Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-03-12
GRADUALLY MOTORING NATION FOR
GREATER EFFICIENCY, STATES REPORT
TO TRI-CITY AUTO TRADE ASSOCIATION

The following report was r.
I ceiyed by Victor C. kro7f. comm.s-
( sioner of the Tri-City Auto Trade
association from the National Az
1 tomoblle Chamber of Commerce,
/ Inc. of New York. under the cap
ton Of "Motorizing the Nation for
] Greater Efficiency:
THAI the nation is fast hecom
ing motorized and therefore more
efficient for war needs is evident
I from the reports OF Alfred Reeves,
general manager of the National
Automobile Chamber OF Commerce
who has just returned from 1000
mile trip through the midwest.
where cities. farms and our mill
tary forces are showing broad aF-
probation OF the advantages OF trc
internal combustion engine in thu
present oil age" which is no y
beginning liz America.
In cities, the use of passenger
cars, trucks and busses is increaa-
ing for time-saving errands AMI
trans pOrtatIOn on the farms EasU +
line engines are used in automo
biles, tractors. threshing machines,
for Churns and a score OF Other
power-driyen appliances, while IL
,he army camps more than thirty
one thousand motor cars and trucks
are in use. In addition TO the va
rlous types of motor vehicles. there
are also aeroplanes, tractors and
similar equipment
The American nation leads the
. world in utilizing the efficient
transpor alton service furnish py
this wonderful internal-combustio1
motor, which conserves coal and
rail- transportation and besides IN
creases agricultural and manufaC-
turing production
Gasoline is so plentiful that Of
Gclals at Washington have recon-
mended its free use so there would
he no difficulty about the govern
ment obtaining its fuel supply,
which comes only after gasoline IS
taken from the crude.
In making mis- surS ely of the mo-
tor industry in the states OF New
ork. OHIO, Indiana, Illinois, Min
EcsULa. Iowa, Missouri and Aebrao-
ka, Mr. Reeves addressed special
meetings OF the automobile dealers
and manufacturers in connection
with their own industry, on a plan
for supplying mechanics Tor the
motor divisions of the army AMI
navy and on general war needs and
support OF the government money
requirements and those OF the Re!
Cross and Young Men Christian
association. He outlined ideas tor
greater efficiency in marketing mo-
tor cars and tOf greater production
on larms by the use OF tractors and
motor trucks.
while the motor industry has
made some gigantic strides real
app eCiatlOn OF il has developed
since the war began. The moJJt
car has really just become Fecog-
uized as a utility vehicle, and III
view OF the statements Of A. y.
bedford, chairman OF the p2tro-
ieum war service committee, ami
others tnat there is ample gasU-
line tor all needs. it is desirable -
operate motor cars for useful puf-
poses as much as possible instead
OF railroads.
All the western cities snow
tremendous growth in the use OF
in an interview. The farms are
being motorized to the exclusion u
the morse, and in the various cali
comments, particularly the one at
Camp Dodge, Des Moines, Iowa
motors do 80 per cent OF the maui
ing and power work.
II find automobile dealers are
no less patriotic than the manu-
.aCturers They respond willingly
TO the demand Tor mechanics from
the garages and service stations
for government service, thus join
ing with the manufacturers who
have encouraged the enlistment Of
thousands of men in that work
This, coupled with the war WORK
that the manufacturers are doing,
will bring a curtaIlment N th3
number of passenger automobiles
to be made this year. With par
ticular reference 70 the war in the
air, the automobile industry prom
ises to be even more important