The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1924-05-09
Head of Company Surveys
American Conditions;
Lauds Farm Market
WILL EXCEED PAST YEAR
1923 Banner Year of In
dustry, Will Be Surpassed,
Prediction
Nv John n WHY'S


last New York automobile show
that 1923 would see an output Of
2,750,000 motor cars.
Bankers and economic authori-
ties tell us that business in its
fundamentals is more truly NOR
NAL" today than at any time since
the war.
There is a most optimistic atti-
tude and one that is ample justifi-
cation for the preparations that
tie automobile industry Is making
for the building of 100000 cars
during 1924.
Willys-Overland business will he
better than normal" according to
dealer commitments now in our
hands. These indicate produc-
ton of 10000 cars, valued at APP
proXimately $250,000,000, as being
necessary to meet present dealer
commitments.
Another Big Year
From present indications we Will
have another great year. This
forecast is made with due consid-
Grafton of the fact that 1924 is a
Presidential year and that the idea
persists such years are leaner than
their predecessors. \
Study the condition Of the farm
err Latest reports by Secretary
Wallace of President COolidge's
Cabinet show that the farmers in
come during the past year was
$3.50 100000 greater than in 1922.
Everywhere corn, cotton, sheep.
hogs and live stock generally are
. showing substantial returns at fav-
orable prices. Corn shows the
highest price since the postwar
dcflation, and the crop during the
last year reached 100000 bushels.
The value of last years crop was
& several hundred million dollors
4 more than the amount received for
4 the 1922 crop.
Cotton at 80 and 81 cents a pound
is at one of its highest points in
history, which has resulted in al
most unprecedented prosperity in
the Southern States.
Steel In Demand
The automobile industry con-
tinues to be one of steePs most
substantial outlet. Railroads,
large structural projects, the oil
industry, the Japanese disaster
and its necessary rehabilitation
program also continue to make
great demands on this staple
/ (which should keep the wheels OF
4 thsi industry turning at fair rate
a for some time to come.
Railroad car lOadings continue
Z as the most optimistic index of in
dustrial movement. and it has been
u ar interesting reflection of past
and present production that cal
loadings continue to pile up sue
cessive peaks, exceeding records oil
4 all previous years.
Oil Production Peak
The public has been wont to re-
gard the oil industry with a pessl-
mism which has been totally un'
warranted, as witness the fact
that CALIFORNIA; production, &C
cOrding to best Available figures
reached new peak i'm August; and
the fact that the increase in the
consumption of oil and its various
ramifications has been greater In
volme than ever before.
Lake movements of coal up un-
til October / had reached 23,50O,-
600 tons. The 1922 total was 49,
100000
Any estimate of the immediate
future Of business conditions mus
also be predicated upon fairy
static European condition. fol
while Europe may not be a large
factor in creating prosperous IN
dustrial condition in America TO
some time to come, yet 1t can con
tinue to be a depressing Influence
as long as its present economic ant
political unrest endures,
Exporting EXPANDS
South America, Australia AM
Africa are showing renewed vlgor
as export business to these countries
readily indicates.
With such conditions existing 1
is only natural that we have beer
y going through twelve months OF
N remarkable buying market. ina
market was expected by the auto
4 mobile industry as whole ana IT,
q anticipation came true.
n done in the cities. The possbilltle
3 in the rural districts are still un
u plumbed. Automobile statistics SHOW
m that the farm market for motor car
N is still largely undeveloped compared
y with the rest of the country. Al
A though the farmer owns 80 per cen
4 of all the automobiles,1y this is no
his proportionate share on the bas'
4 of population.
I Rural districts show only seyent'
cars per thousand of popalAti6n a
] compared with 1877 per thddeand Il
1 the towns and cities. Of 1000 and up
4 ward. Analysis discloses that tn
ownership Of motor cars is proper
tionately heaviest. in the villages Q
1000 to 5000, which have but pc
cent of the, total population, but ye
own 20 per cent of the total auto
mobiles, or one motor car to every A.
persons.
GoodA Future Market
From these figures, it would ap
pear that the farming territory con
\ tinues to offer the best future mar
+ ket. No occupation gets more valu
out Of motor car than does tn
farmer, and figures indicate that
large percentage of this market re
mains unsupplied.
The Constitution of Urugua
gives universal voting power to a