davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The San Francisco call., 1908-04-26

A phase of city business life that
stamps a locality with years of ex-
perience is the sectionizing of its trade
centers. There is always the whole
sale and the retail districts. and these
are subdivided into places where GER
tain commodities can be found. With
the coming of the automobile a new
center was created in all cities of i'm
portance. San Francisco. following this
natural bent, has now its automobile
row like its sister cities of the east
The center around which the automo-
bile trade clusters in Van Ness and
Golden Gate avenues. Lined out in the
four points of the compass may be
found the direct branches and agencies
of all the cars sold in the city and any
of these can be reached in less than a
FIVE minutes walk from the center. OF
an afternoon it is possible to visit all
the salesrooms and accumulate a
knowledge of the automobile that will
be food for thought for months to
come.
w. F. Culbertson of the Mobile car
riage company, which handles the
Pierce Great Arrow car. in discussing
the present automobile situation, said
Yesterday: .The automobile has ad-
vanced in its scope of usefulness in
keeping with the advances made in
manufacturing. When it first made its
appearance the great cry was for speed,
unlimited speed. which gave to 1t the
cast of sport, but that time has now
gone by and although 1t holds the pre-
.mier position of speed burning con-
tests yet there is still another side, and
that is the assumption of the position
of the horse, and for that reason the
automobile should not be spoken of as
a game. The time has arrived when
the man Of affairs and capital has his
automobile stable, as he did in years
gone by his stable of horses and car
riages. He has his Limousine for the
The San Francisco call., 1908-04-26
cARELEssNEss OF cHAuFFEuRs

necessary abuses to which many cars
are subjected by careless or ignorant
drivers The practice OF withdrawing
the clutch without throttling or re-
tarding the spark; OF letting the car
stand with the motor buzzing round
until the car is vibrating blur; OF
using the low gear with the motor
turning over at top speed when a
higher gear could be used. These
things take more out of car than
many miles of ordinary road work.
waste fuel. cause an unpleasant racket
and are Of no use in any way.
The San Francisco call., 1908-04-26
Automobile, Triumph Of Mechanical
. Science, Is Wonder Of The Age
Coast Business Figures Importantly in the
Commercial Welfare Of San Francisco
BY r. r. T'Horr1n1edieu

With the coming of the battps which have proved the
OF modern science in the construction of these fighting
Chimes the automobile enthusiasts stop and ponder the
achievement vehicle Eight
ago the coming July the baby carriage ndng this infant
industry made appearance the highways of California The
jingle OF the bell the warning sound OF that time made San Fran
the stop while the machine rolled by The unfa-
na every who heard with the
thought There goes automobile In striking this
feeling OF today, when the only things
would attention would be eakishy
built vehicle OF those carriages of 1900
Within eight years this vehicle has developed from
prinental wagon that accomplished Jose
The San Francisco call., 1908-04-26
Fun and Fact Gossiped About Among
Dealers IN Modern Vehicles
Country Merchants and Farmers Discri1n-
mate in Purchasing Their Motor Cars

aters and use during the rainy SPELL.
afternoons ride. the touring car for a
dash out into the open country, and the
fast roadster for speed. Then for shop
ping and business he has his town car.
This makes a complete stable. They
take the place of horses, for they al
low of travelling that could not be ac-
complished with the four footed beast
Many of such automobile stables are
kept up in the east by the wealthy and
their existence proves that the auto
mobile has ceased to be a game pure
and simple
"A few years ago the idea of a farm
er buying and using an automobile
would have been considered the height
of folly; first, because the notion pre-
vailed that the farmer had no use for
a horseless steed; second. because he
was bitterly prejudiced against them
owing to the recklessness of few
speed crazed drivers who. until the
hand of the law put check upon them,
went through the country at mur-
derous pace" So stated d. E. Whit
man, who handles the Rambler car as
he turned from prospective customer
from the farming district. The fallacy
of this idea is being proven daily. as
the number of sales of the motor car
to the farmer, fruit grower and vine
yardist are constantly on the increase.
The motor vehicle has proved to be a
saving of horses. of labor and of mon
ey. 1t appeals to the man to whom
each of these attributes means so
much"
One of the most popular firms in the
city and having one of the best vul-
canizing plants is the Weinstock-Nich-
OILS company. of which Tony Nichols,
of racing and driving fame. is men,
Der. From his actual experience in the
operation and care of an automobile he
has selected such agencies as he feels
The San Francisco call., 1908-04-26


All the papers. to the present time.
when a group of cars from different
countries are bearing the flags Of their
native lands in not only tour but a
race around the world.
Day. by day space and time are being
annihilated BY this. the wonder of the
twentieth century. It knows no re-
striction and has found its way into
The utmost corners OF the earth. as has
been demonstrated by the tours of
Charles J. Glidden into lands where
civilized man only entered with the
chances OF never returning.
AUTO An EDUCATOR
The automobile is one of the great
est blessings that has been given TO
mankind. 1t IS an educator so swift
that it has crowded the results of sew
eral lifetimes into one. The average
owner Of an automobile is a man OF
brains, for II has taken brains to ac-
cunulate the .wherewithal' TO pur-
chase and maintain an automobile,
whether IL be a small popular priced
ear or a high grade, high priced We
.hicle Il has opened up to-such brains
food for thought gathered from touring
beyond the confines limited by the
time that men Of such brains can spare
from their business Every mile that
these vehicles have been brought to
carry them of the beaten path has
been productive of thought, which has
affected the lives and actions of the
owners. It has brought them in con-
tact with q wider world, with phases
OF life and with people otherwise un-
known. and has made them better able
TO cope with the questions Of the day
These effects have but one result, and
tkat the betterment of humanity by
breaking down the barriers Of narrow
ness in mankind and broadening one
with q sense OF charity, consideration
and q stronger love of the fellow man.
so much for the ideals in life
But running through 1t all is another
potent factor and that is the CONNER
cial side OF the question. In San Fran
cisco alone the industry. or. more prop
erlv speaking, the automobile business,
has grown to such an extent that very
few realize its Importance in the To-
cal commercial world. Its growth has
been rank like the flowers of the field
and hillside. IT has a strong, vigor-
Gus life of individual growth. with no
concertine, combined action as trade.
san Francisco has its chamber OF com
merce and its board Of trade, whose
members consider the pulsating veins
OF commerce through San Francisco
one Of the greatest arteries Of the
world, yet up to the present time these
bodies have not made an effort to re-
cord the vast amount of money that
is almost doubling itself yearly In the
bartering OF automobiles in this city
OF the Pacific.
CROWS TO MILLIONS
The last six months Of the year 1900
IS automobiles were sold out Of this
;city. with a value Of about sl2.5oo.
The sales for the year 1908, as nearly
as can be estimated. lacking the ac-
tion OF the great commercial bodies. is
dgured to be close TO s2.ooO.00O. This
IS merely in motor vehicles alone The
distribution OF automobile tires out
Of this city win amount close to an
other million. while accessories, repair
shop work and all other trades fed by
the existence of this modern vehicle
VIII be at ieast a million more. We
have here something in the nefghbor-
The San Francisco call., 1908-04-26
Steam Vehicle Traces
Back to Newton
Modern Machine the Result of
Over 200 Years of
Progress

To the average laynlan the automo-
bile is the invention of the twentieth
century. But few realize the fact that
advocated the steam carriage. These
were the times when even the locomo-
tive on its smooth rails was not looked
upon with favor. yet at that early
date as compared with the present Sir
Isaac had dim conception of what is
being achieved today. This nobleman
was far in advance of his times and,
although giving the inklings of pos
sibility. it was not until about 11O years
after. in 1880. that history records an
activity in the automobile line. In
that year Nathan Reed took out a
patent for a steam carriage. Previous
to this date. in 1859, Nicholas Joseph
Cugnot had built steam vehicle which
had been operated in Paris, while a
man by the name of Murdock, with the
assistance of James Watt, had produced
a vehicle in 1884 About this time, in
the infant colony that had just secured
its independence and was known as
the United States. Oliver Evan sug-
gested the possibilities of steam au-
tomobile to transport troops. In keep
ing with many Of the suggestions to-
day of aerial navigation, which is
thought impossible. Evans scheme was
looked upon as a flight of Imagination,
not obtainable on this prosaic earth.
IQ-,4 la A-t- "a.
and space, with its money emoluments,
kept the brain of the inventor active.
For a score of years there were a
number of experiments, but nothing
ment came to light until 1902, when
Richard Trevithick of London, England,
brought out his car. From that time
until 1885 there was a great advance
ment in the motor car. Walter Han
cock, during the years from 1924 to
1895 in England. turned out some cred
liable vehicles. considering the times,
the first of which was known as the
Infant From 1886 on there was a quiet
period among the inventors, whose
d
vehicle that might carry one safely
and with speed on the highways OF
the world. 1t was not until the early
SOS that the motor car genius ceased
to hibernate, and once more became
prominent At that time Europe led
in all kinds of experiments, and for
some 10 or Is years held the public at
tention. The latter part of the COS the
manufacturers became active in the
United States, and soon was given to
the public a motor car built on the
lines of the horse drawn vehicle with
out the horse or shafts. In 1900 these
cars made their appearance in San
Francisco. the wonder of the day. From
that time until the present day the
history of the steam car is nothing
more than a direct advancement from
one year to another, as can be seen
on the streets of this city. q
The San Francisco call., 1908-04-26

The wheels of progress do not turn
backward. and the automobile is the
latest step forward in human progress.
Any attempt to stamp it out Will be as
futile as would be an attempt to hold
back the measureless tides of the sea.
An argument against the abuse of a
thing is never an argument against the
proper use of a thing The careful
driver feels as deeply and opposes as
strongly the harum scarum, devil may
care driver on our public roads as
does the most rabid automobilist.
1t is injurious to the trade, to the
rights of automobilists and to the
safety of human lives and everything
that will benefit and further the good
of these three strong factors Will be
upheld by the right thinking citizen.
The San Francisco call., 1908-04-26

Continued on Page IS, Column i
The San Francisco call., 1908-04-26

With the coming of the popular
priced car the man with the comfort
The San Francisco call., 1908-04-26
PRINCE HENRY CONTEST

Complete rules and conditions for the
Prince Henry endurance contest have
been submitted by the joint technical
committee of the Imperial automobile
club and the German Automobile manu-
facturers' association to Prince Henry
for his approval. An average os 200
miles will be run per day. with total
of 1,514 miles for tae seven days. The
competition is limited TO four and six
cylinder cars. with cylinder bores of
s.4 to SIS inches or motors OF Is to 20
horsepower
are standard and strong. The Morgan
& Wright tires. one of his agencies.
are so well known that they need lit
tie but the mention OF their name. as
they are to be seen on many OF the
cars of the city streets. The wein-
stock Nichols company also carry
large stock Of accessories for the mo-
tor car.
With the coming of the popular
priced car the man with the comfort
Continued on PAGE IS, Column
Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1908-04-03
FIFTH AVE. HOTEL
TO BE DEMOLISHED
Famous hOSteIry Replaced
by Sky SCraper.

NEW YORK, April 2.-(SpeciaD -
The Fifth Avenue hotel another his
toric landmark of New York, is to be
torn down next week, and a modern
sky scraper office building will soon
occupy the place where the. hotel
now stands. The week has been
one of deepest sorrow for the regu-
lar patrons
A list of the great men who have
passed through the portals of the fat
ted hostelry would read very much
like dictionary of biography Short
ly after it was opened to the public
in 1859, the Prince of Wales wrote
his name on the register. During
the Civil War the Fifth Avenue Hotel
was the heart and center of New
York's patriotism In 1867, at the
Peabody dinner, the movement for
the nomination of Grant had it's in
ception. Many years later, when the
obsequies of that great leader of men
were being held, the Fifth avenue
was the headquarters of the distin-
guished mourners.
In addition to the Prince of Wales,
many other members of royal fami-
lies have stopped at the hotel, among
them Emperor Dom Pedro of Bra
zil.
Nearly all the presidents since the
days of Lincoln have written their
names across the registers of the
hostelry Hundreds of distinguished
men and women in all walks of life, in
addition to those named, have slept
and dined within the walls that are
now crumbling to ruin. The famous
hostelry is to be sacrifice to COM
merce, but its memory will live for
many years in the hearts of those
who have called it home"
Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1908-04-03
TAKING THE CENSUS OF
SCHOOLS IN AMFRICUS
Work viii be Entered on
Today.

A school census of Americus is to
be taken, under the provisions of the
state law, and this important work
will be entered upon today with two
enumerators to take the names of all
those of school age in Americus. both
white and colored.
Every child or youth between the
ages of six and eighteen will thus be
counted and reported.
Supt. Miller of the city schools, stat
ed yesterday that the work of TAX
ing the school census must be COM
pleted by May 1st, although it will
require hard work to do it.
Mr. Geo. w. Stallings and one other
will do the counting.
And it is confidently expected that
this enumeration will show $500 or
$500 pupils of school age in Ameri-
Gus. The school census taken five
years ago showed a total of 2,06S here,
but there has been a rapid growth in
population since then
Supt. Miller said yesterday that he
felt quite sure the figures this time
would exceed 2,500
A school census of Sumter county
is being taken as we'll, but under al
together different direction, this being
under supervision of the county board
of education. And the county census
will show total of 5000 pupils, out
side of Americus.
Thus, the school and the city CEN
sus is being taken at the same time,
but under different auspices And
each will reflect the splendid growth
of Americus
Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1908-04-03
CENTRAL TO BUILD IT'S
TRACKS ON HAMPTON
Will Develop Much Proper
ty There.

The city council having given con-
sent to the building of railroad tracks
along Hampton street from the Cen
trails crossing at Wheeler street to
within a given distance of Lamar, this
important work will soon be entered
upon. While the construction of a
track along the east side of Hampton
will not prove an obstruction in any
sense it will, upon the other hand,
greatly enhance property values upon
either side of the street This large
area, now given over largely to negro
tenant houses, woodward, ETC., will,
with the building of the railroad there
come into immediate demand for
the location of storage warehouses
and manufacturing plants, mills, etc.
1t is near the business centre of the
city and most desirable as the location
of manufacturing interests. The
railroad will be extended up Hampton
to the rear of the new grocery ware
house fronting Lamar street, where
private tracks will be put in. 1t will
add thousands of dollars to realty
values and to that extent as we'll is
an enterprise much needed
Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1908-04-03
FORCED BY TRUST TO
PAY MORE FOR ICE
AmeriCuS Still CATCHING it
Heavy.

Americus consumers. it is said,
continue to pay from soc, and even
more, per hundred pounds for ice
while other cities, fortunate in the
possession of an ice factory that
makes ice instead of remaining shut
up, get their ice for less
Albany consumers for instance, buy
ice at 35 cents per hundred 1t is
of the very best quality, and full
weight The same conditions obtain
elsewhere
But Americus consumers cannot buy
it at that price, even at other fac
tory points
1t seems that there is a tacit un-
derstanding or agreement among man
ufacturers not to invade each others
territory, except at an advanced
price. 1t is this, no doubt, that ac-
counts for the higher price prevail
ing here.
An Americus consumer who ordered
ice from another city where it re-
tailed at 25 cents, was charged 50
cents for ice there, and in addition
paid express charges.
This smacks very strongly of the
flavor of an ice trust.
Just when ice will again be manu-
factured in Americus, wh, re two
plants have stood dormant for many
months, is an enigma that none will
venture to guess.
1t is understood that the Messrs.
Maynard here have purchased an
execution held by the Vogt Company
against the city ice plant for about
$500, and may operate the factory
later in the year, unless it is dis
posed of otherwise
in shape to be operated, though it is
not known when start there will be
made
Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1908-04-03
DISTINGUISHED
TENOR TO APPEAR
Mr.. James @. Boone at
Miss Bells Studio.

Tuesday evening at the studio of
Miss Bell, Mr. James o. Boone will
give song recital. Mr.. Boone is a
distinguished tenor singer of New
York, having been a pupil of Dudley
Buck, Jr, His wonderful gifts have
made his name famous among lovers
of music. A general admission fee of
so cents will be charged, with a spe-
cial rate of % cents for musicians and
children.
In reviewing his work at Salisbury,
n c., critic in one of the local pa
pers says:
THE song recital of Mr.. James Oil
yer Boone, given in the rooms of the
Old Hickory Club and under the aus
pices of the Daughters of the Confed-
eracy on Tuesday evening, was one of
the most delightful entertainments that
Salisbury has lately enjoyed. The
audience, representing the best social
and most highly cultured musical
element in the community, was rapt
in it's attention and enthusiastic in
it's appreciation of the different num-
bers rendered. Mr. Boone's selections
were extremely we'll chosen to dis
play the qualities of this charming
voice-a tenor of rare clarity, power
and range, admirably cultivated and
full of sympathetic sweetness"
Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1908-04-03
II DRINKS THE RECORD
FOR PAST 3 MONTHS
AmeriCuS is Keeping Quite
Sober.

Twelve drunks in three months is
the splendid record that Americus has
made under state prohibition. These
are Official figures, obtained yesterday
from records of police court through
City Clerk Hawkes., and are therefore
correct.
Twelve cases docketed since Janu-
ary 1st, 1908, an average of four
cases per month, only.
Pretty good record, Ell? and for a
city OF 10000 people. This averages
one jag to every one thousand of
population for the quarter ended with
March 81.
When prohibition dawned with
the advent of 1908, nine saloons clos
ed their doors in Americus 1t was
freely predicted then that prohibition
would prohibit here, and subsequent
events have fully justified this predic-
ton
Since January 1st, three months
ago, one has rarely seen an intoxicat-
ed white man upon the streets of
Americus, and few negroes.
This fact, in itself, is worthy of
serious thought
All of the twelve cases docketed
since January were not against ne
groes, however. Some few of them
were against whites, but the number
of cases generally are small as COM
pared with the corresponding period
for 1907.
The drunks reported for the first
quarter of 1907 ran high into the fig
ures, probably 100 or 200. This was
when the saloons were open here I'm
der the new. condition of affairs the
cases of drunkenness reported are
just a paltry dozen.
An excellent record for Americus,
to be sure.
And another fact worthy of mention
is the entire absence of blind tigers
here. Not single one has been dis
covered, although the officers of the
law are vigilant and these freely ex-
press the belief that liquor has not
been sold here.
The prohibition law as it is work
ing in Sumter county has also been
responsible for many other decreases
in crime Fewer larceny and gaming
cases have appeared before the
courts.
Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1908-04-03
LESLIE NEWS
BRIEFLY TOLD

LESLIE, GA, April 2.-(SpeciaD -
Mr.. and Mrs E. l. Wilson have
returned from a two weeks visit to
Florida.
Mr.. T. J. Wade went to Americus
Wednesday.
Mrs. B. F Jenkins, of Cobb, was
in town Monday.
Mrs. G. r. Ferguson's mother and
sister from Coleman, have been in
town several days
Mr.. A. T. Johnson has been quite
indisposed for the last two weeks, but
is much improved now.
Mrs. G. T. DeLoach has returned
from visit to her mother in Colum-
bus.
Mr.. George Barrow has been quite
sick for several days, but is slightly
improved.
Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1908-04-03
REVIVAL TO START AT
FURLON LAWN CHURCH
Several Ministers to Assist
Therein.

A series of meetings will begin neXt
Sunday, 5th at Furlow Lawn Baptist
church conducted by the pastor, Rev
Robert l.. Bivins, ably assisted by
Rev. l.. E. Barton of Quitman, Ga
The meetings will be continued
through two or three weeks and the
daily services will doubtless attract
large and interested congregations. A
special feature of each service will
be the excellent singing, which will
be in charge of Rev. G.. NJ. Gordon, OF
Lumpkin.
Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1908-04-03
WALLS OF BUILDING ON
A DEPTH OF CONCRETE
Dug Eight Feet to Clay
Basis.

The solid walls of the power plant
building of the Americus Railway &
Light Co. will rest upon a base of con-
crete eight feet in thickness, thus rem
dering the foundation as solid as Gil
bralter. In digging out the excavation
for the" building the past ten days it
was found necessary to go down eight
feet to red clay, but a building, such
as will be constructed here, will re-
quire such a foundation. This i'm
mense hole, 115 feet long, 40 feet
wide and eight feet in depth, is filled
in with rock and concrete, thus insur-
ing a solid bases for the ponderous
machinery of the power plant AL
ready the company is paying out about
$3.50 per week for day labor, and the
payroll will vastly increase now that
brickwork upon the building has been
started