Evening Star Newspaper, January 27, 1929, Page 119

NASH SEES SOUND BUSINESS GROWTH Competition of European Car| Manufacturers Expected to Build Gains. THESE SEDANS SHOULD ATTRACT With a greater world market opening | wide before American automobile man- ufacturers through the steady improve- ment in international friendships, it apparent that one of the major tasks faced by the industry during the com- | ing year lies in the stimulation and | improvement of economical motor trans- | portation overseas as well as in the | United States, according to C. W. Nash, president of Nash Motors Co. | “Our industry has long since leaped its national boundary lines. It has al- ready succeeded in pointing the way to | reduced transportation costs and im- proved manufacturing methods to cer- tain European countries, It has fos- tered international good will to the point where 35 nations have sent rep- | resentatives to the National Automobile | Show, and it has stretched a fairly efficient merchandising organization across the world. In all of these pro- | gressive steps, however, it has little more than scratched the surface of the | ‘world demand for American made cars. ‘There remains the need for American enterprise to take a definite lead in making the automobile as great a unit of general utility in the various coun- tries of the world as it is at home. “Basing my opinion on recent per- sonal observations in Europe, which in- cluded a tour of the Northern European countries, inspections of several volume production factories, visits to the Paris and London Automobile Shows and con- ferences with automobile men from | more than a score of countries, I be- lieve that we may expect great prog- Tess in the export market during 1929. This business is undoubtedly growing Tapidly. “It is only natural that, as American exports increase, our overseas competi- tion will grow stronger. Such a con- dition is a healthy sign for motorists of the world, for keen competition, whether at home or abroad, reacts to the benefit of the public in the lower- ing of prices, improvements in quality and increase in prosperity. General Improvement in Europe. “I found that in the last year there has been a general improvement in European motor car design, although the American industry is credited with \Yemaining comfortably in advance me- chanically and with developing some Jof the most important new features of the manufacturing year. The volume producers in Europe, thanks to adop- tion of American made machinery and reduction of production costs, have been able to reduce prices of their cars to a 'considerable extent. The most interest- ing feature in the foreign motor car situation, however, is the body building trend. The bigger foreign manufacturers and we in America are thinking more nearly along the same lines of design this vear than ever before, “These advancements in Europe, to my mind, promise better overseas markets for the American industry., Awakening of foreign manufacturers presages an increase in foreign prosperity and closer. co-operation for us in the pioneering for motor transportation in lands where the automobile is still a luxury. There can be no question of a European inva- sion of the American market, but there are infinite possibilities in the mutual benefits that can be derived by manu- facturers of the world co-operating in opening new market outlets. “‘Opportunities for the growth of mo- tor transport are evident in the under- motored condition of most countries. Compare the United States, with ap- proximately five people to each auto- mobile in actual use, to Germany with Upper: Reo Sport Sedan. approximately 200 per motor vehicle; Spain with 256 people; Poland, with 1,500; Australia, with 161; Chile, with 217, and so on up the scale to China with its 21,600 people to each motor vehicle, and the task ahead of world manufacturers will be apparent. “In South America, for example, the promotion and growth of good roads has opened a large market, which should be materially improved for American manufacturers this year as the result of the good-will tour made by President-elect Hoover. “At home, I can see nothing in gen- eral economic conditions that should make us expect a slowing dowh of the industrial march which brought new high production and sales records for the automobile industry in 1928. With a four-year record of splendid business back of us, it seems to me that we are in a position to enjoy a continued period of prosperity. “There are now more than 20,000,000 passenger cars and nearly 3,000,000 trucks registered in the United States, and the year's automobile production exceeded by a comfortable margin that of 1926—the peak year in the industry’s history. More Highways Built. “To balance this great achievement there are now some 600,000 miles of sur- faced highways in the United States— 100,000 more miles of pavement than were available to motorists a year ago, and the State and National highway programs promise another $1,000,000,000 hl:grwly year for 1929. Highway widen- ing, improvement in city street facilities, grade separations and other improve- ments everywhere all combine to in- crease the American market for auto- mobiles and to add materially to their utility, while the increase in per capita The THE SUNDAY STAR, WASHINGTON, D. €. JANUARY 27, 1929—PART 8. ATTENTION wealth and continued prosperity furnish the resources for continued buying. “One of the most interesting revela- tions in the year's review lies in the fact that nearly 1,000,000 families in the United States who possessed only one car a year ago NOW own two auto- mobiles, This great increase in auxil- jary automobile ownership brings an estimate that more than 3,000,000 American families now own and operate two or mol ars, and indicates the ex- tent of the cond car” market. “In summing up, I can seen no rea- son to expect other than a sound, pros- perous year to come for the automobile industry both at home and abroad. The conditions of the country generally are good. American farmers are more prosperous than they have been in years past, and face sympathetic co- operation in solving their problems by the new administration. If American business men will control their enter- prises along sane, economical lines, and continue to build even more value intd American products, and if labor con- tinues to meet its vital responsibility in keeping business steady and normal, we are bound to enjoy very satisfactory times in the year to come.” Australia Sees Big Apple Crop. PERTH, West Australia (#).—A rec- ord apple crop, estimated at a million bushels, is expected during this year of Australia’s centenary celebration. Pre- vious yields will be surpassed by 100,000 bushels if the harvest comes up to esti- mate. Australia’s harvest season be- gins when it is Spring in the Northern Hemisphere. NorTHWEST MoTor Co. Invites You to Inspect Its New Service Lower: Moon Aerotype Sedan. Britain Buys U. S. Dried Fruits. LONDON (#).—The United Kingdom is one of the most important foreign markets for American dried fruits. Ap- proximately 90 per cent of the prunes and 30 per cent of the raisins offered in the British market are of American origin. MOTORIST T0 LEARN AUTO ADVANTAGES Prediction Made by Local Manager of American Automobhile Association. BY GEORGE E. KENEIPP, Manager District of Columbia Division American Automobile Association. ‘The year 1929 is one which, in all probability, will enable the owner of an automobile to realize more than ever | before the tremendous potentialities and | advantages of the most popular modern | means of individual transportation. This is especially true with regard to Wash- | ington motorists. | Furthermore, the new year is one re- | plete with new opportunities for organ- |ized motordom to make itself increas- |ingly useful to the community as a whole. During the last year it was the aim and ambition of the District of Colum- bia Division of the ‘American Automo- bile Assqeiation to contribute -as - much as possible not only 1o ‘the welfare of our members and of motordom gen- erally, but also to become-an ever more important constructive ’factor in the whole community life. In that ambition we-have reason to believe that we were at‘least partially successful. ‘During the new year, which begins with such great promise for mo- tordom;’ it is our hope "that we shall scale new heights of accomplishment for the public welfare: : Works for City's Welfare. = - * The ‘motor club, through its' many services, both to'its members and.to the public as a whole, is assuming a place of ‘evet-jricreasing significance as-a vital its -ideal, the motor club has taken its place-beside other civic bodies in work- ing for the welfare of the whole city. Naturally, our central aim is service to motorists. The advancement of mo- tordom 1S’ our chief concern. We desire, first of 'all, to make motoring better, safer, more efficient and as free as pos- sible from all annoyances. But, in addi- tion to that, as we see it, we have a broader obligation, and at this time we wish to express the hope that during 1929 we will be able to fulfill that obli- gation to the fullest possible extent. We believe that the coming months influence: in_ the community. - @perating | We <|ion’ a non-profit basis, having service &s hold much in store for local motordom. Touring around the National Capital, for example, should be better this year than ever before. Roads are better now, and there are more of them. Beauty spots which previously were closed to the motorist now have been thrown open to him and are to be found along ribbons of broad, smooth highway. While the problem of congestion on the roads around Washington still" is a difficult one, and one which will not be solved this year, nevertheless we know that improvement will be noticed because of the road-widening program carried on and because of the. greater number of roads available. The roads themselves are much improved, Back Schoolboy Patrols. A phase of the District division’s work which is of interest to motordom, and to the remainder of the community as well, is that involved in the establish- ment and maintenance of the school- boy patrols. These patrols have done a highly valuable work in protecting the smaller children as they go to and from their schools. School officials, motor- ists and, of course, parents have joined in commending the worth of this move- ment in the interest of safety. During the coming year the District of Colum- bia Division of the American Automo- bile Association plans to do all in its power to continue and expand this form of -public service. ith. the present well-nigh universal use of the motor vehicle the interests of motordom - naturally have become widespread. - In fact, it may be said in all truth that any stultifying influence upon motordom becomes Inevitably a handicap ‘to the community as a whole. The progress of motordom, in all re- spects, insures. in an important measure the progress of the entire group. It is from this broad viewpoint that we in- tend to.continue to work, believing it to' be fundamentally correct and sound and productive of the greatest and most lasting good. When the District of Columbia Di- vision looks back upon the results dchijeved in so many constructive direc- tions. during the year 1928, and when lew the possibilities which are be- ‘us in 1929, we cannot help but ter the new year with a vigorous op- timism on our side. The old year saw all our organization records shattered and brought local motordom to a new plane of influence. That with this background we have the makings in 1929 of still further impressive accom- plishments is readily apparent. Our plans for 1929 recognize these enhanced opportunities' and provide for them. Materializing, as we are confident they will in abundant measure, the year now begun will become the most note- worthy in the history of Washington as a center of motoring interest. WIDEN HIGHWAYS 10 CARRY TRAFFIC Many States Are Building Roads to Accommodate 3 to 5 Lines of Cars. Although most roads, because of their narrowness compel motorists to drive in tandem fashion only, noteworthy strides are being made in highway building whereby cars may travel two, three or four abreast. ‘Wide rural highways, wholly unheard of until a few years ago, are now being built all over the country, and practical- ly all sizable communities are laying plans for their construction. Outstanding among the current achievements is that of New Jersey. That State is building an express high- way from the mouth of New York City's Holland vehicular tunnel at Jersey City to Trenton, 60 miles away. From Jersey City to Elizabeth, a distance of 15 miles, the roadway is five traffic lanes wide, and from there on to Trenton the width is 30 feet. This latter stretch includes perhaps the longest straight piece of roadway in the United States as it runs for 32 miles without a curve. This New Jersey superhighway is protected from cross-traffic throughout its entire length by means of elevated road intersections and stoplights. New Long Island Road. New Yorkers are now speeding over a 32-mile long superhighway on Long Island. The Conduit Boulevard, also known as the Sunrise Highway, provides speedy access over its 40-foot width to 11" towns. In Westchester County, at the north of metropolitan New York, numerous wide highways have been constructed which, along with other improvements, have in six years doubled the valuation of Westchester County property, ac- cording to the last report of that coun- ty's park commission. Sections of the Boston Post road and the Albany Post road have been ‘widened to take care of three and four lanes of traffic. DurtnngMa. 102 miles of the Hutchinson River parkway were completed, thereby giving a 1275~ mile roadway, permitting of the easy flow of four lanes of vehicles, as a relief artery for the Boston Post road. width. Three of these superhighways are now in service, Waukegan road, Roosevelt boulevard and North avenue. This latter road has been widened to 40 feet for 17 miles. Milwaukee also has a good start on & similer system of wide thoroughfares with a portion of the Blue Mound road built to a width of 60 feet and another stretch consisting of two 40-foot strips of pavement. The world's first superhighway, the Detroit-Pontiac roadway, consisting of two parallel strips of concrete each 44 feet wide, has been in service for several years. Other like roadways are being built or are planned for ly construc~ tion. The Grand River road, composed of two parallel strips of concrete 40 feet wide, is nine miles long, as is the Eight-mile road. Cahuenga Pass road, connecting Los Angeles with Hollywood, it at present 72 feet wide. It is now contemplated to build a parallel strip of concrete 80 feet in width, so that the tremendous traffic burden thrown on this outlet from the San Fernando Valley will be distributed over 17 traffic lanes. An overhead road separation is planned where Cahuenga Pass road intersects with the Mulhol- land Highway. Here and there throughout the coun- try many other lesser bits of highways have been widened, particularly to take care of heavy traffic at city doorways. For instance, at Houston is a three-mile stretch of 40-foot road and at Chatta- nooga the Cherokee Trail has been broadened to 36 feet. PO INERTIA ON ROAD GRADE SEPARATIONS EXPLAINED “Much of the inertia with respect to building highway grade separations has been due to the fear on the part of abugting property owners that the im- provements would be assessed on their land,” said Robert P. Page, jr., member of the street traffic committee of the National Automobile Chamber of Com- merce, commenting on the data of the report. “This apprehension is rapidly being dissipated, however, because experience in different citles indicates that there is little disposition on the part of city authorities to finance the grade separa- tlons of streets in this manner. “While street widening projects have frequently been assessed partially upon adjacent property, it is recognized that the passing of one street above another at busy intersections oftern saves the city the cost of entirely new highway" projects. Furthermore, this grade separation is of special benefit to traffic which is anxious to get through tha particular area, and consequently the All main highways in the vicinity of Chicago are to be at least 40 feet in improvement, being a general benefit, i ;mz &rimuuy a specific aid to any ons ocality. OFF'TO A LONG SUCCESSFUL RUN cw SUPERIOR ippel with INGER-TIF CONTROL" THE MOST NOTABLE ADVANCE DRIVING CONVENIENCE SINCE ‘THE SELF'STARTER Greater Beauty, Larger Bodies Made it the hit of the New York Show ot Mo, 1“”%’6 After its triumphant appear~ ance at the New York Auto Show, the new Superior Whip< pet is now off to along success« ful run to bring its many L WP FOUR co ful than ever. Itisthelowest= ‘priced car to offer such impor- tant features as the new “Fine ger-Tip Control,” silent time ing chain and full force-feed Coupe 8535; Sedan 8595; Roadster 8185; Touring 8475; Commercial Chassis $365. buyers increasing satisfaction and pride of ownership. The longer bodies of the Su= perior Whippet, the low lines, distinctive colors, higher radi- ator and hood, heavier one- piece full crown fenders, are bringing to Four and light Six buyers an entirely new concep= tion of how beautiful an inex- pensive car can be. Mechanically, too, the new Su« perior Whippe.tinfnl advanced 7ot Al s wil.l aid in obtaining early «faster, livelier, more power- without notice, delivery. WILLYS-OVERLAND, INC..Toledo, Ohio @ SUPERIOR FOURS /, ’ppe SIXES STERRETT & FLEMING, Inc. Columbia 5050 lubrication. And it carries on Whippet’s unsurpassed repue tation for operating economy and minimum service costs. SALES and SERVICE " DEPARTMENTS WHIPPET $IX COACH 7-Bearing Crankshaft Coupe 8695; Cc ith rambleseat) 'fi?ss'fm é $760; Sport Del.uze Road- ster §850 (with rumble seal and exrtras.) All Willys- Overland_prices f.0.bs Toledo, Ohio and spec Roomier interiors, broader ™ seats, longer front and rear springs, snubbers and oversize balloon tires bring you the riding comfort of costlier cars, Be sure to see the new Supe- rior Whippet at your first op- portunity! An immediate order Ay oS o oR gim W° A single button, conveniently located in the center of the steering wheel, controls all functions of starting the motor, opere ating the lights and sounding the horn. This ingenious device does away with all troublesome foot fumbling for the starte ing button, usually located in a some= whatidaccessible position,and obviatesa change fromthecomfortabledriving posi= tion toreach the lightswitch on thedash. You can keep your foot always on the brake when starting or re-starting on a hill—an obvious safety advantage of major importance. 6720 Wisconsin Avenue 1 J@laad Street and Wisconsin Avenue, Bethesda) A All Models on Display All Colors Immediate Delivery Display Rooms 1711 14th St. N. 604 H St. N. Display Rooms 1711 144h St. N.W, 604 H St. N.E. Champlain St. at Kalorama Rd. Home of Gold Seal Used Cars J. A. SWANN, JR, CO. Culpeper, Va. OAKTON MOTOR CO. b ‘Oakten, ‘Va. WOODSON MOTOR CO. Silver Spring, Md. CATLETT MOT Catlett, Va. MONROE BALDWIN Mitchellville, Md. HUNT BROTHERS Capitol Heights, Md. Associate Dealers R CO. CAYLOR-SPAULDING MOTOR CO. Clarendon, Va. HAMILTON MOTOR CO. Hamilton, Va, H. S. LOWE Brandywine, Md. C. LEO McKENNEY OPEN EVENINGS i v WAGGONER BROS, Vienns, Va. CENTRAL GARAGE ‘Warrenton, Va. COLLEGE PARK AUTO PLACE College Park, Md. *