The sun., 1908-02-16
AMONG THE AUTOMODILISTS
AMERICAN CAR ENTERED FOR
Grand PRIX RACE.

DIE Contest Of Automobile club Of
France Next July--M. j. Budl0ng Gives
Statistics OG the COuntry's Industry.
America will after alb be represented in
The great race for the Grand Prix OF the
Automobile Club Of France next summer.
~ the entry Of Thomas was cabled to the
french organization - Paris yesterday.
The driver to whom will be entrusted the
task OF uphOlding the prestige OF America
- an automobile building country will be
Montague Roberts of this city, who has also
reen selected to drive 80 horse power Thomas
st ock car in the road race for the Briarcln
trophy in Westchester county on April -.
The date for the French classic has not been
definitely settled, but It 10 expected that
EurOpe's premier speed contest will be held
on July 8.
The Grand Prix will be held again this year
on the forty-eight mile circuit near Dieppe
upon which Nazarro won the 1907 Grand
Prix with a Fiat. The Commission Sportive
of the Automobile Club OF France has just
agreed to again use the Dieppe circuit. a.
the Dieppe authorities have agreed to pay
cash bonus OF $4,000 for the race and to
fx up the roads OF the course at an expense
Of So 900 Dieppe Ia favored because II is
wear Paris is close to Great Britain and can
accommodate thousands OF visitors, as It is
IN the midst of holiday resort section. Last
stretch Of road parallel with the sea. but this
wear the official vantage point will be between
Deppe and Envermeu and not more than
500 yards from the difficult Dieppe fork turn.
competing cars are limited to iSS milli-
meters. or 81 inches, bore Tor four cylinder
engines. which will be the Thomas type Of
car. and must weigh at least 100 Kilograms,
or ?,i2i pounds, including lubricating oil.
The first entries for the race were full teams
OF three cars each Of the Fiat, PanhaTd Benz
and German makes. Yesterday was the
last day on which entries could be made at
the regular fees. as from now on they will be
doubled. The entry fee paid for the one
thomas was 81 900
NJ, J. Budlong. general manager OF the
Association Of Licensed Automobile Manu-
iacturers. declared yesterday that II was his
opinion that If a general policy of conser
Vatism, coupled with rational business
methods and proper commercial practices
were adhere to, the automobile business for
iMs WOULD compare tayoraby with that OF
which have just been compiled by the A. L.
4. M, show the great extent to which the
From January /, 1907. to January /. 1905
there were a S02 gasOlene pleasure cars manu-
~ s s ~ i5 yns 1i G ne sqs
were 5000 steam and electric pleasure vehi-
dts built and sold in this country Of total
pleasure automobiles sold during the past
year with total value of SlO5, ,S69,571.
The percentage OF increase has been con-
Sistent each year, as shown by statistics
gathered in 1904, when the total value was
S2e.s4S064 as compared wit the more than
one hundred million dollars valuation last
year. IL is estimated that the total number
of men directly employed in factories In 1907
was 81, 900. while the capital employed reached
S0d, 100000 As in many other lines Of manu-
tacturing, there was an indirect investment
which was closely allied TO the automObile
industry. This included such accessories
forgings. DC. Close. estimation shows that
2O,OOO men were employed in these lines, the
capital used totalling t36 700 900
At the end Of 1907 there were ?, l5l sales and
garage establishments 6 in this country, which
Of sS7 500 900 used in this branch Of the busi-
ness. which includes real estate. rentals, in
vested. Not including the manufacture OF
motor cycles or the sale OF supplies and ac-
products sold. siO5 $50 572; total capital used
SAT- 4iS 769, and number OF persons employed,
lOs.5OO.
(, $. Partridge OF the Automobile Club
OF America comments as follows on the rule
use of tire chains on the Park rOadways and
m2Sadamized streets under its jurisdi iction;
The prohibition OF skidding chains in the
through the best OF motives. but to my mind
the situation has not been carefully inyesti-
do have a tendency to cut up the drives no
one Will deny. The damage done, however,
drivers Who " have xatobed the e result q Of their their
use. IL certainly does not seem fair TO bar
from our public parks automobiles which, under
to put chains on the tires 90 protect other
vehicles and the occupants OF cars from pos
sible accident,
mobtlists who use chains on the wheels OF
their cars In bad weather is to invite and
encourage accidents. for many cars will
founder over the roadways without chains
and endanger the passengers OF other vehicles
skidding chains from choice. and It is only
when roads ara wet and slippery or icy that
chains are resoTted to. Is Il not then better
to allow the USE Of chains when needed and
the roads in condition than to make possible
the more frequent occurrence OF collsionsP'
The mangers OF the local automobile show
which Ia to be held in Buffalo from March
to 10. have announced that the total receipts
Of one day are to be devoted TO the creation
ing an automobile boulevard between Buifalo
OF the Automobile, Club OF Buffalo and the
the club and the local tradesmen have eX-
pressed themselves in favor Of the plan. He
says that IngrfSday March r. S 6e knoTn
price to the show building will be 81 on that
day.
The work Of road building Is peculiar
among the Industries OF men from the fact
that 1t seems TO thrive equally IN prosperous
says the Good Roads MaOGiinc. The season
OF 1907, when the tide OF national prosperity
was at It's food point broke all previous
and the amount OF work accomplished in high
way improvement. The seasop OF 1908,
with that tide somewhat checked. though 1t
promise Of greater deeds than it's predsces-
sor. In what are termed good times the
M each