New-York tribune., 1907-12-07
TIMELY AUTO TOPICS.
Difficulties To Be OUercOme IN Ne1o
York to Paris Contest.

Perhaps no one connected with the automobile
trade in New York City could be better fitted to
judge the probabilities of the New York to Paris
contest via Bering Strait than c. +. Wyckof or
A w. Church, of Wyckon Church 81 Partridge
Both have had Arctic experiences. being members
OF a Peary relief expedition several years ago, at
which time they spent a number of weeks above the
Arctic Circle. Mr. Wyckof has also been to Alaska
ana knows something of the country ana climate
In a recent interview on the subject he said:
Perhaps no one is more interested than In any
new feat which will show what automobiles can do
This plan of going from New York 10 Paris through
British North America to Bering Strait. and then
through Siberia from East Cape, is palpaby i'm
possible am surprised that any even slightly
familiar with the obstacles to be encountered should
think OF it seriously.
THE upper west coast of British and Alaskan
North America is covered to the waters edge with
impossible mountain ranges: the interior for at
least half the distance 10 Bering Strait is dense
ly wooded and roadess- Scores of rivers and
streams must be crossed. all of which without
bridges. There are no towns villages where sup
plies shelter could be had THIS would mean IL
roads were present, that every entrant would have
TO be accompanied by least ten or more extra
cars for the carrying Of necessary equipment-tres
shelter. ammunition. water baggage provisions, OIL
gasolene, etc.
THE other obstacles which would be encountered
will suggest themselves 10 any one who will give
the subject little thought-temperature running
down TO so degrees below zero. several thousand
miles OF trackess. blizzard swept North Siberia.
ribbed with lofty and inaccessible mountain ranges
The many other drawbacks include carbureton dif-
hcuties owing 70 excessive variations IN teInpera
and altitude II we are TO do something ouf
OF the ordinary with the automobile. let be a fear
which possesses element OF probability instead
OF discussing such a visionary pilgrimage the
one proposed from New York to Paris"
At the eEd Of November the monument erected 70
Mr. Levassor unveiled by the president OF the
Automobile Club of France. Baron de Zuvlen This
monument was erected at the Port Mailot right
in the heart of the automobile district OF Paris
II Is the first time that statue been erected
TO the memory OF who had devoted his life
TO the new locomoton. and had died. so to say on
the field of honor, his death caused by an
accident which occurred in one OF the iirst races
Mr.. Levassor Is represented this monument in
the position In which everybody saw him. when he
reached tho place where the said monument is now
erected, twelve years after he the first auto
mobile OF the world. This statue was designed
and begun by Dalau, who died before the work
was finished. and his pupil, Camille Lefevre. had
the honor to complete 1t.
Baron de Zuylen made the opening speech and
in a few words stated that Mr.. Levassor was the
pioneer Of the automobile industry. and that why
the entire industry had contributed to the erection
OF this monument and present TO honor the
memory Of the first automobilist
Rene Panhard also wished TO say few words in
honor of the man who his collaboration during
many years. To finish. Mr.. GARNER, president
OF the board OF directors Of the Panhard & I.e-
vassor company Iauded Mr. I>.vassor in the name
OF the firm for the work which had been done to
bring The firm 10 its present standing.
II. p Maxim, former chief engineer and designer
of the Electric Vehicle Company, and r. w. Good
ridge, former general manager of the Studebaker
Automobile Company, have Joined forces and will
build at Hartford. Conn line Of light electric
vehicles. chief Of which viii be "A victoria phaeton.
Officers OF the New York Transportation Com
pany, which operates five hundred taxanetcr cleo
trio cabs and gasolene vehicles in this city,
thority for the statement that they have been
PEELED to buy abroad $l50000 worth Of foreign made
motor cabs in the last ten months. The for
this is they say. the fact that American manu-
facturers when urged two years ago TO enter the
commercial field all showed decided lukewarInness
to the idea As result, since three hundred of the
company's vehicles destroyed by fire early In
the year. the company has been entirely unable to
buy any American made cabs which had actually
been tested in street use, and has had alterna-
tive in order to maintain Its service bat to pur-
large numbers of foreign cars in spite of the
high tariff
Andrew Carnegie and Robert K. Cassatt We're
among those who bought Panhard cars last month