The Monmouth inquirer. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1865-1933, 1924-02-14
AUTOMOBILE is
HANDY ON FARM
Employed Mainly for Bust
ness With Very Little
Use for Pleasure.


prepared by the United States Department
of Agricuture.1
Automobiles on farms are used
mainly for business purposes with
comparatively little use made of the
machines for pleasure, the United
States Department of Agriculture has
learned in recent farm management
surveys. On 1871 farms surveyed, 923
farmers reported the ownership of
1000 automobiles or trucks. The own
ers of the cars stated that from two
thirds to nine-tenths of the use Of the
machines was for farm business.
In the Atlantic coast area covering
Chester county, Pennsylvania. IS per
cent Of the 423 farmers interviewed
had machines. In the Middle Western
areas covering portions of Kansas,
South Dakota, and Colorado, 20 to So
per cent of 1888 farmers reported ma
chimes. In Washington and Idaho in
the Palouse area SO per cent of $50
farmers reported ownership of cars.
The only region where less than so per
cent Of the farmers owned automobiles
was in the dry farming wheat area
where 315 farmers reported only 152
machines.
Touring Car Popular.
The touring car is the most popular
type of automobile with these farmers
as it can be used for all purposes,
from hauling milk or feed to taking the
children on picnics. Two-thirds or
more Of all machines reported were
touring cars Trucks come next in
popularity, about Is per cent of all
machines reported being trucks. Road
sters. sedans and coupes were less fire.
quently reported. totaIing less than
one-tenth of all machines used
The Iow-priced car is also the most
popular among farmers, over two-thirds
of the machines reported being makes
that now cost less than $500 for tour
ing cars f. o. b. factory. The average
purchase price of the touring cars was
about 500, with an estimated length
of life of from seven to eight years. In
the different areas the average price
paid for small machines was $500 TO
$500, and for medium-size machines
from $3.50 to 81, 250 Most of the ma
chimes were purchased during the past
eight or nine years, when prices were
relatively higher than they are now.
Operating Expenses.
Cost of operating touring cars, in
Guiding depreciation, was between $500
and $500 per year. Gas and oil made
up about so per cent of the cash costs,
with cost of tires, repairs and license
fees making up the balance. Relative
ly few owners carried insurance on
their cars. Gas and oil consumption
was found to be about the same for
small and medium-sized cars. the light
cars being somewhat more economical
on gas in some cases, but using more
oil on the average in all areas. Tire
and repair expenses were somewhat
higher for the larger cars. All cash
operating costs totaled slightly more
for the larger cars, exceeding cash
expenses on the small cars by about
one-ffth on the average.
Depreciation was found TO amount TO
nearly as much as all cash costs of OPP
Grafton, estimated annual depreciation
on the larger cars being nearly twice
as much as on the smaller cars, due
to higher first cost Total annual costs
including depreciation were about $500
for the smaller cars, and $500 for the
larger cars.