New Britain herald., 1925-02-20
INFLUENCE OF AUTOS IN MODERN LIFE


 mobiles. Connecticut roads will be "congested" this spring more than ever before. Some people will be driving cars who never drove them before. Whether the "point Of sat uratlon" will be reached this year Is doubtful; automobile manufac- turers think this much-debated climax in the industry Is still far off. The nation may be getting closer to 1t every year, but there still seems considerable distance to go. Meanwhile machines are wearing out and are being replaced by later models; and the great in- dustry continues to thrive.
 There has been much speculation in the past as to the influence of the automobile in modern life; but there has been less agreement re- garding the character of this influ- ence. When the machines first came into general use bankers looked on in amazement some of them feared a serious loss in deposits. It was pointed out that some frenzied au- tomobile fans mortgaged their homes in order to purchase ma chimes, which wasn't considered a good method But one does not hear much of such complaints any more; the system of purchasing automo- piles on the installment plan has eliminated some of these bad fea- lures of making a comparatively heavy investment in contraptions calculated to circumyent distance in the shortest possible time.
 There has been some obscrva- tions made as to the indirect cost of automobiles, such as forcing the construction of good and expensive highways. If the use of machines had not developed to the present point it is probable that large proportion Of our hard surfaced roads would not have come into existence; they were not needed un- der the old conditions. With the need for building good roads came the need of raising the money to build them. In some states, incud- ing Connecticut, gasoline lax helps to maintain such roads; but iA the main the extra expense due 10 road construction remains based upon increased taxation,
 The use of the motor truck jn the transportation of goods over com paratively short hauls has also seen 2 tremendous development the past decade. The claim is often mad' that in city hauling tho truck E more expensive than the use o horse-drawn vehicles; but be tha' as it may, few firms any longer rel! upon horses for this work. Firms like the prestige of owning trucks 1t is the style and inc cGstom tl own them; and no matter what 'h' eost. the trucks have the snort haul business.
 Another influence or automo'iI'i and trucks is the unprraNo'c4 con gestion existing upon citv streets. II many municipalities t has bocom necessary to widen s'rcaIq, TaEiAi down expensive uro1n property il 20 doing. Expensive traffic squat have been developed in all Of them All of which is paid through taxes and the costs tend 10 uphold hig' tax rates.
 It can be seen from this that tn cost of the automobile developmen goes further than the cost 10 tn individuals owning the machines Their outlay only constitutes tn first cost and the direct cost C maintenance; the indirect costs ar also great, and in this many moT people share than those who ar automobile owners,
 The cost in lives is also to n reckoned with. It is easy to oyeI look that point. Thousands of pee pie would be alive today had the not come to their deaths throug automobile accidents. This is in most serious aspect of automo6lI development. Secretary Hoover ha concluded after a thorough invest ration and compilation of tf "death and Injury figures" th' this constitutes the biggest pro6lei of the age.
 Then there is the indirect efie' upon the prosperity 0f :..s 'el.'