OCR Text |
Show I How the Automobile Has Increased National Wealth jj I; The extent to which the automobile has contributed to the wealth of the country in comparison with other " utilities is shown by a review of the various stages of our commercial evolution, according to the Chevrolet Bui- letin. Prom 1790 to 1900 the wealth of the United States increased from $619,200,000 to 83,517,307,000, an in- I i; crease of 87,898,107,000. From that year until 1918, a period of eighteen yea:s, the wealth of the United States increased from $88,517,- ', 307,000 to 5250,000,000,000, an increase of $161,482,693,000. It is to be noted that the increase iu this eighteen- year period was practically almost twice the increase in the 110-year period. J I; Iu the years 1900 to 1918 the principal changes in our coiiunercial life were due to the introduction of wire- I less, the beginning of foreign trade, development and standardization of manufacturing and the manufacture aud ;! general adoption of the automobile for transportation purposes. 5 ;' It has been said communities advance only so far as their transportation facilities allow them to. If they are restricted by certain limits of transportation, their business growth is restricted. This leads tjO the thought ; as to how much the automobile as a transportation medium has had to do with the very unusual growth in the 5 ;! period of 1900 to 1918. 5 ;' While it is true that without the automobile there would have been material development in the country, !;. due to the introduction and use of the many improved utilities and methods, it is obvious that the fullest value or ! usefulness of these innovations coidd not have been secured without the aid of motor-propelled vehicles. And so 5 ;! to the automboile is rightly due a major share of the credit for the development of natural resources, the expansion ;' of our industries and the amazing increase in national wealth. I |