The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1907-04-05

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 gigantic tour this coming sum-
mer. The itinerary as planned by the
American Automobile association will
cover circuit of 1000 miles, going
through seven countries - France,
Spain, Italy, Austria, Germany, Bel
GUM. and England-and allowing for
visits to scores of quaint, historic
towns as well 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 IS days but the
daily runs have been carefully ar
ranged, SO that on not more than Is
days will 100 miles or over of travel
ing be required. When it 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. .e -...
In addition to these two months on
land, two weeks or little over will be
spent in ocean travel, so that the tour
ssts 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 it's 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 runabouts, but the
majority will be big touring cars car
rying five persons. Averaging four
persons to car, with a possibility of
35 machines, will give total of 140
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 addi
ton to a pleasure jaunt, an endurance
test for $4,000 gold cup. William X.
Vanderbilt, Jr., Jefferson De Mont
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 of
the car making the best showing I'M
der the rules that have been formu-
lated.
In anticipation of the possibility that
some owners of cars may not care to
try for the trophy, and so be subject to
the rules, the committee has decided
to divide the motor cars into two Sec
tons, and each will be adorned with
its distinctive emblem. In keeping
with the principles of the tour, an
American eagle will be emblazoned on
or affixed to every car. The gold cup
competing cars will carry red eagles,
while the noncompetitors will carry
blue eagles. For individuals who wish
to go on the tour the committee will
g. -, not h
not been filled by the original entrants,
as it is stipulated that each car must
carry its full complement of passen-
gers.
The tour will prove in a more COM
prehensive and public manner than
has ever before been attempted the
ability of the American car to cope
successfully with the popular foreign
car under all conditions and in the
home land of the foreign-made ma
chine. 1t is amusing to view the vary
ing shades of opinion that are being
expressed in foreign circles, now that
this so-called American invasion of the
old country is an assured success.
Some of the French trade centers pro-
fess to regard it as actually danger
GUS to their industry. Already is the
idea advanced that the importation to
this country of foreign machines may
be curtailed, while others fear that
the demonstrated ability of American
cars may lead foreign dealers to seek
agencies for American machines. Both
possess elements of truth, and. indeed,