Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1916-09-24
SOUTH AFRICAN
MOTOR DEALERS
Johannesburg Dealer Visits
America and Tells of IN
teresting Conditions.

motor car dealers in British South
Africa is at present in this country
making arrangements for distributing
United states OF America accessories
throughout that country as well as
travelling over tho United States. This
person IL william Campbell, Johan-
nesburg, who Is the Maxwell dealer in
mat CITY, and also represents Prest-
O-Ilte batteries, Simms magnetos and
other United States OF America prod
ucts
Mr. Campbell. Scotchman by
birth, has the reputation Of being one
of the shrewd dealers in that coun-
try. In the last nine months he DIS.
tributed over six hundred Maxwell
cars. and will exceed that figure Very
materially this year. He recently sold
fltty TO the government for war pur-
poses In German East Africa.
According to Mr.. Campbell. the
United states OF America cars are
selling In greater quantities than any
other cars In British South Africa.
This is partly due 10 the fact that
European cars are not available. and
also to the fact that our cars are
low priced and well suited for the
rough roads Of British South Africa.
Farmers Biggest Buyers.
Tho majority of United States of
reckon their land in morgens Instead
of acres. A morgcn equals 25 acres.
and many of the farmers own thou
sand or moro morgens. South Africa
thus resembles Argentina in that it is
not land of small farmers as in our
Mississippi large farmers, this being
duo to great areas and sparse popu-
lation.
At prcent Ford is the biggest seller
Ia. NYtf f,G.
well close second. Other large
sellers are overland Buick, S,ude-
baker, Hupmuhile, Chevrolet, Dodge
and Cadillac Cadillac has been tho
largest seller of United States OF
America high-priced cars. From four
to six times as many of these cars
have been sold since the war as prior
to 1t, condition largely due to the
inability to secure European cars.
British South Africa is II country
without roads. IN this respect it is
worse than Australia. worse than Ar
gentina and practically Hs bad as
Brazil. In Johannesburg, city OF
two hundred thousand whites, there
are good roads no further than five
miles out in the country. In British
South Africa the population of cities
is generally estimated on the number
OF whites, rs they represent the po-
Ntilldl purchasing tNIuNllN tI 'nt
city. In addition to these whites
there are 100000 colored in the
greater Johannesburg area. giving a
total population OF 10000.
Outside OF the cities the roads are
mere trails, two ruts, and often be-
tween these the ground is six To eight
inches high. which demand cars OF
good clearance, ten inches being best
suited for the work. In many places
. Ia, I,ix
the Ncldt or plains. Recently Mr.
Campbell mado trip or l,S2b mlleS,
driving from cape Town at the south
end OF the continent to Johannesburg.
the distance between these two towns
IL ! 900 miles ny direct route. Gcner-
bridges. making fordiug essential.
According to the rules OF the road
in British South Africa, you pass 40
the left, instead of the right. as We
do This calls for ears with steering
wheel ON the right-hand side. the
Same MS required In South America, /
Australia and England. The fiNc-
passenger touring car IL the big seller !
Tho solo of roadsters IL perhaps 10 |
per cent that OF touring cars. There |
is very limited demand for coupes, |
but practically mono for sedans OF
cahriolots.
MI. Campbell can place no practical |
estimate ON the total number of cars !
In British South Africa. The figure |
is somewhere in the 1900 range. Tho |
country has total population OF |
1880 0o0, or little less than Uruguay !
In South America.
At present there are approximately |
the following number of motor cars IN |
the following cities:
To ,1Nas .N.1.f A.