The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1915-03-27
GROWTH OF AUTO
BUSINESS RAPID
PAST TWELVE YEARS HAS SHOWN
WONDERFUL AND MARKED
CHANGE.
The UNIT Must All Co in the Auto.
mobile Field-inVestment in
Business is Increasing.

From practical insignihcance twelve
years ago to one Of the worlds great
est industries today is. briefly. the
story OF the motor car. The rapidity
OF its growth has immeasurably sur
passed that Of any other industry in
the worlds history.
Twelve years ago the automobile
had not acquired the title which was
assigned It few years later--the
rich mans plaything" Today il is the
worlds necessity.
Twelve years ago the owner OF an
automobile was the butt of the jester
Today he Is the envy OF his friends
and ncighbors.
Twelve years ago the motorist who
could take a drive for a few miles
without getting stuck was the excep-
ton. Today the tour OF 900 miles
or more with nothing TO do but start.
steer and stop is the recreation OF
thousands
Twelve years ago the motor vehlcls
as commercial utility was unknown.
Today there are thousands of them.
Twelve years hence will see its use
practically universal.
Twelve years ago the investment in
the production of motor cars amount>l
10 few hundred thousand dollars.
| Today the investments run into the
hundreds OF millions.
Twelve years ago there were only a
few thousand persons employed In
/ the industry. Today II gives employ.
ment TO hundreds OF thousands and
furnishes a livelihood for more than
100000.
Great as has been the DEVELOPMENT
OF the motor car. IL has not been with.
out its handicaps. In some respects
It's growth has been too rapid for its
own well-being.
The manufacturer OF motor cars
opened up new fields of usefulness.
II created new opportunities for brains
but unfortunately brains did not de
Nelop as fast as the demand for their
product
In spite Of the fact that the Supply
OF really good motor cars has not
equaled the possible sale the well.
Delng OF the Industry has suffered
much. Because OF its seemingly ROSY
future, many We're misled into the be
Hei that Il was any mans business.
The result has been that automobile
manufacturers (?) sprang up in al
most every nook and Granny of The
country. Equipped with a few blue.
prints and but little more than black.
smiths outfit they announced 20 the
world their new and marvellous crea-
ton. Maybe they build a lot and sell
n lot OF them. But 10 gives "A black
eye to the industry They buvsrs
either become unfavorable advertise
ments for their automobile in general
OF their appeutes are whetted Just
enough TO make them want something
better. II is difficult to determine
which outbalances the other.
The real motor car. the one that IL
worthy Of the name. must be some
thing more than a mere assembly OF
components obtained indiscriminafelv
motor here. transmission there
an axle some place else. and a score
or more OF other parts in as many
different places
In the constant. the efficient. the
dependable and the economical car
every individual piece. down 10 the
last nut and screw. must be made 10
work In harmony with every other
part
such car can be the result only
or experience. equipment. skill. know
how and organization. These essen.
uans are not obtainable I'm day.
month. or year
The upbuilding OF an ADEQUATE
equipment and efficient organization.
the kind that 10 takes 10 manufacture
motor cars that will be what thew
ought 70 be-. De- a slow and tedious pro.
cess
10 requires work-hard work-apd
lots ~ it Do requires study. Il 10.
qlIros skill and 90 requires time
The last twelve years have recorded
r'm1rkahI" development The mort
twelve. yrs. The next two or three
VIII record many more
The past has seen dsvpIopmarts
tn Tho motor car ifasif The near
future viii record changes In the "a.
ness Itself Or will see an ournira.
ror of tho unworthy and The unfit f1r
only Che good nudurea