The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1914-03-02
ESTABLISH new
RECORD 0fISAES
r.
!. Alfred Reeves Says $4,000
/. Machines Were Sold
!. g
During 1913.
(By Alfred Reeves

Official figures supplied in onnec-
n ton with the opening of the annual
!. automobile show Indicate that the last
= year has been another record ono for
the motor car trade, more cars having
= been sold in 1918 than during any
similar period in previous years Thus
is continued the unparalleled record
or uIlbroken gains each year since
1900, when the automobile industry
= ma be said to have taken a p~osition
i'm American life.
Durins the last four or five months
mere mas been some clearing of the
atmosphere by the elimination of
a':m.nh ana unstable concerns, and,
coupled with the production of a few
thousand cars in excess of the de-
nland. there has beer a. reimbursement
on condltlons which makes for greater
prosperity during 1914.
Obtain High Position.
" was these few thousand excess
cars that caused pessinlists to decry
the motor car industry, with never a
thought to the fact that for fourteen
Years the industry has been making
gigantic strides, with wonderful per-
geentages of increase each wear, and
|Nlat sooner or later a point must he
reached when expansion must he at n
lower ratio. Present factories should
be able to care for all needs for a few
years at least. e,
. NO other industry in the world has
trcf attained a position where year
after year for fourteen years its sales
I were limited only by the supply. Tho
-t percentage in o~Vcrpr1duction last year
was not more tlale@ or 4 per cent,
ana in ordinary industries, where a
rican-up each year on account Of
changed models Is not deemed neces-
q Sary. il probably would not have been
noticed.
AS Indicating progress, it is to be
noted that during 1900. the year of
RI" first automobile show in New
York. a few thousand cars were sold.
while the makers. come to the Grand
Central Palace show this year with a
] record behind them of more than
"''.ooo sales, and can point With
pride to the fact that there are now
IN active use throughout the country.
proved by state registrations. more
than 1000. 900 motor cars. Aside from
that, more than s 1000 American cars
have been exported to eighty-three
J foreign countries OF the world. or
this more than $4,000 were exported
= this year, as we'll as parts for prob
ably $4,000 cars to the English and
= Canadian factories OF the Ford.
+. Made to save Time.
In 1905. which was the first real big
go " 'INtt sbb.uVu
( cars made. followed by, $1,000 in 1909.
$4,000 i'll 1910. 100000 in 1911. go
0oO In 1919. and during the last wear
; "la.oO cars. at All average selling price
of $3.50, or q total of s"1s, 900, 00V.
To save time and shorten distance
has bccn the motor cars mission, and
J ! il is both unfair and untrue for pessl-
l1llsts to declare it an economic waste.
While at first cars were considered
toys and luxnrics for the rich, they
! are certainly nov necessities for prac-
X tically every one, and with the de-
Bcreased sepst of materials and better
v coEstructlol q. wider field is offered.
3 $50 That this country should absorb
@a25,o00 motor cars a year.
Il Undoubtedly many people have au-
#tonlobiles that cannot afford them. but
s9the same may be said of everything in
this American life of ours. Yet how
many people do NC find who are will
ling to give them up?
Slight Over Production.
!. With the depressed genera busl-
. ''ess conditions this years production
.a"f $4,000 .ears~resulted in an over
y r%roductioll of possibly five or six
~ss:thousand. ..lAsss4s. res,,lt, students Of
f&the industIyaaaFs INCLINED to believe
!itfat in tlornnalsSstine les the annual abb
! sorptionspowcr!Efor motor cars In this
%,.countIY, rs. about .42a5, 900. |I}ie. blisi-
mess, is low On 4 Jrm aud: Substantial
NO sa.TF1, Il1!aefYtal lGslS eIIl 5lrul 4uMoqs
Ahavies nearly AL been eliminated. as
ew"ll as concerns whose %tpr.odurtsa were
7s.unr,arketahlc.. There may still he Il
,:few more weak ones to go but in
looking over a long list .it,is clearly
:sEasis, the financially, weak concerns
81 firm financial basis.
The trade lists show that there. are
sill companies making pleasure cars,
got; which. 1855 may be considered ac-
lively in tho business. while the 22S