The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-02-07
FARMERS BUYING
BIG MOTOR CARS
NORTHWEST IN EVIDENCE AT
THE CHICAGO AUTO SHOW.
The Difference Between the Racing
Cars of America and Those Of Eu-
rope-Royalty Of the Old World at
the show-Social Features of the Big
Exhibit. =
Special to The Journal.

epocl&l TO Ine JOURNAL ~
Chicago, Feb. Farmers of the
northwest have been converted to the
automobile. Those who cursed it for
merly and urged legislation against it
have now recognized its real worth and
is beginning to discard his carriage,
and from now on he may be seen riding
to town in his automobile.
This fact has been the surprise of
the automobile show in Chicago. Farm
ers from the northwest are buying more
than from those Of any other section,
because they are more prosperous, there
than elsewhere. They are spending their
superfuous cash for automobiles. The
ers, the statesmen, the newspapers and
the public have noticed this new turn
in affairs, and it is causing much COM
ment here during the exhibition.
The Tribune says: Farmers are
spending their money on what they
have in the past regarded as luxury,
but which they find has it's utilitarian
side. Roads in the western and north
western states are generally good, and
farmers no, longer look on the automo-
bile as an experiment..
The Journal says: F'Farmers and
ranchmen look upon the machines, not
in the light Of luxuries now. The coun-
try buyer asks for machine that can
climb hills and go from 70 to 100 miles
without stopping
Wheat Growers Interested.
w. E. Metzger Of the Cadillac COM
pany, Detroit, says: There is an &C.
tive demand for motor cars by farmers
in Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota and Ne
braska. The wheat planters are begin
ming to get into the automobile band
wagon, as are the cattlemen of the
southwest. -
- One Of the distinctive features of
American racing automobiles, as op-
posed to European, is shown in Barney
Oldfeld' g Green Dragon, which holds
the world IS circular-track records from
one to fifty miles. The difference lies
in the fact that American makers, as
a rule, do not produce "freak" ma.
chimes for speed purposes only, but
equip their racers with their regulation
touring-car engines, thus affording buy.
ers chance to know exactly what their
motors will do under the severe test OF
forcing the highest speed attainable.
European builders, on the other hand
largely install motors for the special
purpose Of speed production in long
distance road races, which are quite
unlike the E'stock' motors placed in
their touring cars.
HThe American plan causes pur
chasers to be keenly interested in the
achievements of racers equipped with
motors such as are placed in touring
cars, for the automobiles then know.
just what his own moter can do anC
how severe a test it can stand,' sale
William Herrick, western distributor Of
leading auto company.
Baron r. Millered le Brow is attend
ing the show as the personal represen
tative Of the De Dietrich Manufacture
machines are the feature of the ID
Dietrich exhibit. This company show
the most expensive machines at the ex
hlbit. The growing tendency to max
use OF motor cars in commercial affair
Is shown by the departure of the Unite,
States government in Detroit in maxim,
use Of mail-delivery automobiles.
Perhaps the most popular machine a
the show is the vehicle Of 90 horsepov
holstery fitting, from $4,000 to $s,5Ott
These cars are fit for all sorts of rur
ming, for the city. boulevard, the countr
road and hill climbing. The covere
vehicle is in great favor at the show
Purchasers are beginning to find that i
keep away the frigid winds. Some o
the vehicles resemble Pullman sleeper
without berths.
Royalty at Show.
The Coliseum was we'll filed toda
with heterogeneous crowd, includin
Minnesota and Iowa farmers, wester
cattlemen, Wall street capitalists, east
ern financiers, Boston htterateurs, Euro
pean noblemen and their wives. Baro
Frederick de Turckheim is a conspicI
GUS figure in the Partisan exhibit, an