Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1919-03-23
A WORLD-W AUTO
FAMINE is PREDICTED
AS SHOWN IN FIGURES

The entire world will not be able to
produce enough automobiles to supply
the demand this year.
On December 81, 1918, it was esti-
mated that there were only 5,545 fin
ished cars in the hands of automobile
manufacturers. This represents only
three days normal production-three
days normal sales.
The market literally has been
drained by the first wave of the con-
stantly increasing tide of prosperity
which is now sweeping over the coun-
try The situation, already acute in
many cities, is bound to grow worse
this spring.
Owing to the relatively small pro-
ductlon the last two years. there is
shortage of 100000 automobiles in the
United States at the present time, ac-
cording to government figures.
In 1918, the total production of cars
was 1,044.754 against 4,737,151 the
previous year. In 1915 the production
was 1851. So last years produc-
ton was the smallest since 1915. Nor
mally, the output increases at the rate
of 40 per cent year. Had this rate
prevailed last year the output would
have been two and quarters of a
million cars, or more than double
what it actually was.
In 1915 and 1916 there were abnor-
NAL increases of fifty and eighty per
cent respectively, but in 1917 the in
crease dropped to II per cent, So
there is an apparent shortage at the
present time of 100000 cars. being the
difference between actual production
and what it would have been under
the normal 40 per cent increase.
Because of the slowness of the re-
turn to normal production it is esti-
mated that the output of cars in 1919
which would be needed to make up
this shortage.
The growth of the automobile bust
ness has been one of the marvels of
modern times. In 1909 only 121, 1861
cars were produced. In 1917 the pro-
duction had increased to 1,737,000.
The total capital invested is $1,297,-
as the outstanding stock of the entire
Standard Oil group, of thirty-five
companies and exceeded the capital
of all the national banks at the end of
1916.
The wages paid in this industry,
which is now the third largest in the
United States, exceeded by 500, 000,-I
900 all the gold in circulation in the
United States in 1915 and was equal
to three-quarters of the governments
ordinary receipts
There are now more than 4,000,000
automobiles in use in the United States
alone. These cars develop 100, ,000l
horsepower or ten time the total pow
err of all other kinds in the country. !
In passenger mites travelled and pas
senger capacity these cars exceed
those of railways and street cars COM
binod.
The reason for this is that transport
tation is the greatest business in the !,
world and automobiles have become |
tation. Aside from all other consider
atoms, they Ill an economic need.
The present shortage results direct
ly from the constantly increasing need
for the automobile, the unparalleled I
wave of prosperity experienced by all
parts of the country and the reduction
of production during the past two
years.
TIL, Hudson factory, the largest
builders of fine cars in the world, has
never been able to keep up with the
demand for Super Skies. Hudson pro-
duction was to have stopped entirely
on January l. Then. suddenly the
hnn was lifted. AS Q result normal
production cannot be resumed before
Stme.S rfe sf} /
The moral for all intending pur-
chasers of motor cars is clear. 1t is
,tsT,,lv yrosxr,r ~ =