Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-04-09

American automobilists who have toured Europe in their cars have dis covered that what has been said re- garding the excellence of the roads in that part of the world is true, and this is the reason that the foreign tour is more popular to the auto enthusiast than the touring of America, and thus has undoubtedly led to the planning for gigantic tour this coming sum- mer. The itinerary as planned by the American Automobile association will cover a circuit of 4,000 miles, going through seven countries - France, Spain. Italy, Austria. Germany, Bel. gium, and England-and allowing for visits to scores of quaint, historic | towns as well as to the cities of Paris, ] Bordeaux, Barcelona, Marseilles. Flor ence, Genoa, Rome, Naples, Venice, Dresden, Berlin, Cologne, Brussels, London, and Liverpool. The tour itself will occupy from GO to 65 days but the daily runs have been carefully ar ranged, so that on not more than 15 days will 100 miles or over of travel ing be required. When 1t Is consid- cred that in the open stretches of France and some of the other coun- tries speed of from 25 to 90 miles an hour is permissible, it is easy to see that with the excellent roads of Flu rope this will be no severe tax either for the cars or the occupants, and plenty of time will be left over for sightseeing.
 I In addition to these two months on land, two weeks or little over will be spent in ocean travel. so that the tour fists who leave New York about June 20 on a French line steamer will re- turn about Sept. 10 on White Star steamer from Liverpool.
 George Dupuy, the originator of the scheme and it's general manager, be- 1 lieves that 30 and probably 40 cars will be included in this remarkable ! American automobile caravan. A few of the cars will be runabouts, but the majority will be big touring cars car. rying five persons. Averaging four persons to car with possibility of 35 machines. will give total of 14O tourists, representing an outlay of S140,000 for the round trip. With the possibility of so large a sum of money coming in, the committee is enabled to make hotel and transportation rates on the most reasonable terms. while no expense Is incurred in furnishing cars.
 Pleasure. however, is not the only object of the tour. It is to be. in addi- ton to a pleasure jaunt. an endurance test for a s3,ooO gold cup. William K. Vanderbilt, Jr.. Jefferson De Mont Thompson, chairman of the racing board of the American Automobile as sociation. and other prominent auto fists have subscribed for the trophy. and 1t will be awarded to the owner of the car making the best showing un. der the rules that have been formu. lated.
 In anticipation of the possibility that some owners of cars may not care to try for the trophy. and so be subject to the rules, the committee has decided to divide the motor cars into two sec. tions. and each will be adorned with its distinctive emblem. In keeping with the principles of the tour. an American eagle will be emblazoned on or affixed to every car. The gold cup competing cars will carry red eagles
 while the noncompetitors will carry blue eagles. For individuals who wish to go on the tour the committee will arrange seats in the cars that have not been filled by the original entrants as it is stipulated that each car must
 carry its full complement of passen gers.
 The tour will prove in more com prehensiye and public manner than has ever before been attempted the ability of the American car to copt successfully with the popular foreigr car under all conditions and in ths home land of the foreign-msde ma chine. It is amusing to view the vary ing shades of opinion that are beint expressed in foreign circles. now tha this socalled American invasion of tn,
 old country is an assured success Some of the French trade centers pro
 fess to regard 1t as actually danger ous to their industry. Already Is th' Idea advanced that the importation t'
 this country of foreign machines na, be curtailsd. vhile cthers fear. tha
 the demonstrated ability of American
 cars may lead foreign dealers to seel
 agencies for American machines- Botl
 possess clements of truth. and. indeed