The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-02-28
: By IN. gI:3gY.

consider that the American auto
mobile industry will cease to be a
domestic one and become an fnterna-
uonal one. The automobile industry
IS now the third largest business in
the United States. measured in dollars
and cents. 1t Is one of the greatest
industrial revolutionizers, for 1t
reaches more people perhaps than
any other large one.
IT you stop to think that there are
today more than 100000 passenger
cars In the United States YOU win have
a small idea as to the prominent part
that 1t plays in the habits and life
OF the nation. If 1t had been neces-
sary to transport 100000 people
loo miles per day. no other transpor-
tauon system except the automobile
could have done ii. There are enough
cars In this country to move that
many people that far In a day. With
automobiles 1t Is possible to move one
quarter of the population of this coun-
Try 100 miles n day. Think of 1t and
be proud that you live In country
that has such possibilities.
Do you realize that the total esti-
mated horsepower for industrial and
power purposes, outside Of the auto-
mobile and truck business, does not
exceed 100000, and that automo-
power. or very nearly ten times the
total power of all other kinds in this
great country.
Great Possibilities.
But the possibilities Of the future
are even greater. although do not mis-
judge my enthusiasm and optimism.
Not only will there be wonderful in
crease In the domestic automobile bus
mess, but there Is going to be increas-
ing volume Of export business, The
automobile business, ! believe. can
be likened t. the adding machine and
the cash register. Both OF these
fields have been considered of a very
limited character at the inception,
but they have expanded and grown
far beyond the fondest dreams OF their
founder. Why2 They have grown
because they paid their way. They
have made II possible TO do more and
better work, and by so doing permit
ted the individual to make more
prcfit for himself
The automobile has been sold In the
last few years with gradually increas-
ing resistance. and there has been lit
tie effort TO sell an automobile to In
dividuals who had not a well defined
idea that they needed a car. The
only inducement that was necessary
waa to show a man how he could pay
for a car The payment system
served In this case TO close the pros
pect, But how many automobile
statesmen make any attempt TO nnatyze
NE business and habits OF the pros
pect. SO they can sell car on the
basis that a truck or typewriter are
sold. namely. on its ability to pay for
ITSELF because OF the added earning
power which ii gives 10 the owner?
When we as a nation begin to con-
nider the automobile as an asset In
stead OF convenience. then not 8,
but TO- per cent of the people Will be
prospects and owners. not TO consider
the per cent OF old users who have
to purchase new cars each year 10
replace old ones,
How tho Industry Has Grown.
The following Is a tabuiation OF the
growth OF the industry for the last
fen years and Is obtained from data
published by the National Automo-
bile chamb of commerce IT shows
|. what a remarkable increase in pro
duction there has been every year for
the last decade, the only exception
being during the last year. and that
was logical. considering the war, the
measures which were taken TO restrict
the uee OF gasoline, and the curtail-
Ynent OF production found necessary
to conserve the supply of steel and
other raw materials needed for war
production, and passenger car pro-
fuction wa@ more than Seo.o cars
short in 1918 of the 1877 production.
or. In other words, was ~ per cent
short In the last year. The nutomo-
bffe production for the past decade is