The Washington times., 1916-01-01
MILLION MOTOR CARS
WILL Be MADE IN 1916
Exports of Cars and Trucks Ex-
Ceeded Hundred Million DOL
lars Past Year.

Unless a shortage in materials inter
feres, the giant strides of the automo-
bile industry should carry II well be-
yond a million-car production in 1916
with the figures more likely to be l.2OO.'
400, which, combined with cars now In
use and allowing for those worn out
ahouId give more than 3,00p,0 900 cars on
american roads at the end oil the pres
cnt year, or one for every fifteen per-
sons
where do all the cars go and how
is the general query whenever the In
creased sale of motor cars Is men,
toned.
There's a Reason.
Were the motor car mere luxury,
as it was ten or twelve years ago. sell
ing at $4,000 or 5000, and costing a
substantial sum to maintain, the query
might be a very proper one. but with
the present low price of cars that are
maintained at low cost. and which have
such varied uses in business as well as
in pleasure, the question Is no more
proper than It would be to ask how
people can spend as much money as
they do for car fares and telephones.
Every day presents new services that
the automobile can render, not alone
in health-giving properties to the man
and his family. but to the salesman, to
the contractor, and to every otner line
OF business where rapid and economic
al transportation of the iESSvidual Is a
necessity.
The production of 1915 just ended. ex-
ceeded $4,000 cars with total Teglstra-
ton figures in excess OF 100000 in use
on the 2,273,O00 miles of road Of which
this country boasts, although only 1O
per cent of that mileage is improved.
This, as against a production of $1,000
cars in 1899 and II, 900 cars in 1903. when
the automobile industry was in its
swaddling clothes.
Demand Will Continue.
Such a demand and such almost uni
versal use IS a response to the won
derful convenience and health-giving
value OF the automobile and the great
appreciation of the low cost and low
maintenance cars which $50 manufac-
turers and 10000 dealers are offering to
the American public and to the coun-
tries of the world; for. of last years
production more than 500 0OOO 900 in
cluding S63. 100000 worth of trucks. were
exported. Most of these trucks were
for war purposes. yet II Is practically
certain the demand will continue in the
upbuilding of the foreign nations after
the war.
Makers have given attention to ef.
ficient carbureters that furnish more
miles per gallon; to better and cheaper
tires, and to the general construction
Of the car itself, made now so that Its
life is prolonged for a period of many
years, instead OF being old at three oil
four years.
The automobile maker knows that
there are over 5.000,CC0 farms in this
country, one-half OF them without
mortgages, and that the automobile
must replace 10.l0c, 600 or II. 100 OO0 horse
drawn vehicles that were in use in the
country in 1910. Moreover. this country
must supply cars to foreign countries
for some time to come.
Cars Taxed Heavily.
Probably tho greatest danger thai
faces the automobile is the general be
lief that makers. dealers, and owners
are prosperous enough TO stand heavy
taxes. Cars are taxed to the exten
Of S14,oO0, coo year in the form of regis
trations in the various States: .lrlvcri
are taxed in order to get drivers IT,
censes to operate cars. while other!
have n wheel t0x: automobiles arc tax
ed as personal proI erty; certain State
require costly licenses to sell moto
cars, and now President Wilson sug
gests that automobiles should re taxed
on their horsepower and that Gasolen'
used in automobiles should be taxed ;
cent Il CallCn. all with "a view of raisin:
money for Government use.