The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-01-22
AUTO SHOW ENDS
Nearly 10000 People Saw the
Big Gotham Exhibition.
At All Times the Crowds Were
Uncomfortably Great.
SALES WERE HEAVY.
Retail Probably S., 100000 and
Wholesale $1O,OOO,OOO.
Madison Square Garden Re-en-
gagged for 1905 at 81 Rates.

New York. Jan. 22.-America's
most successful automobile show has
closed in Madison Square : Garden.
More than anything else it proved
the excellence of American motor We
hicle construction, and after, that it
gave evidence of the demand of the
American public for only the best,
whether it be of foreign or American
production. sa. tt
1t afforded the cIearest demonstra-
ton of the widespread interest in au-
tomobiling, and it proved the value of
co-opera ton in engineering problems
among the members of the Selden
group.
It proved that the advance in engine
and chassis reconstruction has kept pace
within the building of bodies, the
making of tires and the production of
general accessory lines. 1t establish
ed the automobile as vehicle OF ut1l-
ity, convenience and pleasure, rather
than an engine of danger and play
thing for the wealthy.
During the week of the show it is
estimated that nearly 10000 persons
visited the garden. At all times the
crowds We're uncomfortably great; at
nights they We're oppressive too.
in the face of the most Indictment
weather of the winter. e['''s
No less in the crowds than in the
business transacted was the exposition
refnar ka ble. Every succeeding show
is naturally a record-bfeaker in this
respect but this show had an especial
significance in the greater demand Tor
high power and high price.
Estimates of business done run into
the millions, In many cases, undoubt-
edfy,9 thefe1, are exaggerations. But in
actual sales closed at retail during the
show $4,000, 600 is probably fair ap-
proxinate figure. 80 go
Including whosesale business-that
is, contracts with dealers to take spec
flied numbers of cars-possibly $10,-
100000 is not too high an estimate.
The wholesale business would have
been much in excess of this had not
a large proportion Of manufacturers
come to the show with their entire
1907 outputs disposed of.
AS an indication of the unprece-
dented demand for costly machines, a
few figures may be of interest. For
example, twelve Flats, averaging SY,-
600 and aggregati1lg $10SSO0o, were
disposed of, and ten Panhards, aver
aging $500 and aggregating $4,000,
were ordered. : Wyeof, Church and
Partridge booked business to the extent
Of $12O, 900 IN e. G. v. and English
DainRieri cerszons 5-n a er5.:7 agsiraE
aAnfeng American, cars sina each or
which business at retail was transaet-
ed in excess of, $4,000 are the Thorn
as. Packard, Royal Stearns, Franklin,
Pierce Loeomobile, Peerless. Autocar
and Pope-Toledo. OF Franklin cars
alone seventy-f1ve were sold.
In a great many cases sales were
practically made. but will not be clos
ed until prospective buyers are afford
ed the opportunity, Of trying the cars
on the road. They. are not included
in the estimates given The. fact that
SO much business, was actually closed
without demonstrations was a signif1-
cant feature of the week
So well satisfied were the officers of
the Association of Licensed Autorno-
bile Manufa cturers with the results of
the exhibition that they have re-en-
gagged oMadfson Square Garden for the
SeldeTf show of 1908, to- be held In
JaffuaTy, as usual. But in order to
curb 5the attendance. If possible. the
price Of admission is likely to be rails
ed next year to 81 for ordinary days
and to 50 on society days. p