The sun., 1901-11-16
Defects I'm Automobiles.

To TIE EDITOR OF THE SuS-Str: Permit
me space 10 correct certain misstatsments
Of a Novice In Tuesdays SUN on the sub
ject Defects in Automobiles.- and TO reply
briefly TO -willa m J IAmpton" on the subject.
The Imperfect AUTOMOBILES In to-day's
Sun.
Novice, In spea king Of the recent Madison
Square Gar den automobile show. says -it
was only to the steam carriages that the
public devoted a sincere attention and sus-
gests the feasibility OF building s0o-pound
carria "a to be sold at $500 TO take the place OF
the present heavier types.
while undoubtedly the steam vehicles
shown In ths Garden did attract much alton
ton. IL was the wonderful improvements
made In gasolene vehicles that was the dis
tinct feature OF this years exhibition. The
IS and 4o-horse- power American-built racing
cars. tho first and most powerful OF their
class built In this country. and four or hve
sta andard una kes of touring carr ges equipped
with from 10 ie-horse-power. unques-
tionably won most notice. An analysis or
ell reported ssles during the show. indicates
that large majority Of the orders were for
in regard 10 -Novice's- ruggestion Of a
soO-pouhd stea carriage. Il may he stated
try show a gradual tendency toward heavier
and more durable construction IL taxes
strength and therefore weight 4 70 ProdhdiSss hiss.r
ate OF speed and for greater mileage than
horse-drawn vehicles. Additional weight
Of control in steering. The endurance run
demonstrated that light vehicle. were fire.
Queptly overturned and wrecked by rough
roads, which were safely passed over by
sWiiihm j. hampton confines the burden
Of hs criticism TO an experience on .team
carriage. and says that he thinks steam and
electricity will eventually be discarded for
gu solene' and concludes: The auto viii get
there otser az ShiS ssrs Sps u y some as
To a person who has been in both Of the
endurance runs OF the year, and ridden IN All
models. both Of THK srS's correspondents
preston that becau use OF their ideas regarding
psf., s.si Ns;Ssr '29Sss sS.% .Tidsnty y' saw %
the four new type steam carriages in tho
New York Buaio rSn hold snsir SSyrsss Swn ssh
The experiences OF that run showed. however,
that many OF the points mentioned against
Even the electric automobie OF to-day
is sufficiently perfected % he Of great service
ror city rIdins and SommeteA sst,rTas
that v IA give 1t a wider touring radius The
olea q mess. noisclessnes,, ease 81 control
and freedom from oomplicsting dangers OF
the electric vehicle make IL the ideal carriage
for w9nen and park use
standard makes which have Gbundanuy
demonsuated their reliability aud general
perfection for ordinary road or touring use
even at this early day In the brief history oi
American automobile building The Tesut
OF tho recent endurance test. 10 which rfteen
~ tsolene end sin steam vehicles mn she'd VA
The first Class with an average speed betseen
twelve and fifteen mlles per hour over DIS
tance Of sgo miles. Is convincing proof
Personal acquaintnno. with many OF the
lea ding manufactu or American auto
mobiles. strongly COnyinces me that notwlth-
standing the seemingly high prices asked 10
dAy. very few Of the concerns have as yet
earned dollar Of PROFIT Machines OF the
sta ndnrd makes ~ demonstrated reliability
arc not rushed through or delivered ~ the
customer until every part and the assembled
vehicle 10 carefully tested
Tho impTes-.on that Ill auto mobiles are
imperfeCt because a few adm ttedly interior
ma hines ha ve proven W. IL on par With the
Inference that lesitinat- manufacturers are
ma King immense profits In huy.ug AN auto
a. Ihl, tie "a uis care ~ necessary 49, ~ pur-
chasing any other pi-oe ~ ma ohlnery n re-
lHflllty II ds-iTrd taf'fuI inN"sLgatOh
a. the Ba.t TrCuTdr ofa & lYr Iut make Oi autp-
mobile should not 10 ors"t by tho supsTior
sal.su,ahrhip Oh IA. part Of ths Hsrtt 10 az
Inferior make JAsyh hO1ihs
NlN iohk, Nov ~