Omaha daily bee., 1916-04-23

four hundred automobile manufacturers
during the last five years.
While ordinarily statistics make dry
reading. few Of those In connection
with the automobile business ! am sure
will be interesting IN throwing light on
the romance Of motor car making. The
most striking figures are those OF $4,000
cars sold In 1916. the average price for
passenger cars being s6i2, whereas In
1907, when 5000 cars were made, the
average price was s2.l23, and yet todaya
cars are better In every way
For the future Of the business II IA
to be noted that 100000 carriages a
year were sold annually from 1908 70
1912. that according to government fig
ures, there were 100000 horse-drawn
vohicloB IN use In this country IN 1910
and that there are now 100000 farms
IN the country. one-half OF them free
from mortgages These are the figures
which warrant the belief that n million
or moro cars year can be made for
some years TO come 10 supply tho de-
mands OF our people and those Of other
nations, with a possible use for b,Ooo.Oot
motor vohicies In this country.
VIII Always he Many Companies.
There are more than one hundred and
twenty-five staple automobile companies
producing motor cars, most OF them
holding membership In the National
Automobile Chamber OF Commerce, the
organization which / have the honor 10
represent, and there is no reason to be-
leye that there will be any great de.
crease IA this number for some time.
The thought often advanced that o few
big companies would ultimately make
all the motor cars and trucks is not apt
TO prove true. because Of the variety OF
types ana styles that must be offered
10 suit the individual tastes.
IAN important feature lie the fact that
there are no so-called trusts, which some
people seem to think menace young
mans prospects. The automobile busi-
ness is an individual one, the greatest
successes having been made where plants
were directed and dominated by one MAJ
Marked success, too, has been shown
where every effort Is directed toward
producing one type Of car.
Rewards In Successful Companies.
Then, too, motor car making seems
to have been conducted on broader ana
moro altruistic lines than in older in
dustrlos. Manufacturers have not over
looked the officers and privates who
make for success. The profit sharing
and commission plans Of many Of the
leading companies. reaching far down
into the ranks. are furnishing food for
Rcrious thought TO big men Of other
trades. wbo appreciate the necessity for
securing increased loyalty and efficiency
among their employees, with fun knowl-
edge that Il Is best obtained by allowing
them TO share In the prosperity Of the
company which employs them. Talk OF
loyalty has little foundation unless those
who supply Il receive share in the
results,
That there Is wide field for the
talents Of the young men IL evidenced
by the number of trades involved In the
making Of motor cars, with the need
for good men in the shops and for lead
ers to guide and supervise them. Ma
chlnists. painters. upholsterers. foundry
men. tire men and metal and steel work.
ers of scores of different types have n
hand In producing the wonderful self
vehicles Of today.
Factories. with their various depart
ments require men for purchasing. ex-
perlmental testing. engineering, sales,
costs manufacturing and other impor-
tant branches Of factory organization,
The Car of the Future.
For designers, engineers and inventors
with real ideas a rare opportunity is
offered, because tho automobile Of today
must undergo many radical changes be-
fore II will be considered standard. While
many parts have been standardized. keep
ing the cost Of cars down 10 almost
minimum figure. there win continue TO be