The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-03-25
AUTOS ARE POPULAR
This Season Will See Scores Of New
Machines. 'aS&
"CHUFFING" is STILL A LUXURY
Rigs Are.*in Such Demand That It
Isn't Necessary to- Re-
Is duce Prices. gse{.

Local representatives of 8big aut ONO
bile manufacturing houses report an un
precedented; demand for horseless car
r1ages In Minneapolis and the surround
ing country this spring. Most of the
vehicles now being sold and for which or
ders have been given are the light, small
runabouts which are best adapted to all
round use.Ss @4.4 s
One agency here has already ordered
loo autos for Minneapolis Nest of
them are barSained for already, and the
agent says that he could easily dispose of
twice hat number were they to be had.
The demand for autos greatly exceeds the
supply throughout the country, and the
companies can't begin to satisfy the
trade. This, too. with factories run
ming over time day and night. This sa me
dealer. estimated that at least 200 more
self-propelling carriages would be in use
in Minneapolis this season than last.
Fourteen MinneaDolitans have pnr-
chased autos this spring. They are w.
A. Clark. Ell. Phelps. Charles E. Force,
Dr.C. D. Harrington George G. Christian.
ing, W. H. Wheeler. Fred KEGS, George
w. Brown. g. F. Purdy, Charles F. Sire
mel and j. j. Barclay. The machines are
all Oldsmobiles and were purchased from
A. F. Chase & Co.
Many orders have been received from
all parts Of the state. particularly from
the western counties for. autos. showing
how generally they are coming into use.
Several country doctors are now using
automobiles in making the rounds Of their
patients @ .t -
Mr.. Chase says that Minneapolis may
have an opportunity this summer to see
Fournier, the famous French chauffeur,
who made the record breaking run from
Paris to eBrlin. The novelty of auto
mobile speed tests having worn off in the
east and in Chicago, where Fournier eX-
hibited recently. there is "a strong pos
sibility that be can be induced to make a
circuit Of western cities. He may be seen
at the Minnehaha track in. midsummer or
later at the state fair. Fourier. is now
having machine made with which he ex
poets to lower all records, and if arrange
ments can be made for him to come to
Minneapolis, Mr.. Chase thinks that ar
engagements could be made to have him
make a spectacular ;sgo'' against time. r.
The price of automobiles is holding it's
own, and in some cases, instead of show
ing airy disposition to drop, there has
been slight upward trend ~ One COM
pany whose carriage has been selling
for $675 has even contemplated lift to
81 ,000 at the solicitation of the retailers.
1t will be many years, say the dealers, be-
fore the mechanism and construction of
automobiles has been so slmDl1fed as to
place them within the reach of every
man who can now afford q horse and car
riage. Some dealers go farther and in
sist that there will be little change in
prices from now on. and that an auto
mobile will always be an expensive luxury
or necessity. as the case may he. '.g..-
There are few changes in this years
models over last years types. Perhaps
the most important Improvement is the
emergency brake. which controls a re-
serve force with which the machine may
be stopped when anything happens to the
brake ordinarily used This eliminates
the element Of danger which has hereto
fore beset chauffeurs in the possibility
of their carriages Becoming suddenly un-
mana geable in cfoWded streets. -. :,