, 1923-03-11

AS more tnan DO per cent OF all the
cars in this country are in population
centers of 5000 or less. Mr.. Reeves
said the best automobile markets are
now in the suburban and country
districts.
Among other things. Mr.. Reeves
said:
, January is generally the poorest
month of the year, yet we produced
240, 800 vehicles. or az times that Of
the previous January. February pro-
duction is running at about the same
pace n II the industry is able 20
get sufficient closed bodies. which
in turn depends to a large degree on
being able to get plate glass. produc-
ton should increase, with excellent
possibilities of 1900, 900 motor We
hicles being made in 1923 as against
a total of 2.577.0oo last year.
Exports in January were 1.7S9
trucks and 1880 cars. We are now
shipping American motor vehicles to
ia dlgerent foreign countries, includ-
ing a number to Iceland.
"Hcw many motor vehicles can be
used in this country-brings up an
other question as to. the transporta-
ton needs of los .0oO. 900 people. Stu
dents of the industry believe we can
probably use ~. 900 900 cars and g.
900. 900 trucks, which would require
a renewal demand In excess of 2,400,-
900 vehicles.
1.-The use of motor vehicles is In
creasing in popularity because of
their time saving qualities. and be-
cause 1t supplies individual trans
portation for the man and his family,
independent of any timetable. 1t is
not far from the truth to say that
IT. il one of the few articles in the
world which almost everybody wants.
"Enterprislng railroad officials and
trolley line officials are getting into
the motor transportation field. using
trucks and buses as feeders to their
Ines. The Chicago Il road recently
tut on n line of buses as a feeder.
The day of building short line rail.
roads is gone. OF s49 short line roads
holding membership in the Short
Line Railroad association. two thirds
are listed as having less han rs
miles of track. so that in many cases
their services will be supplanted by
the motor bus Ind truck. Railroad
n trolley men are best able to
handle transportation and should
manage truck and bus lines"
Mr.. Reeves as general manager OF
the National Automobile Chamber OF
Commerce. which has a membership
CT 1871 manufacturers. expressed the
bellefe that. while the industry had
many problems and that competition
would be very strong, the general
outlook for 1928 is excellent.
Standard motor cars and trucks
will be in the greatest demadn. but
there will be business for the smaller
companies whose products supply
certain individual features demanded
by a style-loving nation. particularly
as the woman is now so important a
factor in the buying of the motor
car. Prices have been crowded down
very low and held there. notwith.
standing rising cost of materials and
labor. While there have been some
failures among dealers, there are stlll
more than $4,000 automobile mer.
chants distributing cars and rucks
Attention was called by Mr.. Reeves
to the great number of other indus
tries that are affected by the pros
perity of the motor vehicle manufac-
turing and selling.
The automobile industry uses 4 per
cent Of the total iron and steel: 20
rer cent OF the aluminium; IL per cent
OF the copper; II per cent of the tin;
2 per cent of the lead: SO per cent
of the upholstery leather; 40 per cent
OF the plate glass; so per cent OF the
rubber imported. n 80 e cent OF
the gasoline. To this must be added
upholstery cloth, lumber. curled hair.
paint. varnlsh IND imitation leather.
Its freight bill TO the railroads last
year on finished products, exceeded
$40. 900 900. aside from the big chip
ments from closely allied industries
making tires. petroleum products and
cement.