The Minneapolis journal., 1904-01-23
LARGE TRADE
IN AUTOMOBILES
LOCAL DEALERS START THE SEA.
SON IN AUsPICIOUs FASHION.
One House Has Already Done as Much
Business as During the Whole Year
of 19O3-New Machines Are Lighter
and Tires Are Heavier.

Local automobile dealers promise to
do a rushing business this season. The
early trade has been far in advance
of previous years, and also far ahead
OF what was expected. The head of
one firm said this week that his house
had done as much business up to date
with 1904 machines as in the whole
year of 1903. Men who did not own
autos last year are buying, and many
who have driven machines for sew
eral years are selling their own rigs
and buying new and more costly
wagons.
Several improvements have been
made in the 1904 models. The rigs,
as rule, are lighter than they have
been for some seasons. A year or
TWO ago manufacturers became con-
vinced that heavier and more power.
full machines were needed. Heavy,
high-powered autos became popular,
light runabouts. The big machines
are still in favor but their construc-
ton has been sirnplifed in many
ways, and the makers are enabled to
lessen the weight without sacrificing
strength. Chilled steel has taken the
place of iron in many parts of the
| autos, notably angle irons, and in this
way weight is lessened while strength
| is retained.
Another improvement is the in
creased weight Of the tires. Last year
tires were very light and punctures
! and explosions were frequent. The
| makers came to the conclusion that
the machines were too heavy for the
tires, and this defect has been rene
died in this years models, the tires
being made somewhat heavier, while
the machines are lighter.
An innovation which will appeal
especially to women is a glass front
II, -,
break, while it does not obstruct the
view Of the chauffeur or the other
! occupants of the machine. Women
have complained that automobiling
ruined their compilations. the dust of
the roads flying into their faces, while
the wind and sun produced wrinkles.
| The glass front will eliminate this
objection to. automobiling, and even
men will appreciate the relief af-
| forded.
In connection with the glass fronts,
| canopy tops are coming into favor.
With these come curtains, which can
be let down to protect the sides and
weather. In short, the life of the au-
tomobilist is being made pleasant as
fast as the manufacturers can achieve
the result.
The automobile show will doubtless
a uniform classification system for
racing machines, says the Illustrated
sporting News. At present there is
: no standard in general use, and If the
sport grows at it's present swift pace.
!; the question will become more and
more insistent. Automobiling has
4 many problems to solve, and this is
one Of the most important, from the
sporting viewpoint. Abroad, a sys-
tenn has gained much popularity.
based on actual service, which is we'll
worth a thoro trial in this country.
For racing purposes, cars are classi-
fed according to cost of their engines.
; It has been found that this standard
gives a fair estimate Of their horse
power and meets objection found in
the fashion of taking the weight of
| the machine, Or the estimated horse
J power of the engine, as the standard.
NJ The pressure Of competition among
!, makers assures a close ratio Of cost
of the engine to the actual horse
power it can develop, and the speed
that can be maintained. The maker
is quick to meet the Improvement Of
his rivals, and to get for his engine
very close to the price the other fell
low is charging for the same amount
of power and speed. If the cost Is
disregarded in attempting to classify
racing entries, one machine Of alleged
superior horse power may be really
inferior in performance to more ex-
pensive and better constructed car of
} smaller nominal power. If the weight
l of the machine be made the standard
of grading, it is also true that the
t weight and power may not be fair
measures Of ability for speed and en-
durance.
Again, a uniform standard at home
and abroad would simplify contests in
. many ways, and afford more satisfac-
+ tory comparisons of records. On the
basis of the cost of the engine, high
powered car cheaply constructed
might be put in a class with smaller
machines, able to outlast it, and, in
this way, an average Of ability be
> maintained. Chasing machines who'll
ly by weight is illogical, and does not
e mean that the heaviest car will be
e the fastest and most durable, any
E more than it is reasonable to make
Y separate races for horses over and
r under q thousand pounds.
Y The sixteen hand horse is not
0 matched with the Shetland pony, and
] the high-powered racing car will
never be put in a class with the rum
y about. But within certain limits, as
: in racing horses, the sport of motor
:, contests will be much improved when
!, cars can be classified on a sound work
: ing system of comparison.
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