The Washington times., 1930-01-25
AUTO INDUSTRY
TO PROSPER
THIS YEAR
BY e. I. STRONG,
President and General Manager.
Il The Buick Motor Company

ton Ill the Whole Scheme OF mod
ern transportation.
Prior to the advent Of the rail
road and the automobile, there
were three basic principles of
economics which together had
Sufficed the real needs down
through the yearS--food, cloth
ing, and shelter In those times
cne could provide his every need
without depending upon single
soul outside the community in
which he lived. If he wanted a
pair of boots the shoemaker IN
the little shop down the way
made them for him; his clothing
was honeSpun, his home built of
lumber from the neighboring hill
sides. Practically everything he
bought was purchased directly
from the producer.
.. Times Have Changed
But what a different world is
this in which we live today!
Transportation has brought the
four corners of the earth to our
doorStepS. Transportation has
become so interviewer into the
social fabric that, in 1880, the
economist finds himself faced
with the necessity of revising his
essentials to include it as basic
principle of modern life. There
is no incompatability in the field
of transportation. Each Of Its
various forms has place and
they are all fused toward a COM
mon end.
The automobile in its embry-
olie stage was often described as
a toy for the wealthy, but mass
production, introduced into the
industry by American craftsmen,
brought the motor car within
the reach of everyone, and III
so doing revolutionized our stand
ards of living.
Through the use of power and
precision machinery American
workmen cut loose from the OLD
codes and Canons of manufac-
turers and as a result the auto
motive industry led the way
through the greatest period of
industrial activity the world has
ever known. All other lines of
endeavor quickened their pace to
meet a changed condition. Thus
new patterns are fashioned for
o new age. Modern America.
with its telephone. radios. sub
ways and apartments values its
time.
More Earned, More Saved
Perhaps the changes wrought
by war had something to do with
Fastening the rise in our stand
ards of living and thus incICas-
ing the popularity of the auLU-
mobile. At least postwar Amer
lea is different America with
its needs greatly changed. More
money is earned, more is say ed,
aud more is spent. And trans
portation is the handspring that
keeps the gigantic channels Of
commerce flowing at rate con
sistent with our changed needs
and demands.
The successful motor car COM
pany today finds itself of neceSSi-
ty appealing almost constantly
to the young idea. While it's
product must be comfortable and
sturdy enough for every one,
above all it must be speedy
and beautiful enough for youth.
Women Given Credit
The woman motorist is respon-
Sible for many of the improve.
ments and refinements offered in
preSent-day automobiles. Her
influence on the changes in de-
sign has been little short of ire
rnendous. Even before she de-
nianded color in the kitchen, the
basement, and the bath room,
she insisted upon it for both the
exterior and interior of her mo-
tor car. Just as she has changed
the styles in the matter of dress
length, sizes of hats, and a hun
dred and one other things, so
has she demanded smart lines
for her automobiles. She is back
Of an ever-increaSing demand for
dependability and performance.
and the Wide-aWake company
builds more and more of these
qualities into its cars each year.
The busy business man. whose
every moment is filled with activ-
ity, must have a car that will
function when he needs it, and
function we'll.
With all these exacting re-
aulrenle1ts constantly present.
the great automotive engineer
ing laboratories of America are
Spurred on to new endeavors in
order to incorporate more lux
ury, more comfort. and more
driving ease into a mode of trans
portation which has become an
absolute necessity in our lives.
Twenty-Five and a half million
cars are now in use in America,
and, with the total yearly pro-
duction running over 100000, it
is seen that, if each owner buys
a new car only once in five
years. production in American
nlotor-car plants will be kept run
ming at an unusually high peak.
These figures are exclusive of the
export business, which is con-
stantly growing.
Future Assured
Travel by motor car in this
country has reached tremendous
proportions. Government figures
indicate that nearly 20,000,000
motorists visit the national forests
each year. Transportation over
5000, 900 miles of highways in