The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1907-04-06

American automobilists who have
toured Europe in their cars have dis
covered that what has been said re
garding the excellence of the roads in
that part of the world is true, and this
Is the reason that the foreign tour Is
more popular to the auto enthusiast
than the touring Of America, and thus
has undoubtedly led to the planning
for a gigantic tour this coming sum-
MGR The itinerary as planned by the
American Automobile association will
cover a circuit of 1000 miles, going
through seven countries - France,
Spain, Italy, Austria, Germany, Bel
xium, and England-and allowing for
visits to scores Of quaint, historic
towns as we'll as to the cities of Paris,
Bordeaux, Barcelona, Marseilles, Flor
ence, Genoa, Rome, Naples. Venice,
Dresden, Berlin, Cologne. Brussels,
London, and Liverpool The tour itself
Will occupy from so to 60 days but the
daily runs have been carefully ar
ranged, so that on not more than 10
days will 100 miles or over Of travel
ing be required. When il is cOnsid-
cred that in the open stretches OF
France and some of the other coun.
tries a speed of from % to 80 miles an
hour is permissible, it is easy to see
that with the excellent roads of Eu
rope this will be no severe tax either
for the cars or the occupants, and
plenty Of time will be left over for
sightseeing.
In addition to these two months on
land, two weeks or little over will be
spent in ocean travel so that the tour
lists who leave New York about June
90 on a French line steamer will re
turn about Sept 10 on White Star
steamer from Liverpool.
George Dupuy, the originator of the
scheme and its general manager, be
lieves that 80 and probably 40 cars
will be included in this remarkable
American automobile caravan. A few
of the cars will be ruuabouts, but the
majority will be big touring cars car
rying five persons. Averaging -four
persons to a car, with possibility OF
35 machines, will give total of 14C
tourists, representing an outlay OF
$4,000 for the round trip. With the
possibility of so large a sum of money
coming in, the committee is enabled
to make hotel and transportation rates
on the most reasonable terms, while
no expense is incurred in furnishing
cars.
Pleasure, however, is not the only
object Of the tour. 1t is to be, in add
ton to pleasure jaunt, an endurance
test for a $4,000 gold cup. William X
Vanderbilt, Jr., Jefferson De Mon
Thompson, chairman of the racing
board of the American Automobile as
sOciatiOn. and other prominent auto
lists have subscribed for the trophy
and it will be awarded to the owner o
the car making the best showing un
der the rules that have been formu
lated.
In anticipation Of the possibility thai
some owners of cars may not care t
try for the trophy, and so be subject t.
the rules, the committee has decided
10 divide the motor cars into two sec
tions, and each will be adorned Will
its distinctive emblem, In keeping
with the principles of the tour, ar
American eagle will be emblazOned or
or affixed to every car. The gold cul
competing cars will carry red eagles
while the noncompettors will carry
blue eagles. For individuals who wisl
TO go on the tour the committee vii
arrange seats in the cars that have
not been filled by the original entrants
as it is stipulated that each car mus
carry its full complement of passen
gers
The tour will prove in a more com
prehensiye and public manner thar
has ever before been attempted tht
ability Of the American car to cope
successfully with the popular flreigr
car under all conditions and in III,
home land of the foreign-made ma
chine. 1t is amusing to view the vary
ing shades OF opinion that are beint
cApIcSStu III lOItlSu tIlI4tSs NOW LiLd
this so-called American invasion of tbs
old country is an assured success
Some Of the French trade centers pro
fess to regard II as actually danger
GUS to their industry. Already IS the
idea advanced that the importation (
this country Of foreign machines may
be curtailed while oil ars fear tina
the demonstrated ability Of American
cars may lead foreign dealers to seel
agencies for American machines. Botl
possess clements Of truth, and. indeed