Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-04-06
BY VICTOR G. KROPF.
Commissioner Tri-City Automobil,
Trade Association.

on our streets and highways today,
| It is hard to realize that the auto
mobile is so very young. There is
no adult person but easily remem-
bers his first sight OF a real horse
less carriage" as they were COM
monty called then
The automobile is only IS years
old. but in those few years the in
/ dustry has SO grown, so enlarged,
| and so prospered that there are
now over five million and a half
registered cars IN the United States,
about one to every 20 people. Iowa
/ leads in the number OF cars per
capita, while IN the tri-cities there
are over seven thousand motor We
/ hicles.
I The automobile industry has
made such gigantic strides that it is
now the third OF the great indus
/ tries in the country. the steel and
railroad industries being above it.
/ The so-called pleasure cars OF
/ few years ago. are now only a mem
DRY and every passenger car is
manufactured bought and sold for
/ service. The motor car Is more and
more being recognized as a utility
vehicle, not only IN the city, but
/ also on the farms. Indeed the
I farms are fast becoming motorized
I by the use OF tractors and motor
I trucks. Sixty-two per cent OF all
| the automobiles and motor trucks
are made for and sold to farmers.
/ The real appreciation of the au
/ tomobile industry, however, has
| developed since the war began. In
I the various environments, particu-
| larly the one at Camp Dodge, Des
/ Moines, motors do so per cent of
the hauling and power work. At
the front, their Importance is well
known. The formidable tanks, the
motor ambulances, the new Lin
erty airplane motor, the transport
trucks, and the armored motor
cares made in America all play
most important part in checking
the German drive. Their presence
is said to have wonderfully steady
ing effect on the allied lines. All
these aids to our fighting forces,
are the direct result of the expert
ence and ingenuity of the automo-
bile engineer, and the efficiency of
tn automobile industry.
The fact that the entire allied
army is motorized has been the i'm
portant factor in holding back the
7 shock troops OF the desperate
Boche. 1t has been officially stated
that the motor car won the battle
of the Marine, the greatest victory
of the present war. The next deci
sive victory which will seal the
doom of Prussianism, will also be
largely due to the supremacy of
the Liberty motored aeroplane, and
the American built submarine de-
| stroyers, aided by the invincible
tank, the armored car, and motor
conveyances.
The automobile manufacturers OF
the United States were among the
first to go on record in offering
their gigantic plant capacities to
the government for the production
of war materials. The automobile
industry was able to make this Of
fer and to take on the work re-
quired because of its wonderful eff
ficiency, the precision on the work
1t had been accustomed to do; the
Standardization and interchange
ability of parts, and the highly spe-
cialiZed machines and rapid produc-
tive methods.
Thus is the automobile industry
as a live, growing and energetic
factor in the life of the world
} which touches every one by its far
reaching influence
This industry must necessarily
|. have its captains, managers,
agents, workmen and distributors.
These are found all over the coun-
try, and with them are countless
numbers of representatives of al
: lied industries which depend on
the motor car for their existence.
} There are $1,000 dealers alone in
|. the United States. These men, rec
ognizing the advantage of mutual
protection, have formed assOcia-
lions in every large city, and by
means of their cooperation are not
only greatly aiding the automobile
industry, but are also deriving
much benefit for themselves. The
car owner as well shares in this
standardization by getting uniform
service.
The Tri-City dealers were pio-
neers in association work. The
local organization was formed about
seven years ago. John w. Buck Of
the Buck Motor Car Co, was the
first president and W. L. Mason of
Mason's Garage Co., secretary. The
/ association was incorporated in
1913.
The purposes of the association
are varied and comprehensive as
follows: To encourage in every
way possible the introduction and
use OF automobiles and motor We
hicles Of all kinds in the tri-cities
and vicinity; to collect and dissent
nate information as to the con-
struction, use, and care ofthe same.
with their accessories and equip
ments, to conduct exhibitions,
shows and other displays; to pro-
mote and encourage the adoption
and enforcement of laws and re-
gulations provided for and securing
safety, convenience and comfort IN
the use maintenance and operation
of motor cars, to encourage and
assist in the establishment and
maintenance of improved highways,
roads and streets, and of just laws
regulating the safe and proper use
of the same and incident thereto,
collect, classify and keep on hand
for reference and distribution
among its members and others in
formation, data and statistics re-
sarding approved methors of road
| hufidfDe and road maintenance,