Evening Republican, Volume 20, Number 32, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 February 1916 — WHAT IT COSTS. [ARTICLE]

WHAT IT COSTS.

Running an auto is now so much of a necessity that I should like to give my experience. I am deeply pained from time to time as I notice the gross extravagance of my friends, and I think it is high time that the real figures should be given. When I was getting fifteen dollars a week, I talked the matter over with my wife, and we decided that we could deny ourselves the auto for another six months, but at chat time I was suddenly raised to sixteen; no obstacle then preventing, I got my first cat. The cost of a car should carefully considered. My experience is that it is better to get the best car you can—for the money, so I did not hesitate. I secured a modest little runabout for dnly five thousand dollars, paying the agent out of niy first week’s salary. The balance was furnished by my mother-in-law, who has the privilege of using it once every spring. I have had the car now for six months; during this period we have been to California twice and we took a hurried trip over the Alps; besides this I have used it to go to and from my office. The car has had very rough usage, and yet the total expense counting gasoline and three tire plugs, has been only three dollars. How do 1 account for this? I don’t. I simply give the facts. I might add that I am using the same spark-plugs as when I started, and. I have been offered thred times what they cost me. ' I intend to Use them for a year or so longer, however, when I confidently expect to sell them for even more than this.