The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1920-01-15
SEVEN MILLION CARS IN
USE IN THE UNITED STATES


line here must refer to cars used py
the railroads of the country, put the
fieures are taken from the most re-
cent compilation Of motor vehicles III
use at present in the United STATES
In 1914 there was something over
million and half The advance IN
production and use Of motor vehlcies
has exceeded the widest dream OF
the automobile enthusiast, and from
the way in which production goes on
steadily and more and more people
are becoming owners and users, IL
would not be unreasonable to predict
the addition of two or more millions
for the year 1920. The world appears
to be going-awheel and in spite OF
gloomy predictions regarding the ex-
travagance and consequent hard times
that must come after such move
ment to ride in automobiles the coun-
try generally is prosperous and the
demand is for more cars than the
manufacturer can produce.
The national automobile show, held
in New York last week, marking the
twentieth anniversary Of the holding
of these shows, proved one of the
most interesting events held in the
big city in long time and accord
ing to the newspapers the hotels OF
the city were filled with automobile
makers, drivers and enthusiasts. The
show was so big this year that it
had to be divided, and the passenger
cars were shown in Grand Central
Palace, while the trucks and work
a-day cars were exhibited in a big
armory in the Bronx Eighty-four
makes of passenger cars, nearly five
hundred cars in all, were displayed at
the Grand Central Palace and were
viewed by hundreds Of thousands of
people. Crowds thronged the place
from opening to closing, and the rep
rcsentatives had busy time showing
off the models brought for the pur-
pose.
In the armory ffty-nine varieties Of
motor trucks were displayed and here
also were throngs anxious to see il
anything new or especially desirable
had been thought up by the makers
for the vehicles that are now doing a
great part Of the hauling of the coun-
try
It was a great show, altogether, and
demonstrated the enterprise and ac-
tivity Of the American inventor, man
ufacturer and dealer The automobile
had been thought perfect years ago,
and each season has found new
theories worked out, new comforts
and conveniences, labor-saving de-
vices and fuel-saving schemes. The
show just held proved that the year
past had been busy one for design
ers, and buyers of the 1910 models
I will have the satisfaction of knowing
that their cars are the last word in
speed economy, safety and durability
to date. What may be thought up
for 1921 remains to be seen.
Among the most notable of season
changes in automobiles as noted by
those attending the show in New
York, and one that may not have
been noted outside, as yet, was that
fully one-half of the new cars were
of the closed type. The sedan brough-
ham and town car seem to have been
in greatest favor with the makers
and no doubt they have builded ac-
cording to demand Commenting up
on the display generally visitors have
said that while there does not appear
any very radical changes in the gen.
eral construction of motor cars. the
war experience, which many manufac-
turers had, and the trend of the times
has evidenced itself in movement
for greater stability, economy in fuel
and lubricants, and some small
changes in lines that might lend to
the greater comfort of passengers.
Looking through statistics it is N
teresting to find that the greatest in
crease in use of automobiles has
been in agricultural districtg and
Florida has been right along with
the most progressive states. buying
and using cars of all kinds. and find
ing that it is worth while to have
them With the increase of motor
cars in use must come the general i'm
provement of the highways. and the
latter is one of the most desirable of
the several tasks ahead of the state