This would indicate that, while the population is gaining slowly and consistently, the production of automobiles has taken a decided jump, and a natural inference is that, even with so remarkable an industry as the motor group, it is beginning to prove food for speculation as to whether or not manufacturers, at the present increasing ratio of production and distribution, will bring a more or less complete saturation of the public, able to buy and support pleasure automobiles. Many conservative judges have figured that this may not come for some years, possible five or more. It may be that new conditions will arise to put that period further ahead, or indefinitely postpone it. (b) In this connection, the following chart is of interest. This shows the ratio of voting men to each registered automobile in the United States by states. _The following chart shows the ratio by states of men over 21 to each registered automobile:_ [Illustration: Chart] Attention is invited to the diverging range of distribution. Territorial and community economics account for this very largely. For example, an analysis of three sections will show a decided variation, say for New York (with one automobile for 15 voting men); Arkansas (with one automobile for every 54 voters); and Alabama (with one automobile for every 43 voters). The state of New York is very largely industrial, and one might commonly infer that, due to the great wealth represented in this state, the ratio should be much smaller. States like Arkansas, Kansas and Iowa are distinctively rural sections—where the population is not so clustered as in cities like New York, and automobile transportation is more utilitarian than a luxury or pastime. For this reason it is estimated that practically every voter, almost, in Kansas and Iowa is a possible prospect in figuring future consumption. Still another diversion notably exists in the ratio shown for the Southern states, and this is readily explained by reason of a paucity of buying power, since the majority population is negro. To indicate how the various types of automobiles have been distributed in three different states, the following chart is included in this report. _The following chart shows the distribution of leading motor cars in different states:_ [Illustration: Chart] The following factors may be instrumental in the automobile industry in preventing the reaching of an absolute saturation point: (1) Increase in earning or buying power of those now unable to support an automobile; (2) A very low average price; (3) Production finally being held at the point where it keeps pace with the increase in population; (4) Increase in the utilitarian need of the automobile. In making up a quota for the possible consumption in the automobile industry, the following chart may be considered as a conservative basis to work on. _The following chart shows the estimated automobile market for 1917:_ [Illustration: Chart]