvel at the figures
given being s136s59,74O. The capital of
those formed to make and deal in cars
and parts aggregates $40, ,2s1,7OO, while that
of the other concerns is $685. ,04O.
Not Too Many Makers.
With all these companies forming and
with the demand for cars increasing, the
next year will not see any too many
makers Of motor cars. During the last
six months all factories have been going
at capacity rate without being able
to supply the demand. In Omaha dealers
have sold all their cars and have been
forced to make intending buyers wait.
The growth of the automobile industry is
so great-and particularly is the trade
in this state, as the figures given in the
beginning Of this article show-that the
increase in factories now will do no more
than to help supply the great demand
The Omaha representatives Of one large
automobile manufacturer sold more cars
during the fiscal year September 80, 1911
to September 80, 1912, than any other
agency of his firm with the exception
OF Los Angeles, which surpassed his rec
ord by few cars.
Sales Are Enormous.
In order for the registration of auto
mobiles to increase so wonderfully dur
ing the last six months the sale Of auto
mobiles had to be enormous. These sales,
of course, have meant greatly increased
production Of cars. An interesting side
to the output total is the fact that a
larger percentage Of it tran ever is made
up Of small low-priced cars, two com
panes alone turning out over $4,000 ma
chimes during the year. July l. 1911. to
July 1, 1912. This also has another eff.
feet on the situation. that is, with ref
erence to the average price of the Amer
lcan-built car. This price has been
steadily declining ever since 1907, the year
N which it attained its highest level
s2.lS756 Last year 1t was s1,24599 and
tLis year It has dropped to s1,oSs1o. The
small cars form the bulk Of the automo
bile exports Of the country. the average
price being ss7.9s. The difference in the
average price caused by the wide use of