Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1917-11-04
NORWAY WANTS
AMERICAN CARS
Scandinavian Countries Will
Prove Fertile Field After
the European War.

Blrger Jacobson, honorary cores
pendent OF the Royal Automobile club
in Christianla and Copenhagen. has
returned from an extensive trip thru
Scandinavia, and in an article in the
Automobile anu Automotive Industries
says:
Scandinavia promises to be fer
tile field after the war for the sale
OF American automobiles, trucks and
tractors. Altho motor vehicle use In
this part of the world is at present at
a standstill. there Is plenty of money
ready for the purchase of cars, trucks
and tractors when the war is over,
when normal shipping conditions will
prevail. That is the big problem at
present Difficulties in importing
hampering of shipping conditions,
etc, have all had their potent effect
on motor vehicle use In the Scandina-
Wan countries. Sweden, Denmark, and
Norway. Mr.. Jacobson has just re-
turned from an extensive trip thru this
section and the results of this trip
have impressed him with the fact that
close attention should be paid these
countries In the Ecompetition for trade
after the war.
1.-THE automobile is really starting
in Scandinavia, where the United
States began ten years ago. The peo-
pie have awakened to the needs Of
motor vehicle. Public garages are
being built; the farmers hatred for
this class of vehicle has disappeared;
legal restrictions have been elimi-
mated; plans for good roads are on the
way; and in fact everything that op-
posed the progress OF the motor We
hicle five years ago has been elipi-
mated by an insistent demand from
people who have suddenly become
rich from war business.
Conditions in these three countries
are now abnormal. The use of gaso-
line Is practically prohibitive on ac-
count OF the scarcity and the unusu-
ely high price, ranging from 81 TO 50
a gallon. Its use has been regulated
by all the countries. A royal decree
has just been issued in Sweden to con-
serve that country's supply of gaso-
line. Permission to buy gasoline there
must be secured from the industrial
commission. Before the issuing of the
royal decree Sweden mad a fixed price
for all gasoline held by the govern
ment.
ION the other hand. those who had
large amounts of gasoline in store
and who were not under a license sold
this fuel above SO a gallon. Gasoline
In Sweden has always been high. AT
the beginning of the war Is sold at As
cents a gallon. As means OF con-
serving the supply before the recent
royal decree, the Danish government
made 1t a rule to take over seven hun
dred out of every one thousand gal
Ions received by dealer. New sup
plies have become SO scarce that
hardly anyone can buy. even the roy
atty are using horses instead OF auto
mobiles. Only IN long runs are auto
mobiles being used, and even then
much consideration is given to the use
of the railway.
There are very few tires in Swe-
den and Norway, and tho Denmark
has a limited number of tires, only
90 per cent of them are being used be-
cause of the scarcity Of gasoline. In
many cases Swedish buyers are paying
$500 for one tire. The Royal
Automobile club Of Norway is now
licensing all buyers OF tires and is CO.
operating with Great Britain to see
that none Of these get out of the coun-
try.
"As a result of the scarcity of gaso-
line the use of alcohol and kerosene
was considered. Denmark Is using
large amount of kerosene and alco-
hol. Sweden started using wood alco-
hol, but the temperance league passed
rules forbidding It, so that the coun-
try Is Just as bad off as ever.
Great Britain rules In regard to
the shipment of tires to the Scandi-
navian countries has practically made
1t impossible for any tires to reach
that section of the world. Sweden
and Denmark at present are finding
II hard to procure import licenses,
Consequently few shipments Of Ameri-
can goods are reaching these ports
"The scarcity of horses in Dem
mark has opened up big market for
trucks and tractors. Denmark with
q population of 100000 Is q big farm
ing country. and has big prospects for
the sale of farm tractors. Sweden Is
mostly industrial and forms q good
market for trucks. Norway, on the
ether hand, concentrates It's business
activities on fishing and shipping.
This country with its huge tonnage
will, together with Sweden, after the
war, handle . lot Of transit goods to
Russia and with Its very good harbors
transshipments will be made
Each section Of the world has In
own style Of bodies, colors, eto., when
II comes to the purchasing Of auto
mobiles. Dark and closely allied hues
seem 70 the the predominationg oolors
in Scandinavia"