The Washington times., 1912-06-01
MOTOR CAR HELPS
IN DEVELOPMENT
OF WHOLE NATION
Much of Improvement In
Agricultural Centers Trac-
ed to Automobile.

The automobile has so intimately con-
| nected itself with our economic de-
velopment that II Is no longer looked
upon as anything but a necessity.
Once II was considered an extrava-
gance: now Il Is known to be an econ
omy. This applies to the motor car. not
only as 1t Is used by the professional
man, by the salesman or by any other
using It for industrial purposes, but to
the man who buys II for his per-
sonal use and for the enjoyment Of
his family.
Much OF the recent development Of
the agricultural centers can be attri-
buted to the use of motors cars. Farm
ing centers are being brought more
to the ambitious farmer. possessed of
an automobile. the trip to his dis
tributing point offers no more diff
culties than to the man who Is doing
Relations between city and country
have been connected closer than ever
before, and this work Is practically
still In its inception.
Good Roads Help.
The good roads" question has played
a large part in the development Of the
automobile industry and this has been
retroactive; first, the automobile wGs
the cause for good roads and the agi-
tation which resulted In the country
wide movement for good roads work
was attributable to the automobile
associations.
Now, the fact that there are so
many thousands OF miles Of beautiful
highways is turning back some of the
benefit and offering an invitation to
thousands OF prospective owners to buy
AS the work of building good roads Is
carried on in any particular State an in
creased sale Of cars in that locality is
noticeable. The possibilities of the mo-
tor car as a mean OF health-giving en-
1oyment are emphasized by the ability
Of the motorist to take long trips to dee
sirable stops over comfortable roads
The motor car Is admitted to be a good
investment not only from the viewpoint
Of being an actual money saver as
means of transportation but from the
viewpoint Of offering a ready and enjoy
able means of recreation.
The early notion that the possession OF
an automobile entailed a reckless
amount of expense has rapidly become
dissipated through the high quality Of
material and the careful workmanship
car OF today. The prospective purchaser
knows that by careful search he can
find car which not only suits his no.
tions OF first cost. but his. notions Of
subsequent cost for operation. He is
buying proved service. There has been
much talk of the salary earned being a
limit to the type of motor car the pros
pective owner could afford to buy. The
average man Is pretty we'll convinced
that 1t costs no more to own a good
motor car than II does to own a horse,
and there is a vastly greater amount Of
enjoyment obtainable.
Dealers Optimistic.
Manufacturers and dealers are In an
optimistic frame of mind and with this
optimism there is a strong undercurrent
of confidence, the deep-seatedness of
which is visibly manifested by the
heavy contracts for cars for early de-
livery.
Buying during the fall and early win
ter was little slower than in previous
years. but there has been a greater
steadiness to the demand. Buying an
automobile Is coming more and more to
a business basis. There is a desire on
the part of the prospective purchasers
to go carefully into the details of design
and construction before they buy.
Selection is being based on quality
and service rather than on any frantic
desire to become the owner of a motor
car regardless Of the type or what 1t
will do.
This is a good thing for the trade II
lends a greater feeling Of security and
permanency.