Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-11-01
AUTOMOBILE NOTES.

General approval has greeted the action
of Col. Albert A. Pope and Albert L. Pope
In entering two cars for next years Van
derbilt cup race, no matter whether it is
held In France America. This move is
sure to be followed by other American en-
tries.
Now that fall touring has begun. there Is
a big demand on the American Automobile
Association for road maps and routes. and
Secretary Batchelder Is doing everything
possible to supply this demand. Incidental
ly some elaborate plans for furnishing road
data next spring are being arranged by the
national body.
To show how automobiles are being i'm
proved, both in construction and by in
creasing the power, 1t is worth noting that
where a year or two ago 1t was cons dered
good practice to have one-horse power for
each 100 pounds of weight, a leading
American manufacturer now supplies one
horse power for every fifty-four pounds in
weight.
Claims for mileage records are now being
made by Automobiles throughout the coun-
try, the statement of St. Louis man that
he has covered $4,000 miles being followed
by claim of a Springfield motorist that he
has Travelled 69.510 miles during the past
five years, while another driver from the
same city in Massachusetts says he has
driven 49.940 miles.
In most of the big cities automobiles are
now maintained for the use of the officials,
especially for those connected with the
street cleaning department and the park
department, who have to cover great deal
of ground. In New York chauffeurs are
required to pass a civil service examination
and secure a percentage of at least TO-
Chairman Robert Lee Morrell of the rae
Ing board of the American Automobile AS
ISOLATION said yesterday that he would call
a meeting of the racing board next week.
The date has not yet been decided, but 1t
will probably be on Thursday, November o.
when a meeting of the directors of the
American Automobile Association will be
held at the Automobile Club of America.
The American Motor League is putting up
danger signs in many parts of the country
where steep hills, deep gulleys, narrow
roadways and dangerous crossings call for
reduced speed and extra care on the part
of automobilists. Each sign is about thirty
inches square and is set ''cornerwise" on its
post. The word danger" is painted in
plain black letters across the sign and an
arrow beneath shows the direction of the
danger point.
Official repair and supply stations, gar
ages, etc, where touring automobiles may
obtain satisfactory service at fair prices
are being selected and appointed by the
American Motor League in all of the cities
and towns through which touring is carried
Each proprietor of an official station
is under contract with the league by which
he is required to maintain a proper equip
ment and to render good service at fair
prices
Although Winthrop E. Scarrltt. former
president of the Automobile Club of Amer
ica has had fifteen automobiles, 1t Is safe
to say that the largest stable of motor cars
in the country is maintained by Col John
Jacob Aston, who has twenty automobiles,
worth not less than 100000, and which, 1t
is claimed, costs him something like $4,000
to maintain. including the expense of his
chauffeurs, fuel and storage Jefferson
Seligman of New York, former treasurer of
the Autom obile Club, has had fifteen cars.
President Elliott c. Lee of the American
Automobile Association has just issued a
general circular behalf of individual
membership. He advocates the building up
OF a strong national organization, which
can conserve the best interests of motoring
throughout the country. Several hundred
new members and number of new clubs
have been added to the American Automo-
bile Association during the past few
months, but a larger increase is wanted
before the next annual meeting, which will
be held in January. The work Of the asso-
citation this year in mapping out new tours
and arranging road routes has never been
dad