El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1917-01-27

secretary lercla4 Venice IoDlrulttee
"HERE 5 an erroneous impression
that the American motor truck
Industry is dependent upon the
European war for continued prosperity
and growth The war orders Of the
British, French and Russian govern
ments have been a spectacular feature
OF the industry and had a tremendously
stimulating influence. but they repre-
sent only little more than one-quar-
ter OF the total domestic production
since the war began. nearly two and
! one-half years ago, and the exports
Of trucks decreased gradually last
year while the domestic demand con-
| tinued to increase
From July I. 1914. TO October 50.
| 1910. IL IS estimated the United States
produced about $4,000 commercial
| vehicles valued at approximately ssOS-
eOu'vvO- In the same period the cOun-
! try exported 4f,04S, valued at Sic
/ Zss,504- From July I. 1916. To October
/ 80 last only 5,7S7 trucks were ex-
/ ported, as against zoos exported in the
same months Of 1915.
The manufacturer Of trucks and de-
! livery cars has increased from an esti-
mated production Jf $4,000 during the
I year 1914 10 1900 in 1875. and $4,000
/ IN 1915 Plans Of the manufacturers
| for the present year indicate a prob
able output Of $4,000 vehicles.
Plants Work To Capacity.
Truck manufacturers have been
working at the limit Of their c4pacitv
Tor the last two years; additions have
: been built 10 old plants and new fac
tories have been erected and others
are IN course OF construction sui
the domestic demand exceeds the sup
play 80 long as general prosperity
and our Industrial and commercial ac-
uVlues get no serious setback. the
manufacture and sale Of motor trucks
VIII increase rapidly. The business
world now comedies the superiority of
motor haulage and delivery over for
lner methods OF transportation for rela-
lively short distances and the practi-
cal elimination of the horse from this
Held Is only a matter of time Cost OF
manufacturing has been cut materially
IN the last two years and truck prices
have been lowered correspondence
Present tendencies among the manu-
1acturerS 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-Uon sizes, and lower prices for
the one. one and half, two, four, and
five 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 pro-
vision OF drivers cab as part Of the
chassis; also t. square spoke wheels.
Big Foreign Demand.
There has been considerable sQecula-
ton as TO how the ending OF the war
in Europe VIII affect the american
truck industry. but there does not ap-
pear to be any reason for pessimism
Visitors and inquiries from foreign
countries seeking agencies for Ameri-
can cars and trucks indicate a con-
Vlctt0n that there viii be 4 big demand
after peace is declared. and that Euro
pean factories viii be unable TO meet
II. Our trucks have gained q good
Introduction IN foreign markets and
have given such good service that they
VIII be able TO compete with European I
trucks. While many OF the trucks now
IN army service probably will be re-
turned TO private use, the Tremendous
amount OF reconstruction work to be
done Is expected 10 create an unusual
demand for new machines Should a
period Of general depression occur after ,
the war in the belliSerent countries
and their colonies our own home mar
ket VIII absorb the total output, which /
Is not now equal to the demand
Traffic congestion on the railroads !
has extended the use and sale Of trucks /
during Inc past year. and prospects /
are that II VIII require several years t. /
build enough freight cars and locomo- /
tlTeS TO make up the present shortage.
It IS impossible T. forecast with any /
degree of accuracy the future develop !
meuts Of the motor truck. The manu-
facture Of horse-drawn wagons pro-
vides some basis for estimating the mo-
tor truck absorption capacity of the
country In 1889. when the population I
OF the United states was about 75.-
100000. the mum Der of business wagons {
manufactured was $4,000. in 1904 #
was $4,000 and in 1903. So GOO with !
a population OF more than 100000. 600 I
now, and the increased activities Of .
the country. We should be building
more than 10000 wagons a year. ex-
cept for the retarding influence Of |
the motor truck. II is generally &C
cepted that one motor truck does the
work OF three hOrse-draw1. vehicles
therefore, there should be a potential
market for 100000 trucks a year. in
stead OF 100000 wagons, If they can take
the place OF wagons in all fields Of
work.
Using 100000 Wagons.
But II Is fair to assume that wagons
have an average life Of ten years, and
that on this basis there are In use to-
day at least 5000. 600 wagons. No doubt
the number Is much larger. because
there are $500. 600 farms in the conn
try and every farm needs one or more
wagons And this takes no account Of
the hundreds Of thousands Of wagons
used In cities and towns It viii re-
quire 1000, 600 motor trucks and de-
livery wagons TO replace the horse
drawn wagons now In use.
Motor truck manufacturers. who are
producing less than 100000 year now,
could double their output each success
sive year for five years before they
could replace the wagons IN use. The
motor truck industry is in about the !
same position NOW that the passenger
car business was in five years ago, and |
while there are many dOubters who !
think that the motor truck never viii !
displace the horse in the rural districts /
it is not to be forgotten that il was |
generally supposed five years ago Ut
more that this same belief existed with
regard TO the passenger automobile
whereas the fact is that farmers are
now the largest buyers OF passenger
cars.
100000 Trucks Operating.
Undoubtedly. there are very few per
sons who have any conception of the (
value Of the service that the relatively
few motor trucks as vet in use are
rendering to the country. There are
to be az least 100000 in use
~. ~. -.