The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-02-18
The AUTO SHOW OPENED
TEST OF l.
CHEERED BY CROWD.
Anderson Men Came to the City by
ROad-Miss Won Olson Begins Her
Long ~Ride-Varied Exhibits.

The first annual automobile and bicycle
show opened at the Cyclorama building
last night. While the formal opening of
the show will not be held until this even
ing. a large crowd of men and women Wis
tied the show last night. The building has
been converted into a handsomely deco
rated hall where samples of nearly every
machine manufactured in this country is
on exhibition. There are all styles of car
riages and wagons propelled by steam, gas
oline, electricity, hydrocarbon. etc, to be
seen in addition to a large number of BIZ
cycles and the accessories that enter into
the trade.
The decorations of the various booths are
unique. All of the booths are handsomely
set apart in glowing but harmonious col
ors. and inside the ratings the spectators
are met by representatives of some of the
largest manufacturing concerns in the
country, who are anxious to introduce
them into the intricacies of the automobile
business. Small souvenirs are given away
by many of the exhibitors. and prospective
purchasers are given more attention than
an American heiress by foreign noblemen.
An Indiana made machine that will be
exhibited during the week was brought
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Lambert, of Anderson. representing the
Union Automobile Company, of Union City.
They drove the machine from Anderson to
this city in one hour and fifty minutes. j.
w. Lambert said the roads from Anderson
TO McCordsville were in bad condition. but
from McCordsville to indianapolis the roads
were in good shape. The only stop was
made at McCordsville. The machine is a
1902 model designed for the Union City
company by Mr.. Lambert. It's power is
hydrocarbon and it is built for two or
four persons. The only mishap encoun-
tered was the twisting of the front axle.
caused by turning into a ditch in passing
a wagon en- route, but this was not no.
ticed until the machine was brought into
Indianapolis.
TEST OF THE INCLINE.
The test of the incline was made be-
fore the public for the first time last even
ing. The Toledo steam wagon manufac-
tured at Toledo was driven to the top of
the steep incline by G.. w. Soules. super
intendent of the testing department at the
Toledo factory. When the machine reached
the top the crowd cheered, for it was a
hazardous undertaking.. The descent was
even more dangerous, but the machine was
brought to the floor without an accident.
The managers of the show have provided
every precaution to prevent a machine
from crashing to the floor below should
anything happen to the automobile. Sew
eral tests were also made on the incline
by bicycle riders. The average time to
climb the incline by wheelmen was ten
seconds. In the center of the floor is
erected the platform for the exhibition by
Miss Won Olson on a home training ma
chine. The bicycle is so arranged that
there is the same resistance as there would
be by riding on a track. She will ride dur
ing the entire week one hour each after
noon from 3 TO 4 and an hour each evening
from 9 to 10. To make this feature of the
programme more interesting the managers
of the show have offered a bicycle TO the
person making the closest guess on the
number of rods Miss Won Olson will ride
during her exhibition. A cyclometer is at
tached to the wheel and when she dis
mounts on the last night it will be in
spected by a committee of three. Each
person entering the show is entitled TO
make a guess.
When the show is formally opened this
evening the capacity of the hall will no
doubt be taxed. The band concerts will be-
gin this evening and all the extra attrac-
lions will be given. The show will con-
tinue throughout the week.