Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-01-25
WESTERN RANCHER
A|DSEASTERN AUTO
Solution to CaIifornian'S
Problems Benefits New
York Broker.

It Is far cry from the rancher On
q semi-desert farm in the Pacific
Southwest to the broker in his limousine
on Broadway, but the solution several
years ago of one of the rancher's
problems now makes for longer life OF
the motor in the brokers' limousine, q
recent Commerce Department report
reveals.
This report, which analyses the COM
nercial structure of the Pacific South
west and attempts to analyZe all the
major factors which affect the distribu-
ton of commodities in this area, con-
tains detailed discussion of climatic
conditions and topography in this sec
ton and stresses the value to business
men of studying these factors as they
relate to business problems.
Searches for Reason.
When a tractor manufacturer, few
years ago, found that the motors in his
machines wore out unduly soon in
certain areas of the Southwest, he in
stituted a search for the reason. Such
areas were found to be very dusty, so
his engineers designed a dust strainer
for the carburetor to clean the air.
This invention solved his problem and
it worked so well that it has been
adapted to other motors. Now We find
some type of air cleaner on almost all
motor cars today and longer life is
realized for the motors.
The important relation of climatic
conditions to a wide variety of business
activities, the report points out, makes
1t very desirable that business men
should obtain full information from a
reliable source regarding these condi-
lions before launching new enterprise.
Such precaution may possibly eliminate
very costly mistakes.
Many interesting examples of the
practical application of this knowledge
or the serious results which may come
when 1t is not taken into account are
contained in the report. One tractor
firm in this region, for instance, studies
the climate of a given region before
shipment of orders. Climate affects
the operation of internal-combustio
motors to the extent that they find it
worth while to make comparisons be-
tween different localities so that they
can specify the proper piston displace-
ment.
Candy Makers Benefited.
A candy manufacturer, knowing that
certain operations in making candies
must be suspended when temperature
and humidity are above certain limits,
was able to avoid shutting down at any
time by installing air-conditioning ma
chinery in his plants. He further fol-
lowed the weather mans advice on
climates to the extent that certain
candies, notably hard candies, were not
shipped to places during seasons of the
year when temperature and humidity
In those parts were normally too high.
In a region where such extremes of
topography and climate are revealed
as in the Pacific Southwest, knowledge
of these is essential to business of every
kind, the report states, and without
that knowledge failure must in many
cases necessarily result. No wide-awake
merchant in the San joaquin Valley
would stock up heavily on umbrellas,
raincoatS and rubber boots, nor would
a halter in the San Francisco Bay
region order extensively of Panama
hats, because of their knowledge of the
climates of these two regions. Likewise,
the man seeking q place to locate an
industry in this area finds it very neces-
sary to communicate with the Weather
Bureau to get comprehensive and exact
information as to the climate of the
region that is inviting him to come;
the information gained may deter him
from coming or it may encourage him
to come. In either case, the report
concludes, it was worth his while to
get the facts.
Copies of the Commercial Structure
of the Pacific Southwest" may be OBJ
tanned at $1.S5 from the Government
Printing ONCE, Washington, D. c., or
from any Of the branch Offices of the
Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Com
merce throughout the country.