The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-12-24
AMONG The AUTOMOBILISTS.
RALPH n. OWEN STARTS ON
FLORIDA TRIP.
Part OF the Twenty Days Journey WIN he
Over the Route Outlined for Next Years
Gllddcn TOur-President Roosevelt
Drives an Auto for First Time.

Drives an Auto for First Time.
Ralph r. Owen Of Chicago started from the
headquarters OF the New York Motor Club.
Eighth avenue and Ffth-eiGhth street at II
O'Clock yesterday morning to blaze a way from
this city to Florida. lie was accompanied by
Andrew Aubel. his mechanic. and Rollin
Corneille. a photographer. Fred W. Work
or Akron. Ohio. will join the party later.
Mr.. Owen will follow the route which has
been proposed for the 1907 Glidden tour from
Philadelphia down through the Shenandoah
Valley to Roanoke. Va. going by way Of
Hagerstown. Md, and Stanton. Va. At
Roanoke he will pause to inquire as to the best
route 10 be followed for the remainder OF his
journey, having been told OF two routes from
that place. One is by way Of Charlotte. n.
G.; Columbia. S. C.: Augusta, Ga; Savannah
and Jacksonville. The other route from
Roanoke Is a more inland one through Knox
vile and Chattanooga in Tennessee. then
down through Georgia by way OF Rome.
Atlanta, Macon. Upton and Lake City to
Jacksonville. From Jacksonville Mr.. Owen
will drive to st. Augustine. il it is possible
to ind roads that are passable. and his ulti-
mate destination Ia the clubhouse OF the
Florida East Coast Automobile Association
at Daytona. Fla. on the world famous Ormond-
Daytona beach race course. He Is driving
a 20 horsepower 0ldsmobile and expects to
make the trip in twenty days. Paul L. Smut
sci and E. l.. Ferguson Of the New York Motor
Clubs technical committee started Mr.. over
and his companions on their journey.
To President Roosevelt belongs the dis
tinctlon OF being the first Chief Executive
Of this nation to handle the steering wheel
OF a modern motor vehicle in motion, his
initial experience as an automobile driver
occurring while he was in Porto Rico re-
Gently. One Of the Government officials who
had much to do with the plan Of entertain
ment owned a White steamer. which was inn
pressed into service to show the President
the country around Ponce, and il goes with
out saying that he saw more OF II in a single
afternoon In that way than he could have in
a week otherwise. During the first part OF
the run IL was evident that the President was
more Interested in the drivers handling OF
the machine than he was in the country, so
that 1t was not a great surprise to those in
the car when he remarked. Il believe ] can
run the machine" and promptly accepted
the drivers invitation TO take the wheel.
Porto Rico has not as yet reached the stage
Of civilization that brings speed laws with
IL. but II there had been any they would have
been badly shattered that afternoon, for the
Chief Executive showed considerably more
interest in letting her out" than he did In
the scenery.
It is the opinion of a well known Detroit
automobillst. $. ID. Walden. that the farmer
Is gradually coming out OF his shell. il becom-
ing interested in the good roads movement
and II he receives a square deal from motorists
will soon take a strong interest in automo-
biles. Mr.. Walden recently took a party of
friends for a ride in his Packard touring car
through the farming districts surrounding
Detroit. stopping at farm houses to chat
with farmers and find out their views on the
subject Of automobiles. The party found
that most all Of the aericulturists In that
vicinity recognize that reckless driving
on the country roads is due to individual
heedlessness and is not a characteristic of
automooilists as a class. said one observing
ruralite:
Nine out of every ten Automobiles are
gentlemen. and We are glad to have them Oh
the roads around here. They are agitating
good roads and will help those Of us among
the farmers who are trying to build new
highways. OF course. onickens and dogs
must be kept on the roads. Geese and pigs
take care OF themselves. They see an auto
mobile coming and Immediately turn and
dig as fast as they can for the BARNARD. A
chicken starts a lot OF monkey business and
gets caught. A dog is smart. but has not
learned to Judge speed ana is surprised by
He thinks he can run across its path and bark
at IL as he is used to doing with horses. The
next generation OF dogs VIII probably be
wiser TO the game, A cat makes some fool
moves. but can dodge like lightning. A COW
is stupid, but IA big enough 10 be- safe. Our
horses are gradually becoming accustomed
to automobiles and have noticed that in their
behavior when meeting AUTOMOBILES a whole
lot depends on he driver. | think the aver
half way in the use of the roads. would
not be surprised II ] had a little runabout
myself one OF these daye,-if a certain cattle
deal ! have in mind goes through all right"
After knocking at its gates in vain for
many years automobilists are at last TO he
allowed within the grounds OF Leland stan
ford University. at Palo Alto. Cal, after the
first Of next year, MANY aqtomobilists from
part OF California every winter, and there is
great rejoicing among them over the re-
the beautiful grounds Of the university has
been vainly souRht for some time. The re-
moval OF the restrictions IL due primarily TO
the purchase Of an automobile for the use
of the university trustees and to the added
fact that Treasurer Charles q. Lathrop has
bought a touring car for his own use, The
q ms al the main entrance and proceeds
directly through the campus among the
most important buildings.
Edward johnson. State Inspector Of Motor
Vehicles for New Jersey. says that 1000
new automobile law went into effect in that
State and 5000 drivers licenses have been
issued. In speaking OF the Freylingbuyscn |
law he said that the motorists throughout
the State had become familiar with the mpns-
ure. and consequently there Is less complaint
tpOh u ~ hAIliiN tidN 'iiTIr Y certain |
features in, the bin that need remcdying. !
and these. he says, Will receive attention al
the next session of the Legislature. He has
found that some of the clauses which were
most objected 10 by automObilists at the
start are now being advocated by them, and
he does not believe thst the changes Will he
very numerous. In regard to the fna noes
that have been received throulh the licenses
and the fines imposed on law breaking motor
lists. Mr.. johnson says that this amounts 10
much more than was at first antiCipated
SAYS that more than So. 900 has already
been paid into the State treasury and that
all this will he expended on the State roads
next season.
Despite the consid cradle amount Of recon-
m endation which they receive in certain
quarters, water cooled brakes. like snrars
seem ~ be settling down into a position which
guarantees their application I, the heavier
tvpcs Of touring cars, but for general work
and occasional touring with light and medium
weight machines leaves them out of the
question. There can be no doubt thar their
use tends u reduce wear, prevents unneces-
sary abrasion of the friction ~slIrfaces and
insureS uniform working at all times. Yet
their added cost and the slight amount of
driver serve 70 throw them into the class Of
Injuries and separate them from the car
for ordinary lisa ge. Their paucity on
cars Of American manufacture reveals the
fact that the makers as a class regard them
as uncalled for. Yet where any great amount
~ hill climbing Is TO be done or where long