Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1922-09-06
AUTOS LARGEST
SINGLE INDUSTRY.
Total Output in 1921 Was 1,51i,OOO,
Valued at S1,093,91s,O0O, With
III Factories Engaged.
1882 FIRMS IN
THE RETAILING BUSINESS
Trucks Furnish Another Phase of the
Industry, the Total Production
in 1921 Being 154,55O.


esting mechanical device ever pro-
duced in that it has come to be the
greatest single industrial output of
the nation. Total output in 1921
was 1,514,0O0, valued at S1,093,-
91S,OO0, with 1T factories engaged
in their manufacture and with CAPT.
tai invested in these factories ag-
gregating $1,134, 100000. The state
using the largest number of automo-
biles is California with registra-
ton of 645,522 in 1921.
The retailing end of the automo-
bile industry is also interesting in
that 1882 firms were engaged in
their sale last year, and with 43,5S2
garages and 57,397 repairs shops and
4,284 charging stations aiding the
retailer in his putting automobiles
on the roads and streets of the
country.
Trucks furnish another phase of
the automobile industry. The total
production in 1921 was 154,55O,
with a wholesale value Of $l66,0S2,-
900, with $2S9,334,OOO tied up in
the capital of 23O manufacturers. 1t
is rather peculiar that there are
more factories making trucks than
are engaged in making automobiles.
1t is estimated by the National
Automobile Chamber of Commerce
that 2,431 400 workers are employed
in the automobile industry, and
100000 of these are statesmen, as
against 256,OOO persons actually
engaged in automobile factories.
But chauffeurs are the largest part
of the payroll of the automobile
business, since there are 100000
paid drivers in the United States.
Accessory plants employ 100000
persons and garages employ another
100000 workmen.
As carriers automobiles have it
on the railways. The tonnage of
trucks last year was thirteen per
cent less than that of railroads, but
| the number 81 passengers carried II
automobiles was far in excess o.
those carried by the railways. Th'
number of passengers carried ont
mile by American automobiles las
year is estimated at 6,99O,S62,OOC
or more than the total population
of the world multiplied by five o
, six. Railroad passengers carrie
one mile las. year were, 1,O34,3l5,
! 900. Total mileage of automobile
last year is estimated to have bee
70, 800, 100000 miles as against 81
329, 114OOO for American railway
, in the same year. Tonnage carrie
by trucks, or 1,420,000,OOO tor
was less than railway tonnage,
1,642,251,O 900 tons.
Automobile fatalities are exec
Isive, aggregating, 1880 deaths la
:, year, or II out of every 1000 pc
n sons using automobiles. In 10.
the ratio was O.8S7 in every 1,OC
. persons, but the number of cars p
1000 persons have increased fro
forty per 1000 population in 10
ID to ninety-nine per 1000 of popul
ton in 1921. It is estimated tn
y there are now in the United Stat
in use 1O,44S,632 cars and truck
IL and that the people engaged in a
tomobile manufacture drew S29
H. O9S, 7SO in 1921, quite a payrc
And the automobile and the tru
have a. great thirst, consuming
Ie, the United States alone last ye
4,516,012,979 gallons of gasoi
Z" This is the commercial status of
automobile and the truck
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