The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1907-11-17
ALCOHOL AS FUEL
THE NEXT STEP IN
AUTO DEVELOP AENT
j. D. Maxwell Makes a
Few Predictions on
Motors Future.


bile fuel OF toe future that he has set
aside a special building at the larry
town factory in which experiments are
carried on.
Mr.. Maxwell also has designed a spe-
eiaI carbureter. which, when applied to
Maxwell cars, viii vaporize gasolene,
kerosene OF alcohol with equal facility.
A large contract for denatured alcohol
has been closed with a Tacoma nrm.
which is beginning the manufacture o.
Industrial alcohol out OF sawdust.
raw material that is obtained practically
without expense in the lumber regions
OF Washington.
The peculiar conditions existing in
the French automobile industry at the
present time" says Benjamin Briscoe.
have led some persons to anticipate
similar over-pr6duction in this country.
AS matter of fact, however, there
Is not the least likelihood that such
congestion will occur for a long time 70
come. The chief reason is that the
typical low-priced American car has ere
ated for itself a much greater market
than could possibly be expected on the
other side of the Atlantic. where the
the truth, long observed by his Ameri-
can brother, that to do a continual bust
ness II is necessary TO cater to the pub
lie want as soon as such want assumes
definite shape
This is exactly what the American
manufacturer has done. with the result
that he enjoys practically an immunity
from the evil with which the French
manufacturer Is beset at present"
Interest in the OTmond meet increased
during the week OF the automobile
show. when affairs came 10 a point
where II became certain that the meet
would be run and that the list OF events
would be so arranged as to- close out
the freak machines.
The news was welcomed by the makers
and welcomed also by the drivers, and
Immediately there started q movement
most favorable to Ormond. When the
A A A entered the deld and said
through its officials that the Ormond
meet should be held and even went to
the extent OF holding a meeting espa-
cielly 10 deal with the situation, the in
teTest grew. and the delight OF the
trade was expressed in substantial ways
W. J. Morgan, who viii Pilot the af-
fairs of the meet, held a meeting with
the officials Of the Florida East Coast
Railroad and Hotel System. and the az
fairs of the OTmond meet and the Palm
Beach Motor Boat tournament were
placed entirely IN his hands He will
at once start all necessary work to carry
through the venture, and in all prob
ability the A. A. A. viii give valuable
assistance in arranging the program for
the event.
From observations made at the New
York shows it seems likely that the
financial stringency Will not affect the
sales OF the highest priced cars. nor
of the lowest priced so much as it will
those of medium price.
The argument Is that those OF great
wealth viii still be able 10 buy what
they please. while the buyers Of cheap
cars. being as a rule not investors. but
per3ons of moderate though certain in
cones. will not be seriously affected
The cancellation Of orders has been gen
orally for cars of neither extreme in
price. bought by that large class az
persons who make much money, bat
whose earnings vary and who live I'D to
their incomes and almost never have
a UrplUs-
It seems probable that the time is near
at hand when touring cars viii carry
on their running boards tires fully in
fiated and attached to their inns, in
stead Of merely the outer shoes now
carried.
The Improvement OF detachable rims
has been going on steadily although
quietly and a new detachable rim Of the
risk pattern is now being put into COM
mission that makes the foreign crea-
lions look ike complicated puzzles.
with this rim an amateur has been able
70 renIace a punctured tire with ali in
dated one in one minute and ten sec
onds.
Concerning the show results in New
vork many contrary expressions are
,eard and IL seems to simmer down TO
the fact that some makers really did
a good business, while others did very
poorly.
The total sales were far less than
IN las. January, but about two-thirds
Of the Garden exhibitors got results
that were surprising and gratifying in
view of the financial depression.
A press room dreamer at the recent
show in Madison Square Gar n gazed
mn at the telharmonic horns and recall
ling how the staid good folk of a little
village we're reused and made to hustle
by 'Dr. Ox's Experiment" in Jules
Nerne's story of that name. he suggest
ed that currents OF pure oxygen and
other gases be introduced into the build
ing, so as to get the visitors into an
enthusiastic mood and stimulate buying.
An exhibitor who listened 20 the pro-
posal wanted to get busy and try the
idea. and he actually made q start by
going 20 the committee, but It was too
late in the week and the scheme viii
haye to wait for fits tryout till the
next show.
There is less actual business in auto
mobile shows for the accessory people
than for the car makers. yet the parts
and supply men feel obliged to go into
every show.
Concerning this. H. T. Dunn, president