New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-01-01
Year Just Closed a Fair One
for Local Dealers.
NORRIS MASON is UNLUCKY
Renault Manager Gets Within
One Number of Winning
Golden Prizes-TeXas
Motor Figures.

While local automobile men celebrated
the advent Of the New Year as heartily
as any other class. they had more or less
reason 10 regret the passing of 1872.
The year Just ended has been fair one
for the trade and the prosperity has in
cluded dealers in all classes of cars. In
general there is optimism concerning
the outlook for the next twelve months,
although there are some who predict
that the year will bring great changes
In the way Of lessening the number Of
producers
New York. however. has furnished a
steady and appreciative field for the
automobile. and is almost certain to
continue the big market. as compared
with any other state for many makes.
The so-called dull season in automobile
selling was less accentuated in the
year just passed than in any one since
the motor car became a big factor in
transportation
There is general hope that the early
months of the year starting to-day viii
see some solution of the used car prob
lem. undoubtedly the most serious mem
ace to the dealer in automobiles. Plans
are under way a the present time look
ing toward methods of relief. and il will
be surprising if the efforts being made
fail to help the situation materially.
Norris Mason, the Renault selling rep
resentatlve in this country, is almost
the owner of solid gold set. consisting
of cigarette and match cases. The prize
was offered two months ago by Messrs.
Rector and Mally, of George Rector's
restaurant. who furnished numbered
ballot with each luncheon check. There
was full attendance yesterday for the
drawing. and Mr. Mason acted as mas
ter Of the ceremony. assisted by Miss
Fay Wallace. an actress from Long
Acre Square theatre, who actually drew
the tickets that represented some sort
of chance out Of the thousands that
had been deposited.
Thirty-three We're first drawn out. the
lot including several names well known
along Automobile Row. Then eleven OF
these were picked out, tossed around in
hat. and the last one in was TO he the
winner Byron Reese. OF the American
from last. and of the two remaining Mr..
Mason's was drawn The final and win
ming card had been deposited by H. 5.
Ludlow. who lives I'm the Great Northern
Hotel Mr. Ludlow Is out OF town. but
had left word that he would call on
Saturday in case he won.
census taken recently by the Texas
Commercial Secretaries and Business
Mems Association shows that there are
35,1S7 automobiles I'm Texas, and their
total value is approximately s43,9S3. $50.
Compared with 1911. this is an increase
Of 5.o04, or 17.3 per cent in number. and
decrease of s1.016,250 in value.
Ninety-hve and one-half per cent, or
for pleasure purposes. while 1854. or 10
per cent, are in commercial use. There
are I05 different models In use i'm Texas.
and the price ranges from $500 to Sl0,-
600 each. The average price per car is
$3.50. compared with 81 800 in 1911,
and s2131 ten years ago.
Sallas County leads in number of cars
with 3.409, Harris second with $3.50. ana
Bexar, Tarrant, McLennan and FL Paso
follow in the order named with 2,123,
1927, 1920 and 1.l32 cars. respectively.
In the principal cities Dallas ranks first
i'm number, having 2,944 cars: Houston
second with 2.S09. San Antonio third
with 1918 and Fort Worth fourth with
| 500 cars. There are 200 automobiles in
BeXar County that are used for COM
mercial purposes, Dallas County has 1877
and Tarrant l61.