Los Angeles herald., 1906-03-14
.OLOF|ELD WILL
RACE HERE AGAIN
With 80 Horsepower Green Dragon He
May Contest With REQ "Blrd,"
Which VIII Be Brought
to the Coast

Unless the local management deter
mines to eventually run off the automo-
bile races which so far have been sadly
interfered with by the elements, the
next speed contests will probably occur
when Barney Oldfeld again appears in
Los Angeles, about the first week of
May.
For a while it was thought that Old
field, after his miraculous escapes, had
retired from the racing game, but 1t
appears that as in other sports, the
fever of auto speeding is as lasting as
that which attends a struggle for su-
premacy in any other line Of life.
1t was no great surprise when the
wizard of the horseless course an
nounced that he would again be seen
attempting to break worlds records,
and for this reason Los Angeles en-
thusiasts may have reasonable expec-
tation of witnessing Barney running
over the local track.
In the event of Oldfeld coming to
Los Angeles there is a strong prob
ability that he will be called upon to
do battle with the 32 horse power REQ,
Bird" which will be shipped
west for the occasion.
If Dan Wergus does not accompany
the car to Los Angeles, H. M. Honshue
who drove the local REQ in the first
two days racing at Agricultural park
will guide the fast machine in its con-
tests against the Green Dragon" OF
Oldfeld.
In showing the difference between the
cost of maintaining a horse and keep
ing an automobile, the case of the ply
sician is cited as typical of other
classes of people The doctors driving
equipment is presented as follows:
Standard doctors buggy, $500; cut
under carriage, $400; single harness.
hand made, $50; double harness, hand
made, $100; two horses, at $3.50 apiece,
$500; total. S1150.
To this sum should be added the
cost of a coachman's uniform, the cost
of heat and light, veterinarians SER
vices. shoeing, repairs, depreciation anc
interest on the investment; but these
will be omitted as there are similar
expenses amounting to as much, in
maintaining an automobile.
An automobile would probably cost
more for repairs than the carriages. The
expense of maintenance of the car
riages would be about as follows:
Stable rent per year, $1O0; oats, hay
and straw for two horses, $240; shoe
ing two horses, $4S: hire of man at $40
a month, $240; harness repairs. paint
ing of carriage, $50; sundries, brushes,
blankets. etc, $25; total, s703.
Assuming that it Is possible to drive
twenty miles day with this equip
ment, or approximately 1000 miles
year, at a cost of $500 for maintenance,
the cost per mile would be 10 cents.
To match the work of two horses, a
physician desiring an automobile would
need a powerful and sturdy runabout
costing from $1,000 to $1,000 of at least
ten horse power. and with an engine OF
two cylinders at least.
For all-year use, embracing winter
driving, an air-cooled machine is most
logical. The car must be fitted with
top and a storm apron and curtains,
and as far as possible it must be simple
of control and have easily accessible
parts. The approximate cost for 1000
miles of use of such an equipment
might be estimated as follows:
Stable rent, s100; gasoline, $40; lubri-
eating oil, $40; battery, $25; painting,
$25; tires, $100; services of a man, $24O;
total $3.50.