The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1906-08-07

John Jacob ,Astor, who needs no in
the largest private owner of motor cars
in this country.
Mr.. Astor's motors number twenty
four. he is now acquiring machines at
the rate of one every two or three
months, and the fad with him, instead
or waning, wakes exceedingly.
Three machines that he recently pur-
chased averaged in price more than
$4,000 each. The average cost of each
OF his machines is about $1,000, making
total of $4,000 for all his machines.
These figures are exclusive, of course.
OF the supplementary equipment, that
goes with each machine. Acetylene
lamps cost as much as $3.50, and Mr..
Astor must have the best of every
thing when 1t comes to motor car fix
lngs. He does not hesitate to pay 800
for a pee1ometer- OdOmeter. Covers
for seats, tops for touring cars, grade
meters. emergency lighting tanks, sets
Of toois-all these accessories eat up
money. But Mr.. Astor has more than
enough to keep the wolf from the door,
so each car in his possession has its
own particular equipment right down
to the smallest detail. His investment
in these things alone reaches way up
into the thousands of dollars.
Then there is his garage, the best
equipped private establishment of its
kind in America, if not the world.
1t stands on Mr.. AstCr's country es-
tate, Ferncliffe, near Rhinecliffe on the
Hudson. Viewed from the outside it Is
undressing enough, but inside II is
Systematically filled with the latest ma
chinery for repairing AMI keeping motor
n iS IA
equipment that a car could almost be
built in entirety In the garage. A fea-
ture of the garage is the pit over which
motor car is placed when the shop
men wish TO work underneath II. And
as at the average public garage, there
is a chain derrick with which 80 hoise a
machine to the required height and hold
it in any position desired by the work
men.
Three men are kept constantly en-
ployed in the garage. The head of the
garage, as skilled motor car mechanic
as can be found in this country, re-
ceives a salary that is not possible to
the average professional man, and in
addition a home is provided for him on
the estate.
1t is in the garage that Mr.. Astor. in
overalls, thinkers with his beloved ma
chimes by the hours. He thinkers to a
purpose, too. 1t IS TO be doubted
whether another millionaire motor car
owner knows so much about the work
ings of a machine or can remedy de-
feet liz so short a time. He has doubled
UP his big frame in the garage pit nu-
merous times, and his great physical
strength enables him to lift pieces of
machinery that none of his assistants
can bulge.
Mr.. Astor has always had bent for
things mechanical. He has invented a
road scraper turbine steam engine
and various other useful things. He
was the first to build successful cleo
trio storage battery launch. Though he
patented his inventions, he announced
that they could DC freely made use Of
by anyone who cared to do so.
The motor car has, therefore, caught
his mechanical fancy, and as result
the forty or more horses that he keeps
at Rhinecliffe are no longer called
upon to render the slightest service In
return for their comfortable quarters
and bountiful meals.
Mr.. Astor has I'm his possession every
motor car that he has ever purchased
His collection shows wonderfully well
the progress that has been made in mo-
tor building since the first days OF the
Industry. He will not part with his
antiquated and smile-proVoklng ma
chimes; he has for them the same sort
of weakness that makes man hold on
to favorite horse that has long since
eutliVed its usefulness.
He is exceedingly fond of touring
and this has sharpened his interest in
good roads. Running from Rhinecliffe
twenty or more miles up the state is
particularly bad piece of road. Some
time ago Mr.. Astor went to the road
authorities and offered to bear half the
expense of putting the road in condi-
ton, provided the local government
would put up the other half, The high
way has not been repaired, however
The authorities decided among them
selves that if they automatically
turned down the proposition Mr.. AS
tors strong desire to have a good road
for his machine when touring north
ward would finally lead him to stand
the entire cost of repair. The con-
spirators are now beginning to realize
that perhaps they were not as shrewd
as they once thought.
Mr.. Astor's business trips TO and
from New York are made by motor car
exclusively. In fact, all his journeys,
except very long ones, are by automo-
bile.
He was one of the charter members
of the Automobile Club of America,
and as such did much to make the mo-
tor car popular in this country. He
took part in the first run from New
York to Buffalo, an old-time run. He
has driven a car from New York to