I
HE OMAHA SUNDAY BEE: ATRIL 14, 1918.
1
REO OFFICIAL '
OUTLINES THE
HUTOSITUATION
K:ad of Large Automobile Fac
" tory Says Motor Car Manu
facturers Are Sacrificing
v Personal Ambitions.
'very properly the efforts of. the
entire automobile industry for the last
12 months have been contentrated on
winning the war. Production of auto
mobiles even automobile trucks for
ordinary commercial and domestic
purposes has ceased to be the para
mount concern of. automobile manu
facturers; for the makers of motor
cars have been too busy converting
fo government uses the energy, the
ingenuity, the resourcefulness and the
tfficiency which in the last two dec
ades have enabled the automobile in
dustry to revolutionize manufacturing
methods.and to develop quantity pro
duction to a point never before
. dreamed of," stated F. H. Akers, sales
-'manager of the Reo Motor Car com
pany, in a recent interview.
"This conversion of energy has
taken many and divergent forms. Not
all of the automobile factories are
actually producing munitions of war;
although the production of trucks for
y " military service, of airplane engines,
of anti-submarine craft, of artilley
, tractors and a thousand and one other
things which the United States and
it illies, need most urgently for
direct use in wining the war is en
gaging a surprisingly large part of
the productive capacity of many of the
bfcgest automobile factories in the
country.
Discusses the Future.
"In view of the assistance which
the automobile industry already has
. rendered the government in preparing
to prosecute the war most effectively
particularly since this activity is be-
0 ing constantly increased we shall
trot be accused of sordid commercial
ism or a lack of patriotism if, even at
this time, we digress for the purpose
of. attempting to diagnose the future
of this mammoth industry itself. For,
while our present duty is to give our
selves wholeheartedly to the winning
jf the war, the injunction, 'In time
f war prepare for peace,' was never
nore clearly applicable than today.
"At the best, there is certain to be
i a period of sharp industrial and com
mercial readjustment as soon as hos
tilities -shall cease; and it is equally
certain that the necessity for liquidat
ing the enormous war debts that
are now being piled up will result
jn an international race for commer
cial supremacy which will complete
ly eclipse Germany's former efforts to
secure a 'place in the sun.' Conse-
quently it behooves those of us who
are unwilling to see America left at
the barrier ia this great race to sci
to it that as nearly as possible its
commercial and industrial equilibrium
be maintained even at thjs time.
Still An Infanty Industry.
1 "If we may judge the future by the
f past and the present, the automobile
business Still is in a period of com
parative infancy. If figures mean any
thing at all, they indicate unmistak
ably that the 'point of saturation'
whatever that may mean has not
been reached. The curve of produc
tion, to the end of 1917, is still up
ward, and while there is certain to be
a marked recession in 1918 it will be
due not to a falling off of demand
which, of course, would be the case if
the maximum absorptive power of the
country hadjeen reached but to the
necessity of releasing for government
uses part of the materials, men and
plant capacity which normally would
have been utilized for the manufacture
of automobiles."
Nutter, Hero of Viny Ridge,
Will Speak Sunday Night
W. E. Nutter one of the heroes of
Vimy Ridge, will speak Sunday night
t the First Presbyterian church,
American Auto Situation Not
Similar to That of England
So many phases of American activ
ities during war time hive been in
fluenced and regulated through sim
ilar circumstances existing in Euro
pean countries, especially our allies,
that policies laid down by those gov
ernments have been looked to largely
by authorities here as the solution
to many economic problems as they
have materialized.
To give the automobile its proper
place in relation to war tinie activ
ities has for some time been a matter
of public notice, and it has been fre
quently cited how the regulations
promoted in England would be equal
ly applicable here. But in the opinion
of S. E. Ackerman, sales manager of
the Franklin Automobile company,
wide difference in the use of automo
biles in this country and in England
throws an entirely different light
upon the comparison. Automobiles
have never attained the position in
the daily life of England that is the
case in the United States. England,
with its 31,000,000 people, had, ac
cording to the latest available report,
only 290,000 motor vehicles, an aver
age of only one car to everyJ07 peo
ple, while the United States has
5,000,000 cars, or one to every 20 in
habitants. "In .New York state alone," points
out Mr. Ackerman, "there are 400,000
motor vehicles to its 9,113,514 popula
tion, or 110,000 more cars than the
total registration in England, with
thtet, times the population of New
York state. t
"It is plafn, therefore, that motor
vehicles in European countries bear
but a fraction of the importance to the
activities of the people as is the case
with the United States, and every re
striction on the use of automobiles
in foreign countries is of minor con
sequence compafed to the effect sim
ilar restrictions might have on the
transportation problems of this coun
try." It is Mr. Ackerman's opinion that
authorities in the United States will
put forth every effort to maintain
unimpaired the extensive utility of the
automobile and rather than plaCe
limits upon mileage of fuel supply,
the solution here -will turn toward
making automobile use more efficient,
i, e the total mileage wilhbe main
tained at considerably less expendi
ture of fuel, tires and other supplies,
through lighter weight, more efficient
motor cars. I
ARTILLERY UNIT -MOTORIZED
AT "
MICHIGAN CAMP
Camp Custer, Mich.. April 13.
All dressed up in regulation camou
flage and capable of going into posi
tion while under fire, the first motor
hauled battery of field artillery in
America, and, perhaps, in the world,
chugged itself past General Kennedy
and staff on the parade grounds here
this week. The event was the first
brigade review in honor of General
Kennedy, new commandant at Camp
Custer.
.The first car in line was a famous
Hot Spot Chalmers equipped with
wireless standards and other racon
noissance attachments. The other
cars, including tractors and trucks,
were covered with heavy roofing
paper in such a cunning manner as
to perfectly simulate the armored
fighting car. Improvised periscopes
and ugly rifle muzzles prodded their
way through the open turrets, and the
general impression as observed by
the alleged correspondent was one
bf. genuine terror. But terror was
not the only suggestion, for the sight
was a tribute to the great American
automobile industry, and, indeed, a
noted accomplishment for the far
sighted and progressive energy of
Colonel H. E. Qpke, commanding
the 330th field artillery, and acting
commander of the 160th brigade.
Although the experiment has been
in progress for nearly 90 days, the
brigade review was the first official
appearance of a model motorized bat
tery completely armored and capable
of moving forward in trenoh warfare
as do the famous British tanks. So,
practical have been tae remits ana
so shilling the possibimiti that it i$
generaHy conceded this pioneer unit
may be a definite step toward per
manently sweeping the stalemate
trench system into a siift raovmg
conflict of automotive artiflery.
Auto Relieves Isolation
Of Farm, Says Changrtrom
"Before the introduction of the
automobile into agricultural districts,
the farmer occupied a very isolated
position," says Carl ChSngstrom of
the Standard Motor Car company.
"A trip (o town was a journey, and
consequently was taken only when
absolutely necessary.
"Today the motor car is proving a
short cut to the attractions - of the
city, as well as bringing the farmer's
marked nearer to him, making coun
try life attractive and enjoyable.
"Such adaptability has in addition,
caused young men to stay on the
farm, as well as giving added impetus
to the 'back to the acre' movement
for bumper crops by attracting people
trom the cities and suburbs.
Overloaded Maxwell Trucfc
Climbs Steep Hilf in Second
Climbing one of the steepest hills
in Albany, N. Y., with a ton and a
half overload is one of the most re
markable of many remarkable perfor
mances given by the Maxwell truck,
as the going tp the incline was ac
complished with the car in second
gear.
It took place because a truck owned
by the Firestone company, was tem
porarily laid up for repairs. The tire
company requested help from the
Berkshire Motor, company. They
were anxious to get a shipment of
goods away on a certain train. .
As time was limited the Maxwell
carried the entire shipment in one
load. The goods consisted of 13
crates of tires. The crates averaged
275 pounds each. The total weight
was 3,575 pounds.
When the State street hill was
reached the Maxwell was in second
gear but .continued its steady course
without any difficulty.
Call Issued by Army lor
Mechanics ahd Repairmen
The army has issued a special call
for mechanics and repairmen to work
in the quartermaster's mechanical re
pair shops in Washington. Men from
18 to 21, or from 31 to 41 years of
age, will be accepted. Application
should be made at the Omaha Army
building Fifteenth and Dodge streets.
Omaha Real Estate is the bast in
vestment you could make. Read The
Bee's real estate columns.
CANADIANS SAY
AUTO NEEDED IN
FARM OPERATION
Motor Vehicle Proves of Great
War Time Value Among
1 Farmers of the
Dominion.
in
After three and one-half vears
the war, Canada's attitude toward the
automobile and its many business
uss is particularly interesting. Judg
ing by the sales of Willys-Overland
cars in Canada, the automobile has be
come more necessary than ever be
fore. At a recent meeting of Overland
dealers in western Canada" a prom
inent editor of the one of the farm
publications voiced the sentiment of
the situation when ne told of the
numerous ways Canadian farmers are
making use of their automobiles to
help win the war.
"Give the Canadian farmer the 'al
ternative of buying a $1,000 car or a
$1,000 war bond and he takes both,"
said the speaker. "Here is the way
farmers are figurine it. Take a $1,000
car. Today it represents about 500
buphels of wheat or the result of
fair crop from 25 acres. This repre
sents about one and one-half days'
woik in aotual seeding;. The motor
car aauit save only a very little time
to allow this farmer to seed this 25
acres, which might otherwise lie fal
low. The farmer figures that there is
a demand for every bushel of wheat
he can produce with the aid his auto
mobile givesliim. But he knows that
there is no chance to sell any wheat
he cannot grow, so he buys the car,
cultivates extra acres with the time
he can save and buys war bonds with
the surplus, which you'll agree is the
best kind of patriotism."
Relieves Horse Shortage.
This man gave many practical ex
amples of the ways in which the farm
ers of Canada are using their cars.
One of the incidents pointed 5ut was
the shortage of horses, making the use
of automobiles imperative, for the
farmer who could not spare any teams
from the fields that could be saved by
using the automobile.
Another instance of its worth
brought out at the meeting was that
the wives and daughters of the farm
ers may be of greater assistance than
ever before by going to town in the
car for any necessary repairs or tak
ing care of other pressing affairs with
out impeding the progress of the
farm work. "They enjoy these trips
now with the automobile," the speak
er pointed out.
"The motor car on the farms goes
hand in hand with the tractor." ne
'continued. "In fact, I think we have
a right to use the slogan, Aide the
ahles with your ayto,' or 'Help win
toe war with your Willys.
WHATS DOING
Roads Are Being Put
in Excellent Shape
AT AUTO CLUB
County Surveyor Adams reports
he has a grading contractorVorking
on road No. 60, running south from
Bennington, which will open up a new
outlet to the Lincoln highway. Grad
ing is being done on road No. 33, the
road one mile north of the Lincoln
highway. Approximately 25,000 cubic
yards of earth will be excavated, An
8x12 side grader is working on the
Military highway and another south
of Elk City, both operated by trac
tor. A road maintainer is kept busy
constantly on Douglas county roads,
West Leavenworth now being in ex
cellent shape. The mamtainer is now
working east from .the western end
of the county. This is also pulled by
tractor. A lighter tracfor will also be
put on the job soon. The bridge
company has two crews working,
concreting the wing walls of the steel
bridges built last year, and they will
be through in a week or ten days.
A crew is now surveying and run.
ning levels on the Lincoln highway in
connection with the federal aid. This
crew will be kept busy until all
Douglas county roads are surveyed
and they will be brought to not to
exceed 4 per cent grade.
Traffic ordinances of Omaha contain
some hearty laughs. "Pedestrians
hall eroM the street over such nor
tion as is included within the lines of
the sidewalk projected and not diagO'
na lv." Imagine pedestrians in Oma
ha so far forgetting themselves as to
not cut across diagonally, ltus would
take all the joy out of owning a car
and worrying whether we were going
to hit that man with the UKht over
coat who is rigzagging from one curb
to the other.
Another section of same ordinance
savs: "Cutouts shall not be used ex
cept within one-half block of where
automobile is housed or kept, lhe
cutout fiend is very popular in Omaha
No one pays any attention to the
ordinance. The battle of Verdtin never
sounded half so rattle-te-bang as the
average dav in Omaha with our flock
of motor tanks trying to gas the mul
titude. Every automobile engineer of
note in the country knows the added
power (riven by the use of the cut
out is so small that it is practically
nenlieible. Yet Omaha has got to en
dure this unnecessary banging day
after day.
In 1917 a eount was taken during
stven-day periods over an interval
of four months of vehicles on main
roads in Iowa. The following is the
result: Sixtyfive per cent of the
traffic was inter-town, 23 per cent
was farm traffic, 5 per cent tourist and
7 per cent strietly town people. On
one road leading to a fairly large town
not a single steel tired vehicle was
counted, all being automobiles.
SSSS111
Touring Comforts in
a Pr oven Chassis t3sssP
Flexibility
durability
Eaae of Operation
Economy
In
Style
Comfort
EtHctoncy
Four body styles to select from the
seven-passenger family touring car; the
four-passenger sporty-Foursome, the cozy
three-passenger roadster, or the luxurious
summer or winter seven-passenger (Spring
field type) Sedan.
Prices $1650 to 2050
, f. o. b Detroit, Mich.
Write or call for descriptive matter that
tells of the hazardous test the King was put
to in Car Owner's Service Tests. The eight
cylinder King is the most economical car for
its power now being offered and is built to
endure the hardest service for many years.
NOYES-KILLY MOTOR CO.
Factory Distributors
Omaha, Neb., -and Kansas City, Mo.
iLb Motor Car Coapsny
Detroit, MkL
YOU
WHEN the railroads and express companies tell you they
cannot accept your shipments to points within a hun
dred mils, what are you going to do? You're going to
buy motor trucks or lose some 6f your good customers.
You can be independent of traffic conditions, give better serv-'
ice to your customers, and still keep your cost of hauling at a
low figure by investing in
You can make your local shipments on time as promised, you help relieve
the congestion at railway terminals; you can keep your business goingand
all at a reasonable cost. ;
The International engine and the International internal gear drive rear axle
are mechanical features that will interest you because they are responsible
for the "built-in" mileage that is found in every International Motor
Truck.
In the International line of motor trucks there are 7 models to choose from
a size to meet almost every requirement, at prices ranging from $1,450
to $2,550 for the chassis (cash f. o. b. factory), with suitable bodies for
every business.
See the International Motor Truck at the showroom of your local dealer.
, Telephone or write to the nearest Company branch listed below for full
. information.-. Economical transportation is tho topic of the day. There is
no obligation involved in getting the facts from some member of our
organization.
International Harvester Company of America
71
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(WCORFORATED)
OMAHA BRANCH t
8ft CAPITOL AVE.
OMAHA SALES AGENT,
JI.lKMMMh.LA9D CO.
20th AND HARNEY STS.
Aberdeen, S. D.
Sioux Falls, S. D.
Concordia, Kan.
Topeka, Kas.
S.illna, Kan.
BRANCH HOI SES ALSO AT:
Cedar Falls. Ia.
Council Bluffs, la.
Jes Moines, Ia.
Fort Dodge, Ia.
Mason City, Ia,
Sioux City, Ia.
Crawford, Neb,
Lincoln, Neb.
Denver, Colo.
Hwikato, Minn.
Kansas City, Mo.
Sft Joseph, Mo,
01!!
PP
mm
"11
9
the fact that the new 19 Series
Studebakers in actual testa stood
the rigors of such a winter as we
have just passed through and ran
continuously for ninety days, aver
aging 500 miles each day, and did
this for 30,000 miles, proves that it
must be made of .the right sort of
stuff for average ownership.
thoroiiMy modern
If . . If r.
Jkchanicawyrignz
STUDEBAKER WILSON, INC.
rnam at 25th "Ave.
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niiiiiaunuluiUMUhlLllllMI)IIIHUUHIN!l!)U4!
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lUHIIUIOIIIIMIWIWWaimiWHMIUMIMillWMi
niniiiiiiuiiini
The Allen Roadster
a smart and comfortable car for four
W
"OMEN who don't wish to be held
down to the limits of the electric town
car but who still want comfort, ease-
of-control and safety, like the Allen.
Thousands of women drive this smooth
acting, easy-running car.
$1145
tn.b. Pottorit, Ohl
May we demonstrate these qualities?
x STANDARD MOTOR CAR CO.
CARL CHANGSTROM, Pr.iid.nt
WaaUrn Distributor Omaha, Nab.
2020-2022 Farnam St. Phon Douglat 1708.
DEALERS If you can h.ndl. a big territory our propoii
t'on I. of umiiiml Intert.t to you.
Factory Addraau Tba A0n Motor Co. Fottorta. Ohio
01
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Pi
ID; U
And Did You Know
That when Denby engineers put the
gas tank on the dash they chose the
one place from which it is easiest to get
an uninterrupted fuel flow under all
conditions?
Put the tank anywhera ele and aJj '
little work that has to be done in forcing the
gasoline flow on hills you add a few mora
PiontT of th
Internal Gear Drive
parta to get out of order.
Capacities
1 ton
to
5 tons
Denby engineers believed that you couldn
improve on Nature-the force of gravity in u
sunng the fuel supply at all times.
And thousand of users have endorsed theif
work.
r.
We have a mighty interesting nroDosition to offer dealers fn Totrri.'v
Nebraska and northern Kansas the richest agricultural district in America.'
An opportunity for live, active men to secure permanent, profitable;
connection such as is seldom met with. Get in touch with us now.
Card-Adams Motor Co. I
V
v 2421 Farnam St., Omaha.
1640 O St., Lincoln. 924 Locust St., Des Moines, taj
C. F. MORPHEW, Truck Manager
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