Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-01-13
NEWS OF INTEREST
TO AUTOMOBILES

PAGES can now boast of several hundred
HlieS or good roads.
run can now be taken from Daytona
20 orlando and return, making about a
iioo-mlle trip Then good shell roads will
DE round from Daytona to New SMYRNA
ana a good run can be taken from Ormond
TO the former place, making a distance of
ABOUT thlrty miles, being a sixty-mile run.
The new road from Palm Beach 10
Miami offers a 130-mile round trim the
road being constructed last year and will
De wldened considerably in the near fu-
lure The people of the west coast Of
tiorida are also very DESTROYS of adding
to their good road mileage and il is said
TO be possible that the people will welcome
the proposed good roads bill which is to
be introduced in the state legislature this
winter by Representative John b. Parkin-
son OF Daytona, who is secretary of the
Florida East Coast Automobile Association.
and who has done considerable work in the
interest Of good roads on the Florida east
coast. The bill will possibly be modelled
after that of the state of Michigan, which
causes employment of convict labor on
the roads. The prisoners employed on
roads. under intelligent direction and suit
able guard, are those other than life
tence and murderers. If the entire prison
labor Of the state of Florida could be en-
ployed IN building roads it would only be
a short time before the state of Florida
could boast of a fine system of roads, over
which much driving would be done each
winter by northern visitors.
*A
Automobile dealers and automobilists are
! looking forward to the opening of the sew
enth annual show January %. Prepare tons
for the event, which will be given under
the auspices of the Local Dealers Assoc
citation, so far advanced that there is
every assurance that it will be able to pre-
sent completely fitted and decorated audi
forum to visitors of the inaugural of what
is expected to be the greatest week of the
motor car sport and industry this city has
ever had. The exhibitors are working under
high pressure to get everything In shape
for the opening, and by thus taking time
by the forelock they have achieved results
not heretofore possible in former shows.
Motor car shows have never been con-
fined to the so-caled national shows in
New York and Chicago Many of the small
er cities, like Washington, Detroit, Cleve-
land, Buffalo, to say nothing OF Boston
and Philadelphia, have promoted shows
for the past seven years, and now such
places as Cincinnati, Kansas City and even
HARVEST Seattle have the fever. 1t all means
the public is following up its interest i'll
the motor car. AS a matter OF fact these
local shows are in some respects ahead
of the national affairs. IN trade circles
the Washington automobile shows have al
WAYS been regarded among the best in
the country, and this year the promoters
hope to make the local show the best
ever
Although the man who drives his own
car is generally interested in an automo-
bile from the radiator to the tail lamp,
there are certain points which appeal to
coming show men of this type will have
an opportunity to see what the past year
has brought forth in the way of develop
ment in motor car construction. As mat
ter of fact, mechanical changes this year
are very few. On cursory glance 1901
four cylinder. cars might be mistaken for
last years models 1t is only on close ex-
animation that small but useful improve
ments noticed. During show week lt
is expected much interest will be centered
about the exhibits of runabouts. These
10Th look
ing" show many improvements. This type
of car has greatly advanced in popular
favor during the year. and it is expected
to have even greater vogue during 1907.
To no other class does the report OF the
Automobile Club of America committee
touching on the evils that have sprung up
in connection with the development of the
industry make a stronger appeal than au-
tomobile manufacturers themselves, who
view with regret. the attitude of a few who
are doing much to bring diScredit on the
entire class. This is particularly applicable
to the abuse of highway rights by reckless
drivers, although 1t is a recognized fact
that there two sides to this question,
and that the motorist is not always at
fault.
PROPERLY handled. the automobile, as the
courts have repeatedly held. has exactly the
same rights on public highways has any
other form of Iocomotion." one autoist
SAYS 1T is as true as unfortunate, now
ever. that few reckless individuals are
doing more to injure the sport than many
times their number can counteract III 10
to this class that corrective measures
should be applied. and by openly discoun-
tenancinS such practices and aiding in
bringing the offenders to time the motoring
public can render valuable service alike to-
devotees OF the sport and the industry In
general Continual tinkering with the laws
will avail little. Obnoxious statutes may
be passed. but ii is an established fact that
the quickest way to secure the repeal OF
unjust legislation is by enforcing 1t to the
letter.
1.-The automobile Is passing through a
crucial period That 1t has come to stay no
sane person will deny. There is deep
seated prejudice against II in many quar-
tiers, but this feeling is much less intense
than was once the case. and II is only q
question of time until 1t must disappear
tirely. In Fastening this glad day motorists
can materially assist by the exercise of due
caution, so far as they are concerned, and
by lending their aid in running down reck-
Hess drivers and securing adequate punish
ment."