The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-07-21
AMONG The AUFOMODILISTS
NEW BUILDINGS ADDED To MANI
FACTT'RING PLANTS.



Doubled I'm the Last Two Years -G;Ossip,
The local authorities Of Erie, Pa, have
announced that they will prosecute motorists
who leave their cars standing with the en-
gines running or with the gears In neutral
position. They say that in these days Of
easy starting motors the practice Is entirely
unnecessary and very dangerous and should
be stopped.
Scarcely a week passes without the record
ting Of the fact that some builder. well known
through his standing in the American in
dustry. has found expansion imperative in
order to keep pace with the demand made
upon Its manufacturing departments. says
the Automobile. Not that this condition In
either temporary or unusual; last year saw
the erection Of a very large number of new
buildings to already extensive plants. and the
first half Of the present year has been pro-
ductive Of a far greater number. But the
most significant fact TO be Observed in this
general process OF expansion is that the firms
that found II necessary to greatly increase
their facilities but a twelvemonth ago are
In very many instances the same builders
who are again reporting the erection Of new
buildings that mean a tremendous increase
in next years total output Of American cars.
IL is, moreover. a matter OF congratula-
ton that this is the case rather than that
new capital seeking wholly unwarrsnred
and totally disproportionate returns for the
outlay should be attracted TO this field. thus
giving IL an artificial as well as dangerous
air Of prosperity. In short. there IL not the
~faintest suspicion Of boom conditions in the
American industry to-day. despite the fact
that II has more than doubled In the last
two years.
Practically 90 per cent. Of this phenomenal
growth does not represent an influx of small
capitalists into a promised FL Dorado such
as that which threatened to retard the pros
poets of the industry of 1903. but consists
Of the addition Of new facilities 10 plants
already the largest of their kind. and the
names of whose sponsors are associated
with cars that form the backbone Of American
automobile production. Considered statis-
tically. the increase in the capital invested, >
that il. money actually spent for the erection
OF buildings and the purchase Of machinery
will doubtless run M into many millions.
while the greater facilities AZ hand mean
an increase in the annual production already
the greatest of the worlds automobile produc-
ing countries OF many thousands of cars.
Is there an outlet for such n huge number?
And can they be produced and placed on the
market without precipitatinR the very condi,-
ton OF affairs that every conservative maker
is most anxious TO avoidp Trade conditions
in the past two seasons supply an answer
that could hardly be more satisfactory to
all concerned, though il * the lustiest infant
that the world has ever seen. the automobile
industry being yet in its infancy. and it would
he idle to attempt 80 prophecy its future.
Its growth has been characterized by legiti-
mate expansion in accordance with the de-
mand for it's products in a manner that
has seldom. " ever. been witnessed, and
a continuance Of the same policy means
long continued prosperity.
The Minnesota Automobile Association held
its first road run of the season from Mime
apolis to Mankato, MINI, on July q and :.
Seventeen cars made the 81 mile journey each
day without mishap. IL was not termed an
endurance test. nor was there any attempt
at speed. but the sole object of the journey
was educational. 1t marked the beginning Of
an active campaign for good roads in MIN
nesota. aud the automobilists believe that by
taking such trips they will come in close
contact with the very persons who ought TO
be most interested in highway Improvement
and that sentiment in favor of such improve
ment will thus he created. The next run il
to he made to Duluth early next month.
Arriving at Mankato. the association members
held a meeting al which good roads, sighe
road maps. legislation and races AZ the Min
nesota State Fair in September were dis
cussed.
The Automobile Club of Philadelphia now
has $50 members. thirty of whom were elected
az the July meeting Of the organization.
Chairman Powell Evans of the routes and
slRnpost committee reported that the work
Of POSTING the routes to Trenton and Harris-
burg was about to begin. to be followed later
by similar work on all the high leading
into the, city. The board of governors voted
to double the committees appropriation for
the next tw~elvemonth, in order to avoid any
Interference with the committees work that
wight result from a lack Of funds. secre-
urged all members 10 sound their horns at
every crossroads. the lay calling fol. these
with ridiculous strictness in many sections
OF the state.
For sheer nsclcssness tho A 4. 4. tour
now m full swing stands without n parallel
in the history Of the automobile. says iHt9.
%"Sis yIp,C,. itS Srmin"i"g - evidence
Automobile Association and contest for the
tlidden apd flower trophies" so runs the
We view ii. As a tour the size Of the party
and rigorous end qualifications rules deprive
Il of ali the pleasures of touring: As con
test. or contests, II MEANS nothing. demon
stratcs nothing, teaches nothing. nv striving
to accomplish the impossible TO combine n
tour and u contest the well meaning pro-
motors fall between two stools and come
face to face with failure. Liz" the sealed
mechanism ]c2ntes'; =" ably orGapiIed and
the 4. \. 4. tour viii. prove once more what
ia already proved the absolute reliability
of the american automobile.
Taking in account our cNeCrahlP roads,
more is asked Of the American car than Of any
Europcan product. some foreign makers
brili for the American market speeinl ears
TO meet american road conditions, while all
American cars must meet them daily. Tours
like the Gliddcn or contests like the sea led
bonnet, however,. can have but one result
they merely AFFORD fresh proof OF the now
well known fact that present speed avs are
antiuuated and that reputable ears can en-
coed them under any conditions. For the
ad sanCcTent of The art md IN thereh" assist
or manufacturers. We need long road races,
where speed with safety must he the only
factors. The projected motor parkway, how
ever, will only help The Development OF the
art In "A small measure. The public will be
guarded. speed will bc developed. mostly
on level ground, and local motorists will have
u pnstime.
To farm out the Vanderbilt race and other
speed contests which will naturally spring
into existence every year to n different State
and locality must inevitably lring about the
Improvement Of our roads. These must be
not only properly built but properly main
tanned all the year round. Roads properly
maintained will help the more even distribu-
ton f wealth. prevent overCrowding Of our
cities and afford the rural population untold
benefit. The farmer will then be able To keep
his boys and girls AZ the farm. The common
people are no longer content merely to exist
everybody wishes 10 improve his condition
aud to participate In the good things of this
life.
With the increase in the production #
wealth. due TO science. had roads force the
population into the large centres. The rem
cdy. therefore, IL visible. Good roada viii