The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1919-08-07

motor cal and its use during the las
twelve years, particularly, has had
marked influence on the people O
this country.
The use of the automobile has broad
ened us. We are better able 10 an
preciate the country We have a bet
ter idea OF our United States. Through
this agency. the east understands Z
little better the west, the south know,
more about the north and vice versa
The automobile has actually brought
our people closer together.
Take the matter of good roads:
What single thing has been responsi
Bile for our activity in this direction:
The automobile. OF course. And, we
all know it. The country was voeful.
y behind IL the matter. The roads,
generally, were a disgrace. But mar.
velouS achievements have taken Liace.
Thousands of miles of splendid. dura.
Bile highways have been built: more
are under construction, and il is only
a question of time before we shall
have a fine network of roads through
u the whole country.
Is the automobile a necessity? 1t
is. II is proving itself SO. IT Is
owned by those who appreciate the
motor car as such. 1t is estimated
that more than a third of the automo-
biles in use in this country are owned
hrv r,Nn.r n~ tha.a ,-ho H. T. -
country, and who find ii necessary to
make frequent trips to nearby com.
munities to buy supplies or for other
purposes. The automobile is the con-
try.
Ii is true the man in the country
was able TO get along in some way,
before the automobile came, but it is
likewise true that his progress and
advancement is dated from the time
he was able TO use a motor car. Farm
life changed from that time.
Is the automobile an economic fac
tor? 1t is. Its use in the business
world has been recognized for some
time and is a recognized factor in
present-day activity. To the sales
man, the business man, the merchant,
the real estate man, to those who
must be about, it has heightened days.
They are able to do more-to see more
people and to cover more territory.
the man with a car does not get
tired as easily as he would otherwise.
He V his energy for his work,
than using it in getting to his
Does the automobile save life? 1t
does. The use of motor cars by near
ly a hundred per cent of the physi-
in this country is ample proof
Of the esteem in which it is held by
this profession.
In every walk of life, in every en-.
deavor. in every instance where time
Is a consideration, where energy is
to be saved, where independence is de-
sired, the automobile looms large as
vehicle to be used. Ask the auto
noble owner and see what he says.
Stop the next one you meet and put
the question to him.
We are living in a remarkable age.
In IN age when SO much Is taken fol-
granted. The marvellous seems to be
for us in the midst of
marvels. The automobile was intro
iuced in such a period.
1t may be that we are too close to
It's newness to appreciate its wonder.
For il is a wonder. A truly great one.
But, like many other things given to
US in the last rs years, we have &C.
1t without giving the necessary
credit to its wonderful capabilities.
But it is a certainty that future his
tory will give to the automobile it's
proper place.
We need not worry. The automobile
Is safe. The automobile industry is
The automobile serves the
people as long rs it does this eff
and there is reacon to be-
live that this efficiency if anything,
is going to increase, it is safe to say
there will be need for motor cars
and that the law of supply and de.
mand will govern their manufacture
and distribution.
But let us not forget this.
That the development of the auto
from a crude, mechanical i'd
and feeble in perform
the powerful, smoothly-run-
ming efficient machine OF today is a
tribute to the courage, de-
termination and skill of those far
pioneers who saw in the cree-
ton of their handiwork the birth of a
utility which would some day become
Indispensable to industrial progress
and national prosperity.
Thanks to the dauntless persistence
OF those early automobile manufactur-
ers. who needed not the jeers of the
cynical and overcome at last the dis.
heartening mechanical difficulties !
which confronted them. automobile
manufacturing achieved a beginning
from which it has developed into the
third largest industry in the United
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