Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1917-03-03
INDUSTRY
INDEPENDENT
Upon WARSALES
Horse Drawn Wagons Cannot
Compete With Motor Truck;
Farmers Use Motors
ey II. ". PERRY


Der OF Commerce, in the New York
Times.
II is an erroneous impression that
the American motor truck industry is
dependent upon the European war for
continued prosperity ard growth. The
war orders Of the British, French and
Russian governments have been a
spectacular feature of the industry
and had a tremendously stimulating
influence, but they represented only
little more than Cne-Quarter OF tho to-
tai domestic production since the war
/ began, nearly two and Cne-half years
ago. and the exports Of trucks have
been decreasing gradually this year
+ while the domestic demand has con
| tinued TO increase.
10000 to 1900
From July TO December 80. it is
estimated the United States produced
about $4,000 commercial vehicles
valued at approximately $30S, 900
In the same period the country
exported l1.04S. valued at SIZE
,j64. From July ]. 1916. to Octo-
Der 20 last. only 57S7 trucks were
exported, as against 1908 exported in
the same months last year.
rhc manufacturer of trucks and de-
livery cars has increased from an esti-
mated production of 10000 during the
year 1914 TO 1900 in 1915. and &c.
600 last yer. Plans of the manHfac-
turers for the coming year indicate a
probable OUTPUT of $4,000 vehicles.
Truck manufacturers have been
working at the limit Of their capacity
for the last two years; additions have
been built to old plants and new fac
tories have been erected and others
are in course Of construction. Still the
domestic demand exceeds the supply.
So long as general prosperity and our
! industrial and commercial activities
get no serious setback, the manufac-
ture and sale of motor trucks will in
crease rapidly. The business world
now comedies the superiority of motor
haulage and delivery over former
methods of transportation for relative
ly short distances and the practical
| elimination Of the horse from the
field is only a matter of time Cost
Of manufacturing has been cut ma
terially in the last two years and
truck prices have been lowered cor
respondingly.
intermediate Sizes
| Present tendencies among the manu-
facturerS are toward building more in
termediate sizes of trucks, particularly
of two and one-half and three and one
half tons capacity; toward higher
| prices for trucks Of six tons capacity
and up, and of the intermediate and
three ton sizes. and lower prices for
the one, one and a half, two, four and
Ifive ton models; toward a return to
right side steering and control and
worm and internal gear drive There
is also some increase in the use Of
electric starters. governors, single
rear tires. cast-steel radiators and the
provision of drivers cab as part of
! the chassis; also to square spoke
| wheels. .-a"s
No Reason for Pessimtsm .."
There has been considerable specu-
lation as how the ending of the war
in Europe will affect the American
truck industry, but there does not ap-
pear to be any reason for pessimism.
Visitors and inquirers from foreign
countries seeking agencies for Ameri.
can cars and trucks indicate a con-
| viction that there will be a big de-
mand after peace is declared, and that
European factories will be unable to
meet II. Our trucks have gained a
good introduction In foreign markets
and have given such good service that
they will be able to compete with Eu-
ropean trucks. While many of the
trucks now in army service probably
Will be returned TO private use, the
tremendous amount of reconstruction
work TO be done is expected to create
an unusual demand fer new machines.
| Should period of general depression
| occur after the war in the belligerent
countries and their colonies our own
home market will absorb the total
output, which is not now equal to the
demand.
Traffic Congestion Helped
Traffic congestion on the railroads
has extended the use and sale of
trucks during the past year, and pros
poets are that it will require several
years to build enough freight cars and
locomotives to make up the present
shortage.
It is impossible to forecast with any
degree of accuracy the future develop
'nents of the meter truck. The manu-
facturers OF horse drawn wagons pro-
Tides some basis for estimating the
motor truck absorption capacity of the
country. In 1899. when the population
Of the United States was about 49,
| 100000. the nuTIber of business wag-
ons manufactured was $40 900; in 1904
it was $4,000. and in 1909. 5S7.0 0O.
! With population Of more than 100
| 900, 900 now, and the increased activi-
ties OF the country. we should be
building more than 7Jo. 700 wagons a
year. except for the retarding influ-
ence of the motor truck 1t is general
" accented that one motor truck does
the work Of three horse drawn We
hicles: therefore. there should be a
potential market for $4,000 trucks p
wear. instead Of $4,000 wagons. il
they con take the place OF wagons
N al fields of work
! mn mn q.