Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1920-02-29
CALLS THE AUTO
AS NECESSARY
AS TELEPHONE.
Maker Sees Demand for Light
Car in City; Great Year
Is Ahead for All -
Dealers.

The utility of the automobile for
the business and social needs Of city
and town has been sharply seeen-
tuated by the war, and the wars
consequent development of greater
traffic and transportation needs"
says John N. WHY'S. president Of
Willys-Overland, Inc.
Tt seems quite certain that 1920
will take its place among the great
est years in the history of automo-
bile manufacture. The buying power
Of the public probably has never
been so great And the automobile
has become as necessary as the tele-
phone.
There is = waiting ready market
today for at least a million and a
half or two million cars. Manufac-
turers, despite enormously increased
output, have not stocked the market.
The market, in fact, is still far un-
dersold. No better, proof of that
condition can be offered than the
automobile salesroom. Today cars
are sold there as rapidly as they are
placed on the floor and this condition
means placing thousands of addi-
tional motor cars in service to in
crease the consumption OF gasoline
and oils.
Sees Trend to Light Cars.
at is conservatively estimated that
there are more than 100000 auto
mobiles in use today. There are
probably 100000 motor trucks in use,
and these totals will be greatly i'll
creased during 1920.
"The automobile shows this year
will undoubtedly disclose more
pointedly than any previous year, the
trend toward light economical cars.
In 1920 models, the public will find
the demand for motortcars of greater
utility, finer quality of design and
materials, with resultant economies,
has been met to marked degree.
Certain unnistakable conditions
make this trend toward the good
light car imperative. Among these
may be noted the growing conges-
ton Of traffic in cities and towns,
with parking space at premium.
The car which can be easily ana
quickly Unanswered within a short
turning radius and backed or driven
into a comparatively small parking
space at the curb more than ever
commends itself to the motorist.
Economy in Car Essential
with the high costs prevailing,
mobile transportation must necessar-
lily be increased on city streets and
county highways; more good roads
must be developed, and those tina,
have been built must be properly
maintained. And the more the mo-
torist uses his car, the more insist
ent is he for certain economy OF
operation and maintenance.
1--WE are facing the fact that az
least 40 per cent of the estimated
available petroleum supplies under
ground have been consumed. There
are no known commercial substitutes
for gasoline.
Manufacturers Problem.
"The problems confronting the au-
WIZ oCCAS W
meet the public's want may fall brief
ly under these considerations:
"Strictest operating and mainten-
ance economies, because of the era
Of high prices.
The increasing utility Of the at
tomobile in the development OF all
lines of business.
"A 1920 good roads program FIVE
or six times as large as any single
years program before this, vastly
enlarging the automobile field for
business and recreation, and again
demanding economical motor car
operation so as to be within the
reach of all.
Congestion of railroads and in
terurbans, making the automobile |
more necessary and desirable than
ever.
Increased traffic congestion in
cities. limiting the use of the big,
heavy automobile.
"In my opinion, all these condi-
tions--traffic, urban development,
petroleum stock depletion-indicate
that the light car Is the car of today
and the future"