The Washington herald., 1907-11-04

New York. Nov 3.-The doors Of Mad
ison Square Garden viii be opened at 10
O'Clock tomorrow morning. for the first
full day of the six that the eighth au-
J0mObile show is 20 run I'm the building.
The public was not admitted to the
Garden to-day. but a great number of
exhibitors. designers. factory superin-
tenden-s. and newspaper men found their
way into the building during the day Of
rest-for other people
Most of the cars We're covered with
shroud-Iike cloths 10 keep dust from
settling on their finely vanished or pol
ished surfaces, but unless the shrouds
were tied down and watched by a vigilant
attendant they were pretty sure to be
lifted up enough so the experts present
could see what was underneath.
One man who spent a good deal OF
time in the building to-day remarked
that the Automobile Club Of America had
arranged for a private view Of a couple
Of hours jgst before the formal opening
Of their recent show and then kept every
one out Of the show building on Sunday
but that the Association of Licensed Au-
tomobile Manufacturers had not held a
private view, but allowed those inter-
ested TO examine the cars of their fellow
exhibitors at leisure on Sunday.
Experts show Interest.
Most Of the talk heard to-day was Of
an extremely technical nature. for men
OF mechanical minds and training did
most Of the talking. Some interest was
shown over the various types Of bodies
In the building. particularly the different
closed ones, but most Of the conversation
was Of transmissions, carburators motor
suspension. valve arrangement. and other
details related TO the purely mechanical
parts OF the cars.
The day was not bright enough 10 be as
good a one for the photographers as they
had hoped, but still a large number Of
pictures were taken. In several instances
photographer would have a couple of
assistants hold up white cloths behind
car. which had been pushed out into an
aisle, to enable the camera man to take
the car by itself.
Among those who visited the show on
the off-day were w. r. Innis. of the local
Studebaker concern: Gustav Chedru. from
the Thomas factory and Albert Cham
mobile racing man.
Chedru and Champion walked around
the building together, examining such
chassises as were to be seen. and Cham
piOn waNed very enthusiastic over the
chassis Of the Thomas town car. which is
the latest production of Chedru's fertile
brain. Chedru was very much Interested
in the different air-cooIed cars. and ne
held many teapot fire talks in French
with Champion over the Franklin Corbin.
Knox. and Waltham machines Chedru
was also interested in the White steam
cars. in the space alongside the Corbins.
Mr. Innis made some observations on
the present and future status Of the au-
tomobile industry in this country, during
which he declared the belief that the
business automobile will soon oUtnumber
the horse-drawn vehicles used for COM
mercial purposes.
Electric Cars Popular.
He said his own firm had become con-
vinced that the electric pleasure car, that
most people originally supposed TO be a
sort of de luxe mechanical toy. was par
ticularly adapted 10 the use of a great
number of saiaried officials and other
persons Of good incomes who would not
ordinarily be prepared 10 maintain "A
touring car and chauffeur. but who regu-
larly use one or more horse-drawn We
hicles, as an electric would undoubtedly
prove more economical, both as regards
time and money.
He expressed the opinion that the
gasoline car had become practically stan
dardiZed. as the days when there were
radical changes in construction each year
had DasSed and rhe~e is npu- IN aDJ 80
the period Of mechanical experiments. He
said he did not believe in cars Of the
hook and ladder variety for city use.
where handineSs and neXibility are Of
prime Importance. He thinks the cars Of
general convenience and utility. rather
than those Of great power and extremely
long wheel base, viii prove most popular
in the long run, and believes that ma
chimes that represent a good pecuniary
investment and low maintenance cost to
the customer are the better ones TO make