THE SUNDAY OK EG ONI AX. PORTLAND, JANUARY 21, 1917.
r
BILLION MARK' SET
BY AUTO INDUSTRY
Buyers Pay $1 ,088,023,273 in
Year for American
Made Cars.
' AVERAGE PRICE IS $672
demand for Trucks Leaps Forward.
Farmers Best Customers for Pas
Kenger Vehicles r-Even Greater
Business Is Predicted.
With giant strides that have no par
allel in the industrial progress of
America, the business of making and
marketing automobiles passed the
ger cars were valued at $921. 378,000.
while the trucks show $166,650,273. or
a total of $1,088,028,273. which is the
retail price paid for vehiclese by Amer
lean and foreign buyers. Of this
number exports for 116 will amount
to 58.000 passenger cars, and 20.000
trucks, at a total Value of $96,662,000,
this latter being the wholesale figure.
Farmers Biggest Bayers..
"To those who study the situation
there is nothing strange about the
rapid increase in the sale of motor ve
hicles, although it is a source of amaze
ment to many people who have figured
motor car sales in comparison with the
number of rjeoDle who had incomes of
$1500 or more. They overlooked the
tremendous advantage of the motor
car to salesmen, contractors and others
in general business and particularly to
farmers, who have been the biggest
buyers of motor cars during the past
counle of years. Thus we find a real
answer to this automobile trade pros'
oeritv in the magic word "service." Just
as long as the motor car can transport
the individual or transport freight
more rapidly and at lower costs than
any other type of vehicle. Just so long
will this country and the balance of
the world continue to use motor cars
in increasing numbers. The automo
bile is now a public utility to be
classed with streetcars, electric light
lng and the telephone and rendering a
service on a par with those Important
reaulrements of civilization.
"Just how many motor cars can be
used in this country, aside from the
balance of the world, has been a source
of discussion in and out of the trade.
HERE ARE A FEW STAGGERING FIGURES OF THE AUTOMO
BILE INDUSTRY.
Motor ears registered In 47 of world's leading countries. . $.108,468
Motor cars now registered in the United States 2,500,000
Value of cars owned in United States $2,500,000,000
Average value per car $1,000
Number of cars to each mile of American highway 1
Proportion of cars to United States area car to each 1 1-$
square miles .
Increase in real estate values duo to transportation by
automobile 100 to 400
Public roads in the United States, miles 2.600.000
Annual new roads and Improvement expenditures $300,000,000
Motor-car steel used in year, tons 670,000
Imitation leather used in year, yards 8,280.000
Top material used in year, yards 11,405,250
Hickory and other woods used in bodies, board feet 8,450.850
Hinges used in year 4,893,560
Number of motor cars which made the transcontinental
trip in year -5'JS2
Number of men employed in the industry (approximately) 700,000
In the United States there Is one car to every 40 people.
.. .......TTTTT---- - ---.-.-
11,000.000,000 marie In sales during the I
year 1916, with no indication of a de
crease in the demand for the reliable,'
service-giving, power-driven vehicle
that has taken an Important place In
the work of transporting rapidly and
economically a big proportion of the
citizens of this and other countries of
the world.
Alfred Reeves, general manager of
the National Automobile Chamber of
Commerce, has supplied figures that are
a veritable romance in business and
which show that the sales last year ex
ceeded 1,600.000 passenger and freight
carrying automobiles, with a retail
value of more than $1,000,000,000 and
an average price of approximately $672.
The average for passenger vehicles was
$605 and for trucks $1809. These ve
hicles were made by more than 400
companies and sold by 30.000 dealers
throughout the United States and for
eign countries, for motor car exports in
1916 will reach a value of more than
$96,000,000 at wholesale, exclusive of
parts and accessories.
Competition Destroys Many.
"While the manufacturer has sup
ported in royal fashion the new creed
of co-operative competition in the mat
ter of standardization, simplifying and
perfecting motor cars to be offered at
the lowest possible price so as to in
terest the greatest number of people,"
said Mr. Reeves, "the competition for
trade has been of the fiercest kind, the
path during the past five years being
strewn with the financial wrecks of
more than 400 companies, showing that
only the strongest in men, methods,
materials, money and machinery have
been able to survive.
"To be exact, the available figures
compiled by the National Automobile
Chamber of Commerce for considera
tion at the Seventeenth National Auto
mobile Show, in Grand Central Palace.
New York, shows a production for 1916
of 1,525,578 passenger cars and 92,130
trucks or commercial vehicles a grand
total of 1.617.708 vehicles. The passen-
with estimates so far out of line that
even the closest students or the maus
try have given up the task. No one
can really tell. At first we said 1.000.
000 cars. Then as cars got better and
nrices lower, we raised the estimate to
2,000.000. Then came the wildest kind
of estimates and the figures put
3.000.000. but this has been passed, and
now there are about 3.500.000 automo
biles running and registered in the va
rious states, with apparently no oe-
crease in the demand.
Tracks Coming Into Own.
"There are increasing uses for pas
seneer or so-called pleasure cars in
every part of the country, while trucks
are Just beginning to come into their
own. with the practical certainty that
a few years from now great quanti
ties of freight will be moved on the
highways by motor trucks, which will
also act as feeders to railroads, mak
ing unnecessary the construction of ex
pensive so-called 'feeder lines." Motor
vehicles must supplant a big part of
the 24,000,000 horses now in use in this
country.
"It is most gratifying to leaders of
the industry to know that their efforts
to supply the best in motor cars at
prices within the reach of millions has
been appreciated by an increasing
number of buyers, very few of whom
have a thought of leaving the ranks
of motor car owners and with others
more and more acknowledging the need
they have for power-driven vehicles.
"Production is certain to go on at a
stronger rate, and while standardized
to a marked degree in many parts.
there will always be a great variety of
designs in motor chassis and bodies
and a large number of companies sup
plying them. It is fair to assume, how
ever, that with the keen competition,
only standard products of established
and well-managed companies can be
expected to survive in this business,
now so nrmly established and so gen'
erally recognized as one of the giants
of industrial America."
OREGON'S FOOTBALL VICTORY
SENDS GIRLS OUT IN PAJAMAS
Movie Stars Wager on Pennsylvania, Agreeing to Drive Through Holly
wood Streets in Deshabille if Favorites Don't Win.
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t itfi nWi i ni .Til T TW rf Til li i mf
Film Beantiea (That's No Prevarication) About f Ride Thronga Streets ef
t'allfornla City Because Vnlveralty or Oregon Defeatea Pennsylvania at
Football. -
HOLLYWOOD, Cat. Jan. 20.
Through the streets of Holly
wood, clad In pajamas, was what
the victory of the University of Oregon
over Pennsylvania on the football field
at Pasadena, New Year's day. cost two
beauties of fllmdom here this week.
Miss Mildred Pritchard and her chum.
Miss Mattle Connolly, were so confident
that the huskies of Pennsylvania would
efeat the Oregonians that they
wagered a tour of Hollywood in pa
jamas against a theater party with
Lee Moran, chief comedian of Univer
sal City.
Moran. -who is an enthusiastic Chev
rolet owner, staked a lot of real cash
on the outcome of the game, backln
Oregon. He even garte odds on variou
occasions. The Misses Pritchard and
Connolly were taken on for a wager of
a oinerent Kino.
"Oregon has not a chance," declared
the film beauties, "Pennsylvauia will
fcV TTl amtf SBBn
SEheAiost Beautiful. Car inlmerica
ZZCZ77.
THE MOST BEAUTIFUL CAR.,
IN AMERJCA
At the Portland Automobae Show we
are introducing what we sincerely be
lieve to be "The Most Beautiful Car in
America."
This, we admit, is a bold and sweeping
statement.
It is probably the most sensational an
nouncement that has ever been made
by a manufacturer of medium-priced
automobiles.
But we mean precisely what the words
imply, and only ask that you reserve
final judgment until you have seen the
exhibit with your own eyes.
It is not our purpose, in this advertise
ment, to describe one single detail of the
latest and greatest Paige Achievement.
We merely invite you to attend the Auto
mobile Show key your expectations
up to the very highest pitch and de
termine for yourself whether or not we
have been guilty of exaggeration.
A moment's reflection, however, must
convince you that we would not and
could not make any such claim unless
it were substantially correct.
Our entire reputation and position in the
motor car industry depend upon the
accuracy of our public utterances.
Knowing this, it is not likely' that we
would voluntarily assume responsibil
ity for a statement which could be
refuted to our everlasting discredit..
If, though, you are still inclined to doubt,
please remember that Paige has been
one of the truly creative factors in the
motor car industry.
From the very beginning our body designs
have been absolutely unique and re
freshingly distinctive.
If imitation is the most sincere form of
flattery, we should indeed feel elated,
because it is generally admitted that
Paige designs have served as the
models for practically every quality can
in the industry.
Nothing could more strikingly emphasize
the fact that Paige has always built
beautiful cars and can be logically
expected to produce The Most Beau
tiful Car in America."
So far as the mechanical features of our
product are concerned, you need only
consult the thousands of owner records
which have been established during
the past seven years.
The Paige motor and chassis are world
famous. They have been developed by
the ripest engineering genius that the
industry affords.
In them we have incorporated every im
provement, "every refinement, that
could possibly increase the efficiency
of a smooth-running, ever-dependable
motor car.
As we have said time and time again,
you can only expect to get out of an
automobile precisely what the manu
facturer puts into it.
' There is no substitute for basic quality.
To build the truly great things in this
world one must work with his Heart
quite as well as his Hands.
But for the present, we are going to saj
no more.
.When you and other Americans like
you stand before the Paige exhibit,
our case will be in the hands of the
Jury.
So, please remember this advertisement
at that time every word of it and
determine for yourself whether or not
our claims are justified.
In justice to your own interests, make it
a special point to see "The Most Beau
tiful Car in America."
The Paige-Detroit Motor Car Company, Detroit, Michigan
Paige Motor Sales Co. of Oregon
- 200 Broadway, Cor. Taylor St.
trim them as bad as Washington did
seven years ago.
-Fair enough." said Moran, "I will
put you down in the little book; Just
name the amount.'
"If Oregon wins." agreed the beau
ties, "we will drive through the streets
of Hollywood, in broad daylight,
dressed in pajamas, in your automo
bile, if you will give us a box party
and dinner if Oregon loses."
It was agreed then that If Pennsyl
vania boys lost, the film beauties were
to drive from La Salle studios to Uni
versal City and return, dressed la
pajamas.
Oregon won, and the bet. was paid
here a few days ago. A number of
Moran's friends, as well as friends of
tbe losers, who had heard of the
wager, were on hand to witness the
paying off of what is claimed to be
the most novel bet ever made on a foot
ball game.
PEXDLETOX PLAN'S ACTO SHOW
One Thousand IKIlrs to Be Award
ed for Prise fexlilbits.
PENDLETON. Or, Jan. 20. Pendle
ton auto dealers are making great
preparations for Pendleton's first an
nual automobile show, to be held Feb
ruary S, S and 10. Tbe show probably
will be held in Happy Canyon pavilion
and $1000 in cash prizes will be awarded
for exhibits.
The committee in charge of the show
is W. J. McCormach. of the Pendleton
Auto-Company: B. F. Trombley, of the
Oreg$a Motor Garage; Robert Simpson,
of the Simpson Anto Company: J.
Knight, of the Etudebaker, and L.
Drake.
RUBBER ASSOCIATION ELECTS
II. S. Firestone Again Chosen Presi
dent of Club
Attended by ever 700 representatives
of the rubber 'industry from all over
the country the 17th annual meeting of
the Rubber Club of America, Inc. held
at New Tork recently proved the most
successful in the history of the organ
ization. At the annual banquet held in the
Waldorf-Astoria tbe guests were ad
dressed by ex-President William
Howard Telt- Representatives of ail
the prominent rubber concerns through
out the nl tod states were present.
The year Just passed waa the most
successful and prosperous in the his
tory of the organization which has been
In existence for 17 years. H. 8. Fire
stone, president of the Firestone Tire 4k
Rubber Company, was re-elected presi
dent of the club. The name of the club
was changed to that of "The Rubber
Association of America."
Bneschaw Raps Stock Jobbers.
"I don't like to teU tales out ot
school and everj-bodv in the trade
knows I'm no ltnockeiV says R. C
Rueachaw, sales manager Of the Reo
Motor Car Company, "but I will say
this: If automobile manufacturers
would pay less attention to the ticker
tape and more to the real business of
making and selling cars, there wouldn't
be nearly the railroad congestion nor
the 'car shortage' there is.
TJsed Oars Command Hlzb Prices.
Dealers in Worcester, Mass.. recently
tried the auction plan of disposing of
used cars, ana with such success that
similar auctions are to be held every
three or four montba At the first sale,
which was held at the local fair
grounds, over 600 buyers were pres
ent, many coming from a considerable
distance, and over 100 cars were dis
posed of in two days. Each car was
ticketed with a card giving its exact
condition, as determined by an expert,
and the Worcester Automobile Dealers
Association, which promoted the auc
tion, guaranteed each car to be as represented
7