New-York tribune., 1907-12-01
TIMELY AUTO TOPICS.
PREDICTS GOOD SEASON.
BadIoRg Is Optimistic Regarding
the Industrial Wclfne.

bile industry Gates from its inception ana VINO was
recently honored by being placed the head of the
Association of Licensed Automobile ManufectUr-
ers. is optimistic regarding the future OF the
automobile II interview yeSterday the frst
since he entered his duties he seemed TO
feel notwithstanding the present financial situation,
that by spring-which is the logical season in
the sale of cars-the atmosphere would be entirely
cleared and the general situation in better shape
than heretofore. In part he said
THAT the speCuiations and frenZed finance Of a
few are to disrupt the economic conditions OF the
country is preposterous There are too many sound
and sane fnancers of the old school 10 allow the
disruption OF the country's credit. and by mo
winter early spring entire confidence will be re-
stored Business Will increase. and the sale OF cars
of the right kind Will continue as In the past
There is no doubt in my mind that the manu-
facturers o. dealers of cars built solely TO effect
quick sale without thought Of reliability. safety or
quality. in precarious condition The day OF
the that is built only q is past Look
back 10 the cars built two three and even
years and see the great number that are in
to-day These the whose makers
the pioneers of the industry and who are it
to stay Compare the various that We're eX-
hibited at the Garden show, all Of which were made
by the members of the Association Of Licensed Au-
tomobile Manufacturers Note the stability of eacn
type, the standard methods employed in construc-
tiOn. the strength workmanship and style That
these cars have reached 4 state of perfection
is unquestioned 1t has not been matter of chance
or luck that the group of licensed superior
in quality and workmanship to any other cars in
the world. 1t has been the result of time, thought
and cooperation The efforts and aim OF the
Chancal branch have resulted in the construction
OF the ideal car and through this branch alone
the high standard of American cars be maintained
Compare the cars made by the branch with any
other group. and predict what the result Of a de
preston in the industry would
THE calamity howler and pessimistiC prophet IS
ever abroad but he has place In the ranks of
an honest and intelligent commercial enterprise
In the early spring the weather conditions gave
Inomentarv setback TO the trade in city, and
the industry Immediately stirred to action; but
with what result? More business has been done
tbs year than before. The ratio over last
years business is greater than the before. and
next year win convince every manufacturer and
dealer that the motor car industry has come to
stay In 1904 there $2f 500. 600 worth of auto
mobiles sold: 1905, S42 O00 600 1906 $4,000, OO0
while up to November !. this year. $7S.00Q.000
worth were sold. showing an increase Of Sl9o0o00o
for the ten months Of this year over that Of the
entire year Of 1906. This surely does not indicate
lack OF interest in the market for high grade car
and l feel certain that II sound business principles
essential TO every commercial enterprise are OBJ
served the ensuing year VIII ma the industry
established a frmer basis than ever before
las TO shows. do not fee, that the full effect Of
the early shows be realized so soon The re
suit Tar beyond the expectations Of the
most optimistic of members that a careful
analysis should be given before the early show is
condemned. I am positive that had not the de-
pressed condition OF the money market prevailed
The records 81 the show last January would have
been ecIipsed this year AS it more than
SIO0O9O0 worth OF business done by the thirty
two members of the licensed association and the
electric vehicle makers who exhibit each year with
t,x The attendance too. was but 10 per cent lower
than a the seventh national show.
The adherence TO good principles, sound finance
ard the production OF high grade cars must pre-
vail. and. If these elementary necessities Of sue
cesslul enterprise are lived up to there IS no rea-
son why 1898 should not close as the greatest year
in the history OF the Industry
The romance Of high mileage by electric We
hicles repeatedly comes 10 hand. and each one hum
dred mile single charge achievement iS hfTadsd
with q claim of novelty disTeSarding history
because in the fall of 1879 il Columbia clecuic
first accomplished the Oe-mile single charge STUNT
and such succeeding performances do not, there
fore. warran; the attention paid TO them
The frrt 100 mile made between Fhlia-
delphia and Atlantic city 4 Columbia electric
starting from the resort city and running 70 I'm
don and return. The vehicle was not coiAptelely
discharged on the return 10 Atlantic city ana
could have been run several miles in excess OF
this distance
That such tests are unfair ana do not repre-
sent the capabilities OF stock cars actually soid
20 the purchaser is well known. For instance. all
such high mileage runs ere accomplished with
the use OF Palmer tires. They resilient
fire but their short life and difficulty Of repair
preclude their generally. Yet these tires ac-
corupIish a. difference Of twenty-four miles with
the use OF the same battery and motor capacity
There Is also a temptation to Increase the single
performance Of a car al the sacrifice oi The NE
and usefulness of the battery. which is frequently
done to make q high mileage showing. In most
leading makes or eettFlc NthicIes no tSpe- p
claims mileage performance are made, the capa-
bflitles of leading lines being well known.
Most stock cars, as columbIas make from - 10 %
miles a single cfarEe without damage 10 the
battery, according q local conditions met.
There stands to-day. on tho floor of one Of
F2roadway's biggest automobile shOwr0Oms car
which has done more than its share in establish
ing America prestige in motor car building.
This machine Is a regular l9Jt Thomas + tyer
stock stripped. ana AZ haFuiF SHOWS d trace
Of the victorious campaign through which II mas
passed Its Victories have been won in prac-
ticallv every known form OF contest. and IL IS
a question il there exists in any country to-day
d which show a collection OF cups ana
trophies as the result Of such short period
Of competition. These are gathered together III a
large glass case the car Memorial Day. 1907.
the Harry s Houpt Company started this machine
upon its career, and since then. In the hands or
Montague Roberts. IL has met and beaten in open
competition practically every make OF car having
the least claim Of being worthy Of its mette- At
WiIkesharre on May - il Won the record for
stock cars in that memorable hill climb. while at
Niidw ood. y. J.. short while laJer, II practi-
caily cleaned up the programme. Two Of the
events adorn the handsome trophy case Of the
Houpt company the result Of the latter meet.
But perhaps its greatest claim to fame was est.o-
ished at the Brighton Beach track in August
It the worlds record for twenty-four
hours on a mile track.
The popularity of sx-cylinder cars is a notice
ablo feature of the shows.
L have yet TO hear a single objection urged
against six-cylinders that could not be fully and
fairly answered TO the advantage OF the slX-Cylln-
der car" says Charles 3 Shanks. Of the Wlnton
not hesitate eyade the issue They say, for
instance that if skies better than tours, then
SKIES That statement Is unfair. and the conclu-
sion doesn't follow by the same reasoning IL
OF ohtaina bic results. Continuous power. with its
tbn Gse Of SIX cylindcrs There is no continuity
of power in either single. douele or four-cylin-
der motor and consequently the six is better than
But eight cylinders. twelve cylinders or any
than the six in prod4ctng t continuous con power
Hence. it Is not true thar & by tne I S,ne reasG {
ders is better than the six The ants simply beg
the question"
The nroposed Climb to the Clouds" contest for
June of 1903 is arousing much interest among New
York automobile dealers. In a recent talk with
r. S Partridge, of Wyckon, Church & Part !