The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-02-21


more than this saving in time the
automobile means to civilization of
the day cannot be put down in figures.
Its influence is felt everywhere. Prop
erty values soar because of its ability
to annihilate distance, it is splen-
did tonic and health builder, it widens
the vision, and it employs, either in
the actual making of cars or indi-
rectly grand army of workers whose
number runs into the millions.
Nothing has happened along which
has made such a tremendous stir on
this gold old globe. SO changed condi-
lions and ultimately made itself such
a positive necessity as the automobile
| No Longer IL 1t q Luxury.
! Time was when the automobile was
rated as luxury and not much more.
But that has passed. The modern mo-
\ tor car is not a luxury with the
masses. Business Of the day finds it
necessity and it will play even q
greater part in the business OF the fu-
ture.
For some years the commerce Of the
nation has been on high speed. The
only way to keep abreast of it is to be
going some" yourself. as the common
expression puts it. The congested re-
tail districts in metropolitan cities
have given way to an area, the mere
suggestion of which ten years ago
would have stamped the prophet as
harmless maniac. Distance has grown
until too much time is lost in walk
ing, and here is where the automobile
comes in and makes itself a necessity.
Time never was as valuable as it is
now and the future will see it climb.
There is no other way of getting from
this point to that and a dozen more In
the same time the trip can be ac-
complished by an automobile. and that
without infringement upon the munlc-
ipal speed restrictions.
The big business man makes the cir
cult in a big car driven by a chauffeur.
The small business man or the sales
man covers the ground just as quickly
in a small car. Naturally the great
est field is among the same folks, ana
they have the satisfaction of just as
good a ride as the owners of the high
priced cars. No jealousy exists. honors
are even.
Benefits Of the Industry.
No matter if certain people do make
most money out of automobiles the
fact remains that the profits from the
industry reach all classes. The army
of workers in the factories. hundreds
of thousands in the accessory business,
and the producers of the raw materials
and their helpers. the benefit goes
many ways, hence 1t reaches every
body in some manner. 1t affects the
builder. the real estate man, the gro
Ger, the butcher and all retailers. in
turn, this is felt by the wholesalers
and manufacturers and agriculturists
"a sort of endless chain. And these
people have to be UP and doing when
competition is as 1t is in all lines.
hence another contribution to the
necessity of the modern automobile.
The industry itself consists of $50
makers of motor cars employing thou
sands of workmen, mostly skilled and
paid good wages. There are more
than $1,000 local dealers in the country
and about 1000 garagemen who do not
sell cars. There are hundreds OF
makers of accessories with their working
organizations.
Then there are those who produce
the steel, aluminium and brass which
enter into the cars. also the lumber, l