The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1907-12-15
Exactly What Was
Needed to Arouse
General Interest.
Times Run Should Be
FOrerunner of Series
of Similar Tests.

The automobile has come to its own
in Washington.
That is the keynote Of the comments
on The Times automobile endurance
run Of last Tuesday.
Bringing TO light the latest possibiII-
ties of contests as a means Of placing
the automobile interest before the gen.
eral public was one achievement Of the
test. Impressing the owners as well
as the dealers with the value OF such
contests was another.
Of Recent Growth.
1t has not been many years since the
automobile trade assumed the impor-
lance Of an established business IN this
city. For the most part the agencies
are not more than three years old. Sew
eral which are now doing a capacity
business have been established since
January, 1917. This does not prove that
the industry is a mushroom growth. Il
shows the possibilities Of the steady in
crease In the trade in the Capital City.
As has been repeatedly pointed out in
these columns, Washington IS essen
TALLY a city for the auto, on account of
the class OF it's population. It IS not 10
look for their support any more than 10
the poorest element The great majority
OF machines are sold to the well-to-do
middle classes, such as Government
clerks and the average bU siness man.
This is shown by the large number of
cars of medium price sold. A million
aire does not economic when he Dur
chases Il machine and the occasional
sale Of an expensive car IS IN the ma
ture OF good fortune rather than a
steady dividend Washington is essen
tally city OF auto buyers.
Interest Must Be Kept Alive.
Tho necessity OF keeping the ma
chimes sold here before the public is
another peculiar feature Of the local
field A larger percentage Of the ma
chimes in this city were purchased else
where, probably at the home town Of
the buyer Inasmuch as many of the
very class which the dealers must look
10 for sales are in the city only a mart
Of the year or have but recently moved
here, they will look to their home cities
Tor machine unless the interests of
the local dealers are constantly before
them, and unless they are impressed
with the advantages Of some car sold
here. Hence the necessity for keeping
alive the general automobile interest in
Washington as we'll as pushing each in
dividual machine.
When the dealers and The Times had
clearly realized the possibilities of the
auto branch Of Washington trade and
the necessity for keeping IL in the lime
light. their attention was turned to the
means Of accomplishing this. Automo-
bile shows and contests. preferably of
endurance rather than speed, are prettv
generally conceded to be the best adver-
Using mediums known TO the auto trade.
Practically No Contests.
Neither OF these lines has been de-
veloped 70 any noticeable extent in this
city. Contests have been held, but they
have attracted so little interest as TO
have been valueless from a business
standpoint. The shows have helped
some. but more of them later
The cause OF this lethargv was a
lack Of organization among the dealers.
While not wishing to be offcious The
Times realized that the only means of
arranging an endurance contest was for
some one body of men TO get to work
and push tho plan through to a success
ful finish. After taking the initiative
The Times found little trouble in enlist
ing aid. The Automobile Club supported
the proposition and temporary organ