The Washington times., 1916-01-01
MILLION MOTOR CARS
WILL Be MADE IN 1915
Exports of Cars and Trucks Ex-
ceeded Hundred Million DOL
lars Past Year.

Unless a shortage in materials inter
fercs, the giant strides of the automo-
bile industry should carry II well be-
yond mllion-car production in 1916,
with the figures more likely to be l,2D
100 which. combined with cars now in
use and allowing for those worn out.
should give more than 20On 900 cars on
American roads at the end OF the pres
Cnt year, or one for every fifteen per-
sons.
Where do all the cars go and how
can people afford to maintain them
is the general query whenever the In
creased sale of motor cars is mem
toned.
There's a Reason.
Were the motor car a 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 il 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 hcalth-giving properties to the man
and his family, but tc the salesman. to
the contractor. and to every otier line
OF business where rapid and economic
al transportation of the irSvidual is a
necessity.
The production OF 1915 just ended. ex-
Coeded S92 900 cars. with total reEstra- =
ton figures in excess Of 100000 in use
on the 2,2T3,OO0 miles of road Of which
this country boasts, although only 10
per cent of that mileage is improved.
This. as against a production of 1000
cars in 1899 and II 900 cars in 1903. when
the automobile industry was in its
swaddling clothes.
Demand Will Continue.
Such demand and such almost uni
vorsal use g 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 whch $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 moro than 500, ,O00,o00 IN
cluding SG3 100000 worth of trucks. were
exported. Most of these trucks We're
for war purposes. vet II is practically
certain the demand will continue in the
upbuilding of the foreign nations after
tho war
Makers have given attention to ef-
fCient carbureters that furnish more
miles per gallon; to better and cheaper
tires, and to the general construction
Of the car itself, made now 50 that its
life is prolonged for a period of many
years, instead OF being old at three or
four years.
The automobile maker knows that
there arc over 5.000.CcO farms in this
country, One-half OF them without
mortgages. and that the automobile
must replace 1n.Goc,00o or 12.'tO OCO 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 that
faces the automobile is the general be.
lief that makers. dealers, and owners
are prosperous enough TO stand heavy
taxes. Cars arc taxed to the extent
Of 14.NNO zoo n year in the form of regis,
trationS in the NariJIlS States: drivers
are taxed in order to get drivers L.
CcnScS to operate cars. while other;
have n wheel tUN: automobiles arc tax
cd aG pCrEOnal prol crtN: Ccrtom States
require costly licenses to sci! motor
cars. and now President Wilson suC-
geSts thlt automobiles should re taxed
on their horsepower ana tat EaEOlenC
used in automobiles should be faxed !;
cent y gallon. all with Il view Of raisinr
money for GoNcrnMenL use.