The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-05-02
AUTOS IN DEMAND
Dealers Report Big Sales Of Motor
Cycles and Wagons.
BICYCLE TRADE ALSO GOOD
Steam, GnsOlene and Electric Auto
mobiles Are Steadily Growing
i'm Public Esteem.

Cycle dealers are reaping a rich har-
vest this season Not only is the trade
in cycles proper even heavier than the
big sales Of the last few years. but the
motor cycle and automobile are a new
source of revenue, of which the dealers
are taking the fullest advantage.
The cycle has lost nothing in popularity
during the last five years, in fact it, has
gained in public esteem from the fact that
prices have been materially reduced so
| that it is possible for many to own first
| class wheels, who formerly were not rich
enough to pay the higher rates.
| Aside from the riders who keep their
wheels for recreation solely, there is an
immense class, whose members find a
wheel the cheapest and most satisfactory
| made of locomotion in a city of magnih-
cant distances and good roads like Mime
! apolia. -. - -
Those who can afford the motor cycle
! or the automobile, however are beginning
| to take very kindlylto these two novelties,
novelties in the sense that their true
worth has only recently been realized, but
novelties which have passed the expert
/ mental stage and have practically reached
/ their maturity in point of development OF
| construction. ..Et ",'t-.' r. . ~ . s'
The sale of both motor cycles and auto
mobiles is so great that the factories have
been quite unable to fill the orders that
/ have been pouring in. The motor cycle
is popular not only with men who do a
great deal of road riding, and who find the
steam or gasolene power a help in push
| ing through sandy or muddy roads, but
| also with business men and the leisure
classes. -. ,-,-,- ~~s,.
/ L. H. Fawkes Of the Great Western
Cycle company, First avenue S and Sixth
| street, said in regard to the trade Of the
year:
Our trade in cycles proper has shown per
haps more than the normal increase over
. last season. Instead of decreasing the de-
nland has grown steadily. and I believe viii
continue to grow for some years to come.
The great impetus to trade, however, has
come from the motor cycles and automobiles
Last year many automobiles were sold II
Minneapolis, but this year the demand has
!, been something phenomenal. Perhaps thu
| public waiting for lower prices. or per
haps some preferred to wait and let some
one else start the fashion Any new article
| of this sort always gets a foothold in thu
, east first, and then gradually works west
ward. IT. .. 80, ~
This season, however the people Of Min
neapolis seem to have been convinced tina
the automobile and motor cycle have passe'
the experimental stage. We have order
piled up on our books now that the fac
tories will not be able to fill for some time
Both the autos and the motor cycles are Civ
ing perfect satisfaction, and we have heart
no complaints from any of our customers.
w. E. Wheeler of the Northwestern
Motor Vehicle Co., 112 Sixth street south
talked in the same vein. He said:
At least 100 autos will be sold in Mime
apolis this year. We simply can't get, enough
to supply the demand, which is, enormous
Many Of the faults of last years models hav
been remedied and this years makes ar
giving perfect satisfaction. The cars ar
being built bigger and heavier than a. yea
ago, as it has been found that heavy ma
chine is necessary to stand the strain o
rough roads. The ordinary weight of a
eight-horse- power machine. of this season
models about 1900 pounds. .,r ,.-:-... -
The growing popularity of the automobil
is going to do much to promote the build
ing of better roads, especially in the coun
try. The bicycle gave start, in this direc
] |: ton. but the automobile Will do more, be
i : cause those who own autos are usually me
,of more or less wealth and influence an
4 the pressure they will bring to bear is boun
4 | to have its effect. :'.r. -
\ A. A. Hansen, of the A. A. Hanse
Il Cycle company was enthusiastic over tn
vogue attained by the motor cycle With
the last year. He said:
The motor cycle is great thing for roue
roads. You can have no conception of tt
q amount of labor it saves, To put the case
II / nutshell, it makes country and interurba
riding a pleasure, instead of hard work, as
& has been in the past over some Of. the mi
VI cradle roads in this section of the state: :
II The motor cycle may be considered no
N as perfected for all practical purposes.
st course improvements will be made, but VIII
ST I mean is that no one who buys mot
81 cycle need fear that he will have brea
= down between two towns because of any d
= feet in his machine. have ridden a mot
: cycle this year over all kinds of roads a.
8 in all kinds of weather, and have never h
b the slightest mshap. Dozens of my Gu
"a toners have said the same thing. The mot
S cycle fills want, and it has come to sta