The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-04-23
VeUS of the AutOiStS

|VeWS of the AutOiStS
The King of Italy has accepted the title
OF honorary president of the Italian Auto
mobile Club.
The Automobile Club of Dayton, O., will
mold race meet on July 4. The indications
point TO very successful meet.
During 1903 Germany imported Sl,21S.O00
worth of automobiles, two-thirds of these
cars being of French manufacture.
Richmond Qnd) Automobile Club is MAX
ing preparations to entertain the New
York-St. Louis tourists when they pass
through Richmond on their way to St.
Louis this spring.
Throughout the Eastern States the vari-
Gus electric light companies are establish
ing charging. plants for electric automo-
biles thus making it possible for long dis
lance tours to be undertaken by means of
electric wagons.
Clubs throughout the country are making
a special feature of illustrated lectures in
the care, operation and construction of the
different cars. This kind of informa ton is
valuable to intending purchasers or auto
mobiles.
The Homan & Schulz Company, of New
York, agents for the National touring car,
received its first demonstrating car last
day 1t shown. The car has a four
cylinder engine, long wheelbase and is
built on French lines.
The National Association of Automobile
Manufacturers recently requested a mail
vote of its members at the holding of the
automobile show. 1t has been suggested
that the show be held outdoors. and In
dianapolis has been mentioned a desira-
bic point for the show.
The worlds record kilometer with flying
start was broken at Nice Thursday last
by Louis Rigolly. He covered the distance
in % 3-5 seconds, thus reducing the record
Ic he
ord to the mile is 80 seconds. made by VAN
derbilt at Datona Beach. Fla.
The recent burning of the Cadillac fac
tory at Detroit. Mich. will undoubtedly dis
lists throughout the country. This concern
Immediately arranged to rebuild. but there
probably will be quite a shortage of Cadil-
lacs until the season is well advanced.
The purchaser of an automobile generally
makes his start by buying a small two-pas-
senger runabout, but is not satisfied until
he is the owner of a four-cylinder touring
car. twenty to forty horse power With
this kind of a car he can take the whole
family on many pleasant trips throughout
the hot summer.
The weekly run of the Indiana Automo-
bile Club will be resumed within a short
time These runs usually INDUCED in
on Saturday afternoon TO various points
of interest within twenty-five TO fifty miles
of this city 1t is customary to make the
run to some small town, where they take
supper and return to Indianapolis the same
evening.
The American Motor League, with head
quarters in New York, is to automobilists
what the l.. A. w. was TO bicycle riders.
They have perfected a national organiZa-
ton of various committees on legislature,
road improvements, touring. etc, and eX-
pect to become quite power in having the
rights of Automobiles recognized in all
sections of the country.
French cars are seldom seen in the vi
entity of indianapolis, although they are
quite common in Boston, New York and
Chicago. They sell for from two to four
times the price of the better grades OF
American cars. But American manufac-
turers understand local requirements bet
ter and build their vehicles to stand the
wear and tear of average American roads
The recent suspension of Barney Oldhed
who is the American champion high-spee6
motor driver, has caused considerable tall
in automobile circles. Automobiles
throughout the country hope he will be
reinstated in time 70 take his original po-
siticn as one of the drivers of the Amer
lean team in the Gordon Bennett race
which race will be held in Germany thi.
summer
Automobile dealers here in the city are
quite busy putting new machines in com
mission and arranging sales with new Gus
toners Nearly all dealers report consid
cradle difficulty in obtaining deliveries from
various factories. The demand is quite
active for touring cars and runabOuts o.
the gasoline type with a decided tendenc,
on the part of city users for electric We
| hicles.
number of old-tine bicycle riders hav.
| found profitable berths with automobile
manufacturers as drivers of racing ma
chimes. Barney Oldfeld, Eddie Bald. Ton
| Cooper, Earl kiser and others have al
| ready engaged. to drive racing cars 70
| various concerns. and il is rumored tina
Major Taylor, the colored champion hi
| cycle rider, is to enter the automobile rae
| ing game.
/
| this city, is finding an excellent demand
! throughout not only the United States, bu
| many foreign countries. for its gasoline an'
electric vehicles. Recent orders place.
| with this concern called for shipment Il
| San Francisco. Kansas City, Minneapolis
! Portland. Boston and New York. Thei
! demonstrating cars are kept busy exhibit
| ing their PAGES TO intending purchaser
| who visit the city from all parts of tn
| United States for that purpose.
The Edison battery, which has occasione,
/ so much talk during the past few year
| in automobile circles, can flow be had IL
electric vehicles manufactured by various
concerns throughout the country. Tw,
| local concerns make special models TO b.
used in connection with the Edison bat
| terry. Motor trucks, delivery wagons, am
balances, patrol wagons and chiefs wag
Ons are making their appearance in Va
rioGs cities and there is a decided tendenc,
/ to use either the electric or gasoline vehi
Gle for these purposes.
A new industry. which seems to he tn
outcome of the automobile business, is tn
/ manufacture and sale of auto boats. Thes
/ boats are a light. frail craft, buflt 70
/ speed purposes only, and equipped with tn
\ regulation type automobile gasoline engine
i Some OF them carry as high as 100-hors
powe, at very high rate of speed throug
/ the water Some of them claim a spec
/ of at least thirty miles an hour. Contest
are being arranged for by these racers o
the water. and considerable sport is prom
/ i>cd il H. direction during the season.