Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1918-02-18
Production in 1917 Narrowly
Misses 100000 Mark
Optimism Keynote of
Show.

for the natural curtAilment Of the
last few months due to the offer by
all representatives of the industry to
the Government of their plants for
the making of war munitions, the
production. based on the proportion
ate increase Of the early part of the
year. would have reached the two
ton, estimated by the National
Chamber. was ~1,4s5,S17 cars. The
year which has just closed. there
fore, showed an increase in car pro-
duction OF 32?.371.
h cars would not have been
produced if they were not wanted,
and it is the fact that the American
public recognizes so keenly the utility
OF the automobile for so many essen
tiAl needs that inspires the optimism
for the future in every branch of the
industry.
The automobile business, including
not only the finished machine as
turned out from the factory, but all
of its widely related interests. is the
third largest manufacturing industry
In the country. 1t has survived some
severe trials during the year. Its
loyalty to the government eve since
the entry OF the United tates, into the
war has been u%naucstioned. and it
has proved its worth from the fact
that nearly 40 per cent Of the nan
~ufActuring facilities in the country is
engaged in supplying the government
not only with thousands of transport
trucks. but with many other NUM-
tions for the use Of our army here
and abroad, as we'll as for the allied
countries.
The industry, including accessory
and tire. manufacturers. and various
other interests directly dependent
upon the automobile for commercial
life, represents an invested capital Of
more than one and a quarter billion
dollars. EMPLOYS nearly a million
wage earners. pays three-quarters or
a billion dollars in wages and sal
aries yearly, and produces and sells
cars to the value Of one and a quarter
billion dollars annually. There are
$50 car and truck manufacturers in
the country, 1880 parts and access
sorry markers, 27,Soo distributors and
pair shops, and $500 accessory sup
ply houses. At the end of 1917 there
were more than $500, 900 motor cars
and trucks registered and in use in
the United States.
The present show is the reply Of
the industry to the lar
reports circulated in the last few
weeks, such as the view of the nom
essential character of the automobile,
n hat it's manufacture was to be
curtailcd and even suspended alto
gether during the war, how supplies
of steel and other materials and Of
coal were to be denied to h fac
tories and how the use OF passenger
cars for private enjoyment was to be
stopped because of scarcity of gas
oline.
While these reports cast gloom
throughout the trade and among US
ers, not one las materialized or been
borne out by official action. On the
contrary, they. have been publicly de-
have been given by the Petroleum
Division Of the United States Bureau
Of Mines that the gasoline situation
has improved materially in the past
few months, and an ample supply is
in sight for all legitimate require
ments.
Motor cars are such an essential
that any threatened shortage of the
supply only makes the desire to buy
them more insistent. In the present
circumstances, it is more patriotic to
buy n use automobiles and trucks
than to use horses. The motor car
increases the efficiency and produc-
tiveness of the business man and the
increases the efficiency and produc-
tiveness of the business man and the
armer 1t takes h place of horses
and mules that are required by the
army and on the farm.
The automobile show is the years
dispeller Of gloom n doubts. 1t
starts the year off with a keynote of
optimism that sounds throughout the
automobile trade n reaches gen
eral business conditions. 1t is more
important to hold the show during a
period Of depression than when all
lines of business are active.
The present show will have the
same effect that the show of 1901
had. which opened on the day Of the
panic on the New York Stock Ex-
change. Dealers from all parts of
the country will return home with
renewed enthusiasm and assured that
conditions. are not nearly so bad as
they had supposed.
There never has been a year since.
the introduction of the automobile in
produced and sold than in any prev
ious year, despite panics, hard times,
and a 1t was true in Canada last
year and the year before. despite the
large part Canada has taken In the
war. America must not be compared
with England and France. There the
use of cars had to be curtailed. ana
finally denied to private be-
cause of gasoline shortage. and the
factories had to be devoted to pro-
: duction of war materials.
1t is a significant fact that the
show this year actually has a larger
number of exhibitors than ever be-
fore. Eighty-six different manufac-
ing companies will display nearly 400
complete cars n chassis of every
model and type. ranging in price
from $445 to $4,000. Including those.
who show accessories and parts, there
are 335 exhibitors in the Palace.
1t is estimated that "a per cent of
the cars used in this country are of
American make, and if "a comparison
were to be made upon values. this
percentage would be still higher. for
1t car be safely computed that the
motor cars owned in the United
States aggregate a value Of nearly S5,-
OO0.O0O,00 an estimate placed on a
bAsis Of rating IS per cent Of thu total
number registered las year at ST. 900
each. and the remaining quarter, or
rs per cent, at $4,000 each, both fig
ures being conservative, as the price
Of motor cars varies from as low as
1900 to $4,000 and over for the high
powered limousine, with its special
body work.
To keep these automobiles going,
a11,0oA 900 tires were made last year,
the value Of WHICH is placed at $45o,-
MOORE AND TORRANCE
ApmMISTIc OWED SHOW