The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1920-11-25
# ALL AUTOS
SHOULD STOP
A PEW EXAMPLES OF THE WAY IN
DUSTRIAL AND SOClA1 b1f6
WOULD BE AFFECTED.
BY Charles Clifton, President Of tn
National Automobile Chamber
Of Commerce.

Recently the writer propounded tins
question:: IN your opinion what would
h, the effect upon the commercial ana
social fabric of tho United States II tho
uso Of all automobiles should no prohib-
tied for period Of ten days.
The purpose OF this inquiry was 10
bring about a consideration of the auto
mobile as factor rI in inSIstrifs anna ana
which has not failed to leave us mn
press upon thinking men.
In order to arrive at proper ralua-
ton Of the motor car 1t Is necessary AZ
the outset to make use of few stats
tics which paint the picture OF the auto
mobiles effect upon our INDUSTRIAL NE.
Last year the total wholesale volume
of business in motor vehicles, parts,
tires and accessories was 50, '5S4.
The value Of the finished automobiles
times the total capital OF all the New
York City banks.
Tho wears motor vehicle production
Of 1,974016 cars was more than enough
to give one car to every chlld porn IN
the United States during the year anu
one to every child born in France.
More than 100000 men were employed
In the production of these vehicles or
more than all those in the service OF
the United States Steel corporation anH
its subsidiaries. The annual payroll
was s374.933,S56. or more by 2l.60o.Ooe
than Canada's war expenditures Tor 1919
Finally, there Is now one motor We
hicle in service to every 1892 persons
in the United States. On conservative
basis the 7,55S,S4S cars in service trav-
eled 22667.j44.0Q0 miles last year
which, multiplied by an average passen-
ger rating Of three to a car means a
total passenger mileage OF $500 49, uvo
as against the railroad mileage for the
same period OF 46.l45.O7O.64l. On II
basis Of 300 days OF use and two pas
Sengers carried. automobiles carried A.
535. 308 800 passengers IN lS!S COMPS npGn
ed with tho railroads total or l.l%4'OOV'-
600 in tho same year. the latest hgures
within Part Five Years.
When It is realized that practically 81
per cent Of the production and use ot
motor vehicles has been brought aD3ut
IN the past five years II Is apparent that
only through making more ethcient all
industry could such tremendous move
rncnt in new production be accomplish
I'd without seriously disloCatinE all otn-
GT factors entering nfT o tnd s the
whole story Of IN" automobile industry
The first reaction to our inquiry comes
from a big business man IN one or me
larger cities OF the country and in ms
answer We gather some idea of the part
which the commercial vehicle Is al
ready playing in the industrial develop
ment OF the nation.
Prohibit the use OF tho motor vehicle
and at once you restrict or loVu "uP.
ply to a dangerously low mark, Is what
n says in effect Railroad facilities
have not been increased commensurate
with IN" growth in population and there
is no likelihood that they Will be. Our
eggs, milk, most OF our garden truck Is
brought into the cities each day via the
highway and the motor vehicle. No
great reserves are maintained and we
suffer seriously from any interruption
In this traffic.
without the motor vehicle our termi-
nails would be piled high with freight.
and rail transportation would be impair
ed, Our street car service Is not ade-
quate to care for all transportation and.
in consequence. patronage Of our shops
and places OF amusement would be serI-
ously affected and our factories would
be forced to work on part time. As "A
secondary reaction the banks would SUI
fer and credit would begin to freeze.
Perhaps the most serious result would
be that Of the effect upon public health
standards. In any large city the phyGi-
clans are always taxed to the limit in
epidcmics. such as the wave Of Influenza
which spread over tho country. Think
Of what tho result would be II instead
Of being able to care for cases in III!
parts OF n city. quickly and efficiently,
the doctor should suddenly be thrust
back upon the street car system. forced
to hire n horse and carriage. which he
would have trouble in getting. or b.
compelled to walk Many lives would