The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1914-12-05
MOTORING
FIVE MILLION more MOTOR
Cars NEEDED FOR FARMS
That Possibilities Are Hardly
Scratched-Machines That Have
Gone to the Scrap Heap


Nearly one and half million auto
mobiles have been sold in the United
States since 1902 when the business
may be said really to have begun.
The number of these machines that
have gone to the scrap heap is as yet
negligible for commercial reckoning.
The oldest is only twelve or thir:eeA
years old. You see the quaint old timers
in service every day.
Next year, according to the forecast
of the trade, nearly half million more
ears will be sold. These facts cause
many to wonder where these hundreds
of thousands of cars will go next year
and the years after that.
Thus far the number of automobiles
owned by farmers is only about 10 per
cent. of the total number of farms. The
manufacturers would have to produce
over five million more ears to fill the
farm market alone.
The coming of the automobile has
made remarkable changes in farm con
ditions. 1t is carrying the farmer far
and wide over the countryside and
bringing him into close touch with all
the great improvements in agriculture.
To-day it is no uncommon thing in
any of the middle western states to see
anywhere from so to 33 automobiles
grouped about field where a blowing
contest is going on, or Standing about
the stable where there is sale of fine
cattle. These automobiles come from
distances of 10, 20 and even 80 miles.
They bring the farmer to these centers
of interest quickly and without great
waste of time.
The automobile on the farm is pay
ing investment in many ways. On many
farms the car does service both as a
pleasure ear and truck. By removing
the body the ear is converted into a
truck on which farm produsts are
quickly taken to market at little ex-
pense.
In the Old days if member of the
family, or valuable horse fell i'll or
was hurt, or a machine broke down in
the midst of harvesting, the farmer had
no choice but TO take the consequences.
He would drive off to town for help,
but it was long, slow drive over bad
roads and help almost always arrived
late. The car gives him the quick serv-
ice he needs.
When it comes to the boys on the
farm, no one can doubt the influence
of the automobile in making the farm
attractive. Both the boys and girls of
the farm drive the ear and take care of
it, and you may be sure that the young
men or women on the farm where
there is an automobile see to it that the
ear is kept in good shape. There is a
marked decrease in the desire on the
part of the young to get away from the
farm, and the automobile is one of the
most important influences to bring
about this change.
The automobile has promoted the
good roads movement all through Amer
lea. This is decreasing the cost of
transporting agricultural products to
market And so important an item is
this that it could almost be said that
the improvements in roads alone would
more than pay big interest on the
! amount the farmer has invested in au-
tomobiles.
Even now, road Improvements have
made it possible in many places to use
/ the car every month of the year.
These are factors of the growing
business Of the local automobile dealer
for on the local dealer the farmer
depends for his ears. 1t accounts for
the fact that from now right on
/ through the winter months the factories
will be busy turning out ears to meet
the spring demand. The high point of
production is reached about the middle
of February. The local dealer buys