Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-03-17
The thousands throughout tho


country wl\se homes are equipped
with radio receiving outfits and who
listened in on Atlanta, Ga, recent
ly, learned something of the mag
nitude of the automobile industry
directly from the lips of c. w. Nash,
president of The Nash Motors Com
pany, and an outstanding figure
among manufacturers of motor cars
Mr.. Nash by request spoke from the
office of the Atlanta Journal.
In the message which was broad
casted it was brought out that in
value of finished products the auto
mobile industry ranks first in Amer
lea. exceeding by generous margin
even the gigantic steel and textile in
dustries.
1.-The motor car industry was
mothered by fundamental need
for rapid and economical transporta
tion." said Mr.. Nash. 1T sprang
from necessity; it has grown with
unheard of rapidity because it has
met that necessity successfully. 1t
has made possible a far more rapid
development of this country than
would have been attained otherwise.
There are today well beyond
12,000,000 motor cars and trucks
turning their wheels on the highways
and byways of this great nation.
This averages nearly one automobile
or truck to every eight persons resi-
dent in this country. Naturally some
states have absorbed a much larger
number of automobiles and trucks
than other states. Where pOpula-
ton is greatest and the good road
movement has progressed most
rapidly you will find the most extern
sive use of the motor car.
at present six states, New York,
Ohio, California, Pennsylvania, Hi
nois and Michigan own nearly 40 per
cent of the 100000 motor vehicles.
Here are concentrated close to So
600, 900 automobiles and trucks. You
may gain a better idea Of the vast
ness of this figure when | tell you
that the gain in the registrations or
automobiles and trucks for these SIX
states during 1922 surpassed the total
registrations of Great Britain ana
France combined. At this time Call
fornia leads the United States with
the greatest number of cars per
capita, owning one for every l-lo
inhabitants, or virtually one car TO
each family.
Huqe Taxes Paid
zone very important contribution
that the automobile industry makes
to the welfare of our country is I'M
known to most of my hearers, PC
licve, and that is the enormous tax II
pays toward the support OF the gov
crnment and the payment or our
debts.
although from every standpoint
Of sound and appropriated reason :
ing the motor car is essential. II
nevertheless has been singled OUT 10
bear S percent. excise tax placeu
on all automobiles and parts. IN
word, 1t is taxed as though II "eie
a luxury, whereas 1T is the Woriu >
most advanced and most cconomlcai
mechanical method for per1ormiiis
the same functions as the wagon WY
farm implement, ard other ossen,iaiS
that are viewed purely as neceSsltleS
TO the industrial life of the nation
and which are unburdened by an en-
else tax.
LAS talk I am wondering If you
have any conception of what inns
ono t,x alone has done toward pay
ing the cost Of our part in the recent
war. 49, :.
II believe I am conservative IN
etatinr that this 5 percent. excise
tax on motor cars during the past
wear has brought to our government
the STAGGERING total of from nne,y
TO one hundred million dollars. IL
This sum were to be ccntrasted WIN
total amounts received by the gov
ernment from some states III lhe
Union it would really open your
eyes.
IN my Judgment closer Analysis
,f what the automobile industry has
ACCOMPLISHED for this country shoulu
he nrenarcd, and this information
made n matter of common knoWleuSe
en- that everyone of you might pc
come acquainted with the real 1acts
of the industrys
"\Vith such figures before you there
can be no reasonable doubt as 70 'nc
vital part which the motor Fehlcle
plavs in the functioninG of the spc'al
and industrial life OF this great
ration.
1--WE have, and | say 1t TN prize,
4OO. 900 miles of improved nalionttl
and state highways. Now p.act'
cally every section OF inc hltcu
States, no matter how isolated PC
fore, is today open for business ana
connected 10 tllc SiNdt N'Aiiii'N ~
arteries of transportation because
of the motor car and its developmcnt
into the most efficient and economical
mode of transporting the human be-
ing or the unit Of merchandise.
FARMERS have found the motor
car Indispensable. Traffic experts
view the motor car as the greatest
adjunct to railway transportation
The motor car has so successfully
simplified the delivery of farm and
factory products to the railroads that
now railroads are carrying more and
more freight. And | believe 1T well
worthy of emphasis here, that, de-
spite severe handicaps, the railroads
broke all previous records in trans
portation Of many classes of COM
modities during the year 1922. grain
being an outstanding example.
See America First
Passenger cars have made indi-
vidual transportation Il pleasure in
stead of a laboriouS and expensive
effort. They have greatly stimulated
the tendency Of the American Public
to travel to see America first They
have broken down sectional barriers
and class prejudice. They have
brought France to New York and
New Orleans to Detroit. They have
made the nation a unified nation.
find myself near the end of my talk
without having said one word as to
the immense and wholesome benefits
Of the PASSENGER car ia the phVSical