Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 24, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 January 1917 — Looking Forward to a Great Automobile Year. [ARTICLE]

Looking Forward to a Great Automobile Year.

Local automobile dealers are looking forward to the year 1917 as a banner year in their line of business. Manufacturers all over the country are predicting that there will be more machines sold this year than in any td’o previous years. This, combined with the present prosperity whicn the country is enjoynig, makes the outlook for the automobile bright, in spite of the fact that prices of all standard cars have advanced from ssoto SIOO and all the accessories are likewise raising in value. Even ’ with khe advanced prices, t,he actual cost of owning a machine of the "’•esent day, with sett starters, electric lights and 'all modern equipment, is less,than it was a few years ago, for expense of repair and upkeep is less than it was early in the automobile game. It was only a few years ago that automobile dealers did not expect to sell maehjpes except in the fall of the year, when the farmers were harvesting their crops. It is different now, however, find the automobile business comes as near being an allyear business as any; Of,course, the spring and fall seasons are heavier, but cars are sold tin large numbers each month of the year.

Local dedlerg and prospective buyers are being warned by the factories to accept their cars early, for there is hardly a film in the country that is not behind in its orders for the year. When spring breaks and the condition of roads improves, the demand will be stimulated until it will be almost impossble for dealers to get cars. Several of the local dealers have already opened their spring advertising campaign; which is to be the heaviest yet, and this is another goodindication that they are anticipating The..greatest..y ear in hi stogy for auto - mobiles.