The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1920-10-22
WHERE DOES THE MONEY GO?

Everyday somebody tells us that
there is plenty of money in the coun-
try, and in the next breath they ask
us, "Where has it all gone," In our
article few days ago we gave z
general statement of just how it had
taken it's departure, from "here-
about" as Justice Gage Of the Su-
preme Court, would put it. The
truths we sought to elucidate are, so
clearly and succinctly and conyinc-
ingly stated in an article in the Spar
tanburg Journal of Wednesday that
we are reproducing it. The article
Ssays:, .... "a
According .to<statistics complied
by the State Highway Commission
Sis, ,4O0,25O has been invested in
automobiles and motor vehicles lin
South Carolina. By way of contrast,
il is stated that ''the combined invest
ments in all theNbanks of the State"'
aggregate SAP 1000, 1000; that the cap
ital invested in the textile mills of the
State is about s117,0oO,O0O, and that
the total amount of capital invested
in all industries in South Carolina
last year was slightly more than S2o1-
100000. \
"This year, counting only nina
months, there were 94,511 cars, in
South Carolina of the average value,
of $1,275. This was an increase, COM
l. pared with 1919, of 20,212 cars; COM
pared with 1918, aMincrease of 95,-
7OS cars; compared with 1917 an in
crease of 54,337 cars. Last year the
consumption of gasoline in South Car
DINA was more than 100000 gal
lens; the consumption in the first nine
months Of 1920 has reached 31,758,-
$50 gallons, an average monthly con-
sumption of 3,539,75O gallons. 1t
! was reckoned yesterday by the owner
of a car that the average price of gas
oline for easy figuring could be given
at 80 cents the gallon, which would
mean that the average monthly ex-
penditure for gasoline in this State is
s1,O61, 1926, or $12,735,9OO the year. :
;, "The figures, which are taken from
the Columbia State, are staggering.
they probably explain in some meas
ure the distress among certain of the
farmers, which has been emphasized
recently; and possibly they may have
had some bearing on the advice re-
Gently given to the banks on the sub
ject of loans. 1t is hard to believe
that the value of the automobiles in
South Carolina is within about ST.
100000 of the capital stock of all, the
cotton mills in the State; that the in
vestment in automobiles is greater by
$10O,640,250 than the investment ip
horses, $99,566,250 greater than the
total investment in milch cows, and
$93,224,250 greater than the invest
ment in hogs. 1t would be mighty
interestin' readin'' if the Highway
Association would 60 a step further
and find out the aggregate amount of
loans made by the banks of the State
on automobiles, how many of the cars,
are used for pleasure and how many
for business - ="
And yet we know good many peo-
pie who are planning now to get rid
of the old car and get a new one next
year. A car is bad enough in hata
times, but one without new paint lis
calamity. Why do people think
that car is worthless after>the pAins
comes off anyway? -
And then again may we not sug-
gest that John D. must have fine
time these Sunday afternooasxin
this Indian, sgRsr wsathsxv Y$aa
all the old caraaH AivysfsAR hN
ing in the "juice" causing John DIS
mill to grind out the shining sheckels
each happy hour. Somewhere We read
a prayer by a drunkard, we think it
was, where he besought the Good
Man to give him barrel full, with a
little leak in the bung, and that he
might be allowed to lie on his back
and let the liquors drop into his open
mouth. We have forgotten just how
the matter ran, but we know now that
John D. would have the drunkard
:: :"beaten a city block" in real enjoy