Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-08-06
FACTS AND F|GURES0F
AUTOMOBILE INDUSTRY
Rapid Increase in Production Is Lost
Sight Of by the Busy
Public.
VAST MONEY SUMS INVOLVED
One Concern Alone Turns Out S1tO.-
100000 Worth OF Cars in Six
MonthS-Farmer Leads the List
of Buyers.

Some of the statistical figures OF the
automobile industry are enhancing.
They form a romance of big business
and prodigious capital that has never
been coualed in tho history OF the
world. says The Automobile" When
it is noted that one concern alone turns
out In a half year, over s1l?,00o,o 600
worth Of cars. It seems almost beyond
comprehension that there should be
any room for other manufacturers. and
yet there are nincty-eight others not
turning out as many. but practically
all prosperous and all with definite
manufacturing schedules. During the
year Of 1915, from January ! to De-
cember 80. Sa2.6lS cars were produced.
This seems like a tremendous nunbel
and yet, during the first half OF 1916.
Sc per cen, OF that total have already
been made. In 1914, 500, 600 cars were
manufactured; during tho first half OF
1916 that many and more th,n half
again as much have been shipped.
Predictions OF 1900, 900 cars for 1916
do not seem far amiss, even though
this is an increase OF more than 50
per cent Over 1915. or in actual mum
bers. SOC. 600 more cars made his year
than last.
The total retail value OF the pas
senRer cars built In tho United states
In 1915 was S565. 400. hus far In
1915. or for the period of the first half
year. the retail value of the passenger
cars is in excess of s4Sl loo, o0Q.
One OF the most important problems
in connection with the work Of a big
production concern is that of distrt-
button. 1t Is necessary to know the
territory and the people In which the
49,. --- a.. - - 800 F@.- lat.
which would tend to bring out infor-
nation regarding which States are In
.creasinG fastest in number of cars, or.
in other words. which are buying most.
fs OF greatest interest. 1t has been
said that the farmer is the greatest
car purchaser OF to-day, and this seems
borne out when II is noted that Ohio
bought more cars than any other state
during the last half of 1915 and the
first half OF 1916. Actual figures can
not be given for increase up to July /,
1915. but for the six months ending
January /. 1916, the number OF cars in
Ohio increased by $500, or As per
cent over It's previous number.
Farmer Buyer Greatest.
The farmer is all-important as =
car buyer. In Oklahoma, the Increase
Of cars for the year of 1916, as COM
pared with 1915, insofar az figures can
he compiled at the present time, is @50
per cent. In Mississippi il is 1913 per
cent. In Louisiana, 2l0 per cent, ana
in Idaho, III per cent. In the great
farming State Of Iowa. there is on,
car TO every fourteen persons in Ne
hraska. one TO every twenty persons. !
md throughout the other big farm
ms States on the corn and wheat belts
similar conditions prevail. The coun-
~ fair OF to-day is incomplete win
out It's attending automobile exhibits. |
And unlike many of the prctcutiotts
= tIf nhI1a Shnu,o hold fln fn 80, -. ...- ]
iuRliy come to buy as we'll rs 10 look /
During the six months din July
j. 1916. the number of passenger cars
exported to foreign countries has been
in excess Of 3S,0o0 and valued at more
Than $4,000. 600. Detailed figures arc
not az yet available for the month OF
dune. hut from January until the cnd
of May the average monthly eXporta-
ton was 5,Gi5 cars and the average
value Of The car shipped abroad was
$t,oa:,S SIS per month. The enact totals
Of tho passenger cars shipped from the
country during the five months ending
June !, 1916, was 2S.227 cars, valued
q; s?0.9co.3oS.
During the frst half Of 1915 tho
number Of passenger cars made peri
month in the United States averaged
~i25,sl1. With the average monthlv en-
poriation Of 5,G45, just about Gig per
cent OF our total passenger car pro
duction IS shipped abroad. Uncle Sam
prooapI! WILL always continue I" be
MS own pest. CUSTOMER, but the markets
OF the world are open to him and the
proba hilities are that the close Of tn,
European conflict will open large mar.
kets which are now inaccessible II
is. OF course, natural TO assume that
the home Industries of~4;urope viii he
protected, but II conditions are as thcv
might he expected 10 be, the market
for automobiles will be larger than
the recreated European factories can
handle.
TO eum up the situation. the 754.oOo |
cars which have been made have prac-
tioally all been sold. and in many sec
lions or tho country dealers are already
clamorins for their share OF the other
100000 which are 10 be manufactured
during the remaining six months. and
when the year Of 1916 chall come to
y close. II present conditions hold un-
TIL the end. tho United Statea will have
been enriched by tho possession Of
considerably more than $1,000 600. 900
worth OF cars.