Imperial Valley press., 1919-04-01
MOTORS FOR THE MASSES.


ported intention of Henry Ford, the Detroit
manufacturer of motor vehicles, to put upon the
market in the near future automobile to sell
for between $3.50 and $500. His latest credited
declaration this subject is, if anything, more
emphatic than his earliest
I'VE are going to give the people something
new in the way of an automobile he says "Not
only will it be finished product within reach
of every family, but it will give them well
the last word in motor car-all for $3.50 or
$780,"
In explanation of his decision to launch
new company for the production of these
chimes, Mr.. Ford declares that he has actually
been forced into it by decision of the courts,
which upheld the demand of the minority stock
holders for increased divisions of the Ford COM
pany dividends. 1t may be recalled that he un-
dertook to use the surplus earnings in tractor
manufacture, but en- Joined.
MANY millions of dollars came to with
that decision,' he says. 81 could not give or
throw that money away, so decided TO build
type of automobile
This is, of course matter of private
terprise, but if carried out successfully-and
there is every reason to believe that it Will be
it cannot fail eventually to be matter of pub
lie concern 1t stands to reason that if Mr.. Ford
can sell complete automobile for $3.50 or $500,
the number of motor vehicles using the streets
andh rOadWayS will be multiplied; that the prob
lem of road construction and road maintenance
will become more pressing in local and state
administration, and that the entire system of
ly complicated. Mr.. Ford is right in assuming
that there will be a great and immediate de-
mand for the cars which he proposes to build
His son, an officer of the present Ford company
also is right in assuming that the introduction
of such vehicle will cut into the traffic of the
traction companies.
There certain phases of the prospective
enterprise which seem bound to be troublesome
to economists; some which are decidedly prom
sing to the general public The introduction of
so cheap motor vehicle appears certain to af-
feet values elsewhere The diversion of paSSen-
ger traffic from rail to highway has already cut
severely into the earnings of trolley and steam
railroad companies. The cost of transportation,
urban suburban, interurban and long distance,
has become heavy that many thousands Of
people now dependent on the rail lines will make
an extraordinary effort to obtain the cheap
tors, and Justify this effort By counting the
small difference of outlay required in the new
expenditure. The introduction of the car
should relieve urban trolley congestion greatly;
it should open to the wage and salary Garner
better opportunities for the enjoyment of home
life far from the crowded city, and it should add
immensely to the convenience and the comfort
of families in moderate circumstances.
Better than all else, cheap motor car for
passenger service is certain to be followed by
the introduction of a cheap car for trucking
service, and in this there is hope beyond meas
ure for the future of distribution. Cars that
can be operated swiftly and cheaply between
the producer and the consumer will do more to-
ward breakng down monopoly than all the anti
trust laws that have been enacted.
There is no reason why the nation should
not welcome Mr.. FOrd'S decision to provide a
motor vehicle cheaper than any now in service,
for that decision has possibilities that reach
down to the very roots of discomfort with pres
ent economic conditions the other hand and
to the very foundations of far-reaching economic
reforms, on the other.