Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-01-29
Quick Shift
. To Dobbin
Impossible
Auto. Tire Bans Pose
Perplexing Problem
BY HUGH S. JOHNSON


AN AUTOMOBILE is not like
"A the famed one-horse chaise
which ran its allotted span Of 100
years and then collapsed into
kindling wood in every part. Its
average life from assembly line
to junk heap is usually figured
at about seven years. Some
times il is a fraction Of that.
A vital part goes sour and un-
less il can practically be made
over it will never again be the
same old wagon. Already, l am
getting reports of abandoned
cars in bitches. One is of the
case Of a southern school-bus.
One tire went hopelessly bad
and, under local regulations,
there was no way to replace it.
OF course, no automobile can
run on three tires.
As has frequently been re-
marked here and elsewhere, this
country has been thoroughly mo-
torized in both farm and city
living. The change from the
days Of Shank'S mare and horse
and buggy has practically re-
made the map.
TWENTY-FIVE years ago,
l. rural distribution of the
products of industry was roughly
based on distribution points
country stores) serving an area
roughly seven or eight miles in
radius. Horses and wagons con-
sumed A farmers day 10 do his
marketing-16 miles of travel at
wagon-pace for the journey and
the rest OF the time getting
ready and taking care of the
stock in the evening
With the coming OF the auto
mobile. all that could be done in
a couple hours. The farmers
sought better markets and the
crossroads stores began 10 dis
appear.
A similar and more familiar
change occurred in cities. and
especially among factory work
ers. as the urban population be-
gan 70 overflow into the more
pleasant country.
IT TOOK years 10 make this
L change and il viii take years
10 unnake II. II is easy 10 talk
about going back to the wagon,
horse and buggy. But, where
are they? The manufacture OF
horse drawn transportation
once leading industry-has
now practically vanished. The
horse and mule population has
been declmated.
The sudden crack. down ban
on automobiles and new and
secondhand tires is likely "a
create a catastrophe If some
thing isn't done about il.
II is not an impossible prob
lem. but il is major one
There are perhaps 27.0O0 0Oo
more or less disable automobiles
10 do our motor driven work.
The hours and days that many
OF them stand idle and the
small extent 10 which this ca
pacity has been used. even when
they are in service, has been
one of the most dlsgraceful
wastes in history.
HERE are the elements Of a
IL solution II will take or.
ganization. rigorous control and
the cooperation Of everybody
but we have a right 10 expect
that AT such a time.
So far. very little progress or
preparation has been made in
that direction. The powers
granted Mr.. Joseph Eastman as
car Of transportation should he
enough 10 make a start. If such
is not the case, they should be
sufficiently expanded TO make a
finish.
The whole transportation
problem is a unlt-rail, air
water. commercial truck and
prlvately-owned trucks and
automobiles. A single controlling
head Of all. governing a nation
wide volunteer directing net in
every community could cut
down our past woeful waste Of
these facilities 10 point where
war restrictions. instead OF
bringing a great slowing up or
paralysis Of our motorized
economic system. would be
merely at inconvenience.
Distributed by King Features synd Inc.
Reproduction IN whole or In part
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