Evening star., 1936-09-06

given the same percentage gain over
last year during the remainder Of
1896 that has held during the first
seven months third place in the
annual records seems assured.
Taken from the standpoint of model
years, A. D. NJ points out that since
the first of October last year when
production of the 1885 models was
started the industry has produced
close to 100000 units. This, says
A. D. NJ, is comparable with some of
the best years in the history of the
industry and is well above the yearly
average during the past 10 years
which would be about 3,500,000 an
nually.
In its weekly estimate of produc-
ton Of automobiles and trucks in the
United States and Canada, A. D. N.
places the total for the current week
at 28,518 units as against a revised
estimate of 54,219 for the week ended
August 20. This brings the August
output to about 275,000 units, says
A. D. N, and the production to date
September /, for the calendar year
OF 1885 to 3,321,298.
NEW passenger car registration
during July reached total of
357,490 units. This is the third best
record in the history of the industry,
being exceeded only by July, 1926,
with 360,7O0 and July, 1929, with
432,5O3. The July figure this year
compares with 285,17S in the same
month a year ago. The manufacturer
in first place continued to hold his
lead during the month with 99,678
against the nearest competitors 8l,703.
Last year the present runner-up held
the lead in July with 83,203, against
his competitors 1925. The July
figure brings the total new passenger
cars registrations to August l to
2,21o,571 against 1,174,114 in the same
period last year.
New commercial car registrations
in July reached total Of 63,695, the
highest for the month in the history
of the industry and considerably above
the 51,243 units registered during the
same month last year. The July fig
ure brings the total registrations to
August to 384,l77, which lacks only
215,823 units to meet the A. D. N.
estimate of 100000 for the entire
year. Last year during the last five
months the industry registered 205, ,377
units, says A. D. NJ, which gives
ample assurance that the 100000
prediction will be fulfilled.
Looking into the future A. D. N.
points out that 1887 should be a good
sales year with the industry topping
this years mark by about 10 per cent
at least. This estimate, says A. D. N,
Is based on the fact that total regis
trations in the United States are
still below the peak year Of 1929 and
many of the cars now in registration
are of the 1929 and 1880 vintage. At
the end Of 1929 the total passenger
car registrations in the United States
were 23,121,589. During the depres-
sion the total dropped to 20,616,234 in
1888 and at the end of 1885 reached
22,565,347. This means that while
the total at the close of this year
VIII no doubt be above the $4,000, 900
mark, many of the cars will be seven
years old or older and will require
replacement during 1887. Should the
1887 total run 10 per cent above 1885,
A. D. N. states, the year will establish
new all-time high records in produc-
ton and sales.
MoToR vehicle taxpayers of vir-
-A ginia have been saved $112,500,-
600 as q result Of the low-cost road
construction program undertaken By
the State Highway Department, ac-
cording to petroleum refiners
association.
This saving was made possible
through construction of 5000 miles
Of low-cost oil and bituminous high
way surfaces, at total cost Of $12,-
100000. in parts Of the State where
light traffic made expensive paving
unnecessary. High-cost paving of thus
mileage would have cost approximately
$125, 100000. Had the highway de-
partment elected to spend the same
amount of money for high-cost pave
rnent, only one-tenth Of the amount
of highway could have been built,
leaving $500 miles of dirt roads
unpaved.
The method used in Virginia Is
known as "stage construction" the
thickness and durability of the pave
ment being increased by successive
applications of bituminous materials
as traffic increases, producing the
required road service with maximum
of economy. The State Highway
Commission estimates its low-cost road
construction program Is saving motor
lists in that State $50, 100000 annually
in operating costs, since paved roads
effect substantial economies in gaso-
line, oil and wear on tires. 1t also
estimates that Virginia farmers have
been enriched by $37,800,0 900 through
the program. This represents esti-
mated appreciation in land values Of
farms fronting on the newly-paved
roads. Agricultural authorities report
an average appreciation of $21 an acre
when the roads on which they front
are paved, and since each mile of
improved road serves about $50 acres
Of land, the 5000 miles of low-cost
roads in Virginia serve about 1900, 900
acres, and increase the value of that
land by $37,800,000
NEARLY outcast because it was
considered to be no longer needed,
the automobile instruction book has
taken a new lease on life and in its
latest form Is coming to be regarded
as one of the most essential features
Of car ownership, according to Fred
erick c. Russell. It's returning popu-
larity, however. is due not so much
to its value to owners as to its ad-
vertising value to car manufacturers,
he says.
Provident motorists, nevertheless,
can make capital Of the new type in
struction book because It gives a type
Of aid not heretofore available In
printed matter Of this kind. Even If
owners used these books for no reason