South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-01-05
WHAT AUTOMOBILE
MEANS TO FARMER
Saves Valuable Time of Men
and Horses, Permits Use of
Increased Acreage.


lied armies in Europe and also the
civil population Of the United States
and to a very large extent that Of
ENGLAND. France italy and Belgium.
At the same time the farmer is con-
fronted with a shortage of labor.
hish wages and greatly increased
cost of keeping horses. These con-
ditions make IL necessary for him
20 increase his own efficiency and
that OF his men and his land
TIC do this ne must make more
use Of time-saving and labor-saving
machinery said Charles Clifton,
president OF the national automobile
chamber OF commerce, in an inter
view. The farm tractor for plow-
ing, narrowing and cultivatinS af-
lords the farmer the most advanced
means of greatly increasing his pro-
duction without hiring more men or
using more horses. The automobile
and motor truck furnish a means
OF independent transportation that
is essential 10 the farmer under
present conditions.
Help i'm Transportation.
40 element of our population is
so dependent or individual transpor-
tation as the farmer. Usually he
is miles from the nearest railroad
station and he has a great volume
90 hauling 10 do. with a motor
truck he can haul larger loads than
with "a team of horses and can make
several trips TO market I'm a day
for every one with a team. The
horses can be kept on the farm for
use i'm the fields for hauling wood
from the wood lot and for various
other work. Wit. a motor truck il
is entirely practicable 10 haul a load
of farm produce 10 cities 40 TO 30
miles away and return home the
same day. This is highly important
bon riew Of the critical freight con-
gestion on the railroads and the
need OF relieving them OF short-haul
work
The superior speed Of the motor
truck enables the farmer 10 take
advantage of dry weather, when the
roads are i'm good condition. TO do
the bulk Of his hauling" continued
Mr.. clifton. 1T also permits him 10
get immediate benefit of market
conditions when prices are high.
Appreciate Advantage.
Farmers appreciate the many
advantages of the passenger auto
mobile This is shown by the fact
that there are two 10 three times
as many motor cars in proportion
TO population in Iowa, Nebraska
and other agricultural states in the
middle west as in New York. New
Jersey. Connecticut. Rhode Island,
Massachusetts and other Industrial
states in the east. Farmers are es-
timated to own nearly half the au-
tomobiles in the United States and
are the largest buyers at the pres
ent time. The largest increase in
registrations during the first half of
1918 occurred in agricultural states
as follows. Arkansas, 81 per cent,
Louisiana. 81; Iowa, Al; oklahoma,
So: New Mexico. SO. and oregon. IS,
Iu the manufacturing states the in
creases were: New York. "A per
cent. Connecticut. Is. Rhode Island
81. Delaware, 20; Illinois, Is, and
Michigan, is.
The farmer uses his car as a
utility vehicle almost entirely. He
drives into town and back in an
hour where the trip would take halt
a law with a horse and buggy. He
nils the tonneau with cases of eggs,
"a tub of butter. cans of milk. sacks
OF potatoes or even a calf. sheep or
crate Of chickens, and brings back
rolls of wire fencing. roofing, paper,
tools or anything else needed on
the farm. If some part of NOW
ing machine. reaper. cultivator or
other farm machine breaks. a quick
run 10 town in the car will bring
the replacement part in an hour
or two So that the time lost by tbs
men and machine IS reduced 10y sew
eral hours
I'm Touch With NeiShbors.
The automobile makes il posi-
ble for the farmer 20 keep in close
touch with his neiehbors and with
the outside world. He and his fami-
Is and farm hands can attend
church. social gatherings. entertain
ments. political meetings. lectures
on improved agricultural methods
good roads meetings, etc, in the
evenings and on Sundays. and re-
turn home at a reasonable hour
Meanwhile. the horses get necessary
rest nm the stable. Thus an are
refreshed and dt for the next DAYS
work. The younger children can be
driven 10 and from The graded
schools that are replacing the OLD
one-rocm district schools and regu-
larity OF attendance greatly in
creased.
This facility of getting abou'
easily and quickly relieves the mo-
uotony or farm life. makes the boy.
and girls and help more contentet
and tends 90 retard the movement
from the farm 90 the city
Every PASSENGER automobile useC
means that at least one horse car
he dispensed with. concluded IN,
head Of the automobile manufac-
turers' association. Each horse re.
quires uve acres Of land for his sup.
port By usinC the car. the farmel
can devote nve acres of good land
20 raising wheat. potatoes or ,-hei
staples FOR human consumption ol
for raising beef or mutton. a mo
cor truck take~ the place or at ieas