Arizona republican., 1921-02-27

VI Nlneteen hundred and tWenty-one
be a transportation year. Every
upon to face it's part in the reconstruc-
tion, says Charles Clifton, president,
national automobile chamber of com
merce. Waste must be cut. Extrava-
gance must be eliminated. Efficient
methods must prevail.
The salesman who goes afoot or de-
Ponds on irregular train service when
he could double his productivity by
using car must go into the discard.
The real estate man who depends on
trolleys alone will find his business Sc
rtously curtailed. The farmer who de-
ponds on a team to connect him with
the town will find his family discon-
tented. his farm stunned by the hired
man and his profits reaching the zero
point.
The farmer, moreover. is the heav-
lest buyer of cars, owning over a third
of all automobiles registered. The rural
districts of the United States pur-
chased so per cent of the 1920 motor
vehicle output. OF the cars in this
country. SO per cent are owned in COM
munities of 1000 population or under,
and So per cent are owned in districts
OF 5000 population or under.
This is to be a year of conserva
tisnl. when the weak will go to the wall
and the strong will add to his strength.
coPie Will VAIL cars
But they will not ask as in years
gone by: How much speed? How
much comfort? How much prestige?
The test will be: How much econ
nomy in transportation? How much
gain to my business?
These are questions which the au-
tomobile can answer with satisfaction
to the sternest interrogation. In year
when efficiency in transportation will
be essential, the passenger car and
truck will have an opportunity to prove
their worth to a degree not realized Ia
the times Of super prosperity.
We may or may not see the volume
<of orders which piled into the factories
in the first half of 1920. That period
represented the demand of a market
which had been starved for two years
plus the immediate requirements of the
day. On the other hand. each succeed
ing year brings greater needs for haul
Ing goods and passengers from point to
point, greater economies in time. Con-
seQuently. production schedules are
likely to show a steady growth as time
goes on.
This is not vacant optimism. A
forecast without facts would, indeed
be like a ship without a rudder, direct
ed by the passing breeze. Prophecy
must be guided by the hard logic of the
known elements.
We know that fundamental bushes:
conditions are sound.
I'VE know that the automobile is on,
,.of the primary transportation units.
~ we know that the owner realize!
to an increasing degree that the pos
session of a car is an extension of hi
power in business. as well as widena
OF his social contacts.
Let US examine the Fundamental
business conditions. The country 1:
rich. Products abound. Eventual pros.
= IL l.
have been better than average. Dab0l
IL more plentiful and more efficien
than during the war and postwa
years. The foreig nexchange situa
ton is improving. Railroads are bet
ter able to handle long haul business
Cars and trucks are available il
greater numbers than ever before.
Business contraction has been du
10 shortage Of credits, not to lac
of goods. After the war, after tn
high prices and speculation, a perio
of pruning was inevitable. When on
looks back to 1878 and to 1908, on
realizes that the readjustment ha
come with surprisingly small discom
fort. Price declines have taken plac
rapidly, and as soon as the publ
realizes that the lowest price level
have been reached there will be a re
surge of trade.
with these factors in mind it
clear that the Industries which al
guided by keen minds and serve
useful purpose will go forward.
The degree of business ability I
be found among the manufacturers
cars and trucks Is shown by tn
growth of the industry. For 90 year
the making of motor vehicles ha
been gaining steadily. One exceptio
is to be found in the year 1918. whe
the producers of passenger cars vo
unfairly curtailed their output in OIL
der to make airplanes, parts. an
other instruments of war. Here
he