Arizona republican., 1922-04-09
DECLARES SALES
PROSPECTS ARE
VERY BRILLIANT

KANSAS CITY, April T.-Automo-
bile sales prospects are brilliant as
spring opens in comparison to the
condition thatprevailed as the indus
try moved into the spring OF 1921.
according TO w. J. Brace, president
Of the National Automobile Dealers
association.
Have you ever tried to work out
a puzzle map and have been abso-
lutely helpless to put the whole to-
gether because some important piece
was missing? Well, that has been
the situation existing for the last
year and a half whenever one tried
to reconstruct the business and eco
non1ic map of the United States. 1t
couldn't be done because the most
important element in that picture
was missing" declares Brace.
who is this element? The farm
er! Was he missing in 1921? He
was.
rs he back in the picture this
year? Most decidedly he is, in a con-
dition greatly improved over that OF
1921.
"The report of the various federal
reserve banks gives splendid reassur-
ance that prices of farm commodities
are seeking their rightful, higher
levels. In the readjustment that be-
gan in the summer of 1890 and ex-
tended clear through to the latter
months Of 1921, prices OF farm prod
ucts were out Of all proportion to
their cost of production, and fra
grantiy out of proportion with the
cost of other commodities and with
| city wage scales.
Improved Farm Prices
There has been a steady, gradual
/ EN~ AN& -rAf q q
| high as they are going. but the farm
er doesn't stand in nearly so an un-
! favorable position as he did year
ago.
"May wheat has sold as high as
| $1.47. Chicago hogs have risen to
| nearly $li.50 from the 81 low mark,
! corn is netting a little better than
| 80 cents a bushel to the farmer who
| is feeding it to his pork, and the
prices Of cattle have been steadily
| improving.
'what does this mean to the auto
| mobile industry?
Farmers own approximately one
| third of all the motor vehicles in the
| country. As class they are our best
customers. Many of the motor We
hicles now on the farms will have to
be replaced this year. A large ma
| iority of these requirements right
| fully should have been made last
year, but the farmer was without the
money with which to do it.
"But he will have the money this
year and he will spend 1t wherever he
| will see a chance to increase his farm
profits. The motor vehicle has been
| one of the greatest additions TO farm
| life in this respect. It has enabled
/ the farmer to get his products to his
market at the earliest moment and
take advantage of any break IN prices
that may come in his favor.
| 2oOo, 900 Cars in 1922
''I do not like to indulge In pro-
phecy. 1t is always thankless job
and at best is beset with many In
fIuences that are apt to change re-
suits. But I feel confident in saying
that il business goes on in the path
that 1t is now taking, without inter-
ruption or without unforeseen difficult
ty 1922 will see approximately 2.-
000 900 motor vehicles placed in the
hands of owners, as against the l.
700 900 disposed of last year.
"Of course this upturn in the au-
tomobile business is going to mean
renewed activities In other bust-
nesses. for every industry in our
country is inextricably bound up with
every other industry and what helps
one will help all.
"The winter is over. The public
mind is gaining composure. Stocks
of all kinds have been depleted and
requirements are beginning to make
their demands The world situation
Is improving, slowly but surely, and
people are getting their attention
turned back to the business of liv-
ing. of making money and of being
happy. They are becoming more and
more cognizant of the terrific waste
of lives, wealth and materials brought
about By the war. So far as it is pos