Evening star., 1936-12-13


more heavily in the profits of the
industry.
The managements Of the automotive
businesses are willing that the workers
should benefit by the general pros
perity in the field. although there is
less and less chance today for new
workers to gain an opportunity to
share in that system.
Automobile production more than
doubled from 1888 to 1885, according
to the Census Bureau report. En-
ployment in the industry gained only
S9.2 per cent. In these figures may
be found an answer to the paradox
that. while the automobile industry
Is now moving along at pace COM
parable to the 1927-1929 era, centers
of motor production. like Detroit and
Flint, are not altogether rid of their
welfare problems
The average workers wage was
81 ,405 in 1885, compared to an annual
wage Of $1,640 in 1929.
THE census report on the industry
shows that labor's share of the value
added by manufacture in automobile,
body and parts plants was 48.5 per
cent in 1885" says the Automobile
Manufacturers Association, while in
1929 labor's share was 36.6 per cent"
The value added by the manufac-
ture figure" the association continues,
represents the manufacturers margin
after payment for all materials pur-
chased. Out of this margin, in addi-
fion to wages, must be paid all salaries,
rents. local, State and Federal taxes,
interest and depreciation. advertising
and other expenses, as we'll as dividends
TO stockholders and additions to
necessary reserves.
'HE 1885 manufacturers margin
was SLIPS ,OOO, 900. or A per cent
less than the S2002 ,000, 900 of 1929.
This decline reflects not only a de-
cline of the volume of vehicles sold,
of 26 per cent from 1929. but also a
reduction in the average factory
realization per vehicle. of Is per cent,
from s644 to $549, and an increase in
the cost of raw materials per dollar
of sales,
Although in 1885 the manufac-
turers margin. after payment for raw
material purchased. was A per cent
lower, aggregate wages were only 26
per cent below those of 1929"
A gain in real wages was effected,
the association maintains, by the diff
ference in the cost of living in the
mentioned years. This variation in
living expenses was 20 per cent, ac-
cording to the A. M. A. statistics.
Because of the lower cost of living,
the average wage of 81 ,405 had a pur-
chasing power, the association declares,
equal to $1.750 per year in 1929
wages. The actual average wage rate
in 1929 was only 1,64O, showing a
positive gain in the real income of the
individual worker in 1885"
A total of 387 725 wage earners was
employed in the industry in 1885, COM
pared with 243,6l4 in 1888. During
the two years total wages increased
from 1882, LOG, ,467 to $545, ,402, ,646. The
1929 peak was $733 3,O82,618.
SOMETHING of the same change
that overlook American home
building about third of a century
ago is catching up with the automo-
bile, a rapid survey shows. The gay
nineties had passed when furnace
heating and modern plumbing came
.nto their own.
Certain comforts are now being
universally recognized by the auto
mobile buyer. They include such
luxury factors as the radio, the hot
water heater. the electric clock, the
automatic cigar lighter, the frost re-
mover.
The manufacturers of accessories of
this type are swamped by demand. In
many cases they are running behind
on orders.
A few years ago the automobile
manufacturers, in promoting the sale
Of a new car ignored all but their own
product. Then they recognized the
value of making each car as complete
and as comfortable as possible. Ac-
eordingly, most of them now contract
with accessory manufacturers for in
dividual items to carry the same
trade name as the car itself. They
share in the profit on the equipment,
aid the accessory maker in developing
the market for his product and ease
the pathway for the dealer.
About one new automobile out OF
four that leaves the dealer is now
equipped with radio. The volume Of
retail radio sales for 1885 in the auto
motive field is estimated at $40,000,-
600
More heaters will be sold this year
than ever before. Latest figures indi-
cate that one out of every two of the
new models going to buyers Is being
equipped with heater.
A major factor in the sale of heaters
this year has been the equipment that
many manufacturers are offering TO
keep frost off the windshield. This
device operates from the heater. Two
tubes carry the heat up to the wind
shield. There it is distributed through
vents on each side to warm the glass
and prevent the formation OF ice parti-
cles on either the outside or inside Of
the windshield. Here, too, the demand
for the product has left the manufac-
turers hopelessly behind the orders.
CHROME yellow numbers on a black
~ background will be the color
scheme of Washington automobile
tags in 1887, as most of you already
know, while Maryland will have black
numbers on a white background and
Virginia will use white numbers on
black background. For the District
and Maryland. the new scheme
amounts merely to q reversal of the
order of 1896, but Virginia's tags are
q complete departure from the 1886
combination, which was blue with
orange numbers.
To promote the cause Of traffic