The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1920-02-28

Some authorities claim that the automobile industry is
near the saturaon point; that is, in short while the
limit of per capita ownership of cars and trucks will have
been reached 1900
Where they obtain their authority is hard to ascertain
surely not from statistics which, in this the best
medium for basic judgment.
Let us look at the facts
In 1899 the total number of the then called pleasure
cars'' $780, with total valuation of $4,750,0O0 In
1919 these figures had grown to 15s6S7 with total
wholesale valuation of 81 an average whole
sale price of 1882.
During the year 1904 there produced All motor
trucks, with wholesale value of $9469f During 1919
there O5,142 trucks produced with total valuation
OF or an average wholesale price oil $l5So
These figures staggering when remembers 1T
but twenty years ago that autos forbidden the
use of Central Park in New York.
1t is estimated that there will be produced in 1920
in this country two and quarter million passenger cars
and nearly quarter million trucks.
This, of course, will depend largely upon materials
The trend of production is toward closed for
which the demand is increasing tremendously The field OF
output being daily through the world markets
since the close of the Our exports however but
$110O0O00 and eighty different countries, even
including Iceland.
It is confidently estimated that when the present plans
of exploitation which being carried gut in the foreign
field have commenced to bear fruit exports will increase at
an enormous rate In addition this there is the normal
replacement that always exists annually OF about 16
of the and trucks In
The final registration figures from various States
indicate that almost 100000 motor vehicles including
trucks running in the United States OF this number
about 10 per cent trucks The most prolific field and
which is increasing rapidly is the farming community
The increase in 1919 1918 has ranged from 16 per cent
to 90 per cent
Those who have made close study of the automobile
industry with bearing upon its future state that with the
improved roads and the lettering of traffic conditions in big
cities the of underground garages and parking spaces
for cars.not in use in few years there will be 12OOOOOO
motor vehicles running in this country but the industry
itself will suffer some changes.
During the past six years 700 makers or
and trucks failed retired from business, and many
companies which going into business and profit
ing by immediate deliveries will find the road difficult and
that will come only to the enteprng well financed
and welmanaged who able to stand the gait
of extensive preparations for competitive advertising
1t is also interesting to state here that recent report
issued by the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows comparison
of employment in identical establishments between January
1919 and 1920 The number of factories taken thirty
six and the period of roll week In 1919 there
1926 employed in these factories In the month
of 1920 there 1O559 increase of 377 per cent
The amount of pay roll in January, 1919, $2O91674
In 1920 the month $s61774s increase of
70 per cent.
Interesting figures, they mott u