The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-07-18
FROM DENVER IN AUTOS
Tourists in Great Smith Cars Stop in
Topeka

A jolly party Of Denver people were
in Topeka Friday. They were L. Z.
Fulenwider, president of the Globe In.
vestment company, q. w. Morgan Oh
the same company, W. H Lapp, VINO
builds all the scenic railways IN the
country. accompanied by Mrs. LapD,
Frank Burt and his machinist, Fred
O'Rourke of Toledo, Ohio. Mr.. Burt
is of the theatrical firm of stair q
Burt.
Mr.. Fulenwider and Mr.. Morgan are
en- route to St. Louis in their car, MI.
and Mrs. Labb will drive theirs to New
York where they will embark for Llv-
erpool and Mr.. Burt is returning to MS
home in Toledo.
Mr.. Fulenwider and Mr.. Labb were
driving Great Smith roadsters and they
were both anxious to visit the factory
and see the men who built the cars
and the place where they are putt.
They were so enthusiastic that 1t must
have made the officers of the Smith
Automobile company feel rather puff
ed up" to near the deluge OF compn-
ments for a. Great Smith car.
Mr.. FuIel.sider said in discussing the
trip: TT was certainly great expert
ence and though we have completed
only a small part of our journey l am
sure that we will never regret that we
started. And such roads!" and the
autoist shook his head deprecatixgly.
81 did not imagine that there were
such roads on earth. After the hrst
day We had rain and mud and nothing
else but the car carried us through
without a break of any kind or With
out the engine ever missing shot To-
peka ought to be proud that such car
Is built here.
ION the first day out of Denver in
nine hours we made 223 miles ana
reached Sharon Springs where we spent
the night. After that it was rain and
,r1 II
made only 100 miles the next day.
spending the night at Grainf1eld: Then
we ran to Russell and 1t was rain ana
more rain all the time"
Then Mr.. Morgan broke in. Mr.. Fulen-
wider had driven the car and he had
the seat by his side. He isn't telling
YOU the whole story. He didn't tell
Won that the car would take slide
every once In a while on the slippery
roads and out 1 would go. l got thrown
out so often that 1 got so 1 would roll
myself up in a ball when I started and
when 1 stopped 30 or 40 feet away l
would unroll myself and climb back
In the car 1t was a lot of fun for Mr..
Fulenwider."
''Wer, the ground was good and soft,
that was one good thing" said Mr..
Fulenwider. Let me see. where were
we? Well. we ran from Russell to
Junction City next day, making the
trip from Salina to Junction City In
two hours in spite of the bad roads and
then we ran to Topeka by noon the
next day-Thursday.
81 ran my Smith roadster over 1000
miles before starting on this trip and
as you see the tires show little wear.
We expect them to last till We get
home and we will drive to st. Louis
and then south to my old home in
southeastern Missouri and may return
to Denver by way of Minneapolis and
the northern route"
Mr. Labb will stop at Milwaukee on
his way to New York where he expects
to participate in the endurance races.
He also is very enthusiastic over his
Great Smith roadster. Il have three
or four cars and the fact that I am
driving a Smith tells what I think of
the car. l will take 1t to England with
me and use 1t while am abroad"
Mr.. Labb will build several scenic
railways in England.
Everybody reads the State Journal.