Imperial Valley press., 1922-11-04
SHOW AUTOMOBILE
INDUSTRY EXCEEDS
iron, STEEL TRADE
Government Figures Pre-
sent Estimate on Output
of Auto Trade

ANALYSIS of information secured
through governmental sources disclOses
that tho automobile industry is the
largest manufacturing enterprise in the
world.
Thirty years ago, Bryce in his classic
treatise on the American Commonwealth
referred to Americas great railway
system as the means Of communication
that held this country together and
rendered it one for all social, political
and commercial purposes.
"During the past decade,' says a
recent issue of the Automobile Trade
Journal, "another great advancvc in
inter communication has been made.
The automobile marks the most success
full attempt to provide "individual
transportation since the first cave
man harnessed the progenitOr of the
modern horse and thereby supplied
himself with q means Of travel afield.N
The tremendous growth of the auto
mobile industry in recent years is due
solely to the fact that it has supplied
a public need.
0reatar Than Steel and Iron
The value Of the 1929 automotivc
output will be approximately as fol.
lows:
Automobiles .....................$l $50 000,0 900
Tires OIo,VVV,uVU
Replacement Parts .......... 550,000,000
This total is 33 percent greater than
largest industry, the refining Of petrol
cum (65 percent of which is used by
autorpobiles), 65 percent greater than
A. A. a<a nj o,xV
and more than twice the value of all
cotton goods produced in the textile
mills Of the country.
Affects Many Basic industries
The automobile business is the most
essential of our manufacturing indus
fries, because it directly affects q
greater number Of what might be term.
ed "basic" industries, than does any
other manufacturing enterprise.
Annual imports of crude rubber Into
the United States are now 100000, 900
pounds per annum. OF this total 81
percent, or 10000, 600 pounds, will be
required this year for automobile tires.
Production Of plato glass this year
should total about 6S,OOO,OOO< square
feet. Nearly one-third Of this, or 2l,-
100000 square feet, will be required for
automobiles.
This year 5,4oO, 100000 gallons Of
gasoline win be produced. About 1920
10000 gallons, or so percent Of; this
total, will be used in automobiles.
While over S50,000,000 gallons Of
lpbrieating oil will be refined in 1922,
only 5000, 900 gallons will be requir-
ed for, domestic consumption. About
230,000,000 gallons, or over 40 percent,
Of the domestic consumption will be
needed for the operation Of automo-
biles.
About $4,000 bales of Egyptian-type,
long staple cotton win be grown in the
United States this year while 100000
bales viii be imported from Egypt.
About 81 percent Of this total, or $780,.
900 bales, will be used in the manu-
faeture Of automobile tires.
Any weakness in the market for au.
tomotive products will be Immediately
reflected in the business Of all Of those
industries which depends wholly or in
part on the automobile business for q
market.
Employ 1852, 900 Wage Farmers
With its various subsidiary lines, the
automobile business influences the in.
dustrial labor market to more pro-
nounccd extent than does any other
great industry.
There are $4,000 wage earners, in
production, sales and service work,
whose income is derived directly from
the industry.
In addition to these there are 935, 900
other wage earners, who derive their
income directly from the automobile
business. These are drivers and chauf.
feurs and workers in industries supply
ing raw materials to manufacturers of
autonotive products. Figures for
(C0ffnuef Op Uaee a.