The San Francisco call., 1908-12-20
AUTO NEWS FROM
FOREIGN PLACES
Motor Cars Now Being Used in
the Streets of Buen0s
Aires
Course of the Grand Prix Race
for Next Year Most
Interesting

New ordinances have been made In
Argentina, covering the use OF motor
cars In the capital. Buenos Aires These
ordinances were rendered necessary by
the increasing number of motor cars,
poth Tor private conveyance and pubic
aple In that city than elsewhere. owing
to the narrow streets and eongested
state of traffic.
experienced drivers are given a faIrly
free hand as to speed, but must satisfy
the authorities that they are competent
by passing rigid examination. They
are also required to carry duplicate
passbook, containing their license and
blank pages, on which any accident or
carelessness is recorded by the police.
Cars must be provided and equipped
with nonslipping tires.
Inc aeetylene searchlight Is pro-
hipited in the center OF the city. Eff
hcient brakes must be used, and are
10 be tested at regular intervals. and
the automatic whistles are absolutely
ruled against. the usual horn alone be-
ing compulsory.
From Montevideo comes an interest
ing report concerning the public preju-
.s.--.-----.s. dices which exist
American Cars in Uruguay against
Barred In Ura- American m o r
quay cars, how to over
come this and in
troduce both automobiles and motor
boats. An extract from the report
reads:
Three years ago not motor car
was to be found in Uruguay, but, ac-
cording to the official inspector of We
hicles, there are now 1873 in use. With
the exception of perhaps four, none are
American There is a very strong pref
udice against American manufactured
motor cars. owing to the dissatisfaction
created IL years ago by the sale of
some 500 inferior grade bicycles, which
were sold as high grade machines.
These wheels We're of the cheapest
class and proved wholly untitled for
the roads and pavement of the repub-
lie The man who sold them brought
the wheels with him. advertised them
largely and represented them as being
equal TO the best foreign makes. The
rough pavements made short work OF
the tires and ruined the gearing, SO
that at the present time not an Ameri-
can made wheel is seen.
Three years ago two American made
motor cars We're landed here. AL
though every effort was made to sell
them. the people merely said: They
are like the bicycles and refused to
buy. Eventually one, $4,000 machine
was offered for $500; the other, a
smaller car. brought $3.50, there being
but one bidder for each There is a
great field here for the sale of motor
cars, but before American motor cars
can gain an entrance the prejudice
against them must be overcome. This
can be done only by sending the best
cars here. with first class chauffeurs to
drive them and keep them running by
the side OF those made in Europe for al
least one year. If they can prove their
! equality with other makes, business
doubtless will follow.
There are % motor boats used in
the harbor, one driven by petroleum
| six by electricity, the remainder by
gasoline, with speed of about four tc
| FIVE knots. The motors were all made
! in Germany or France. To introduce
| American made motors a thoroughly
! equipped boat about SO feet in length
with speed of not less than eight
knots and fitted for passenger traffic
should be sent here and kept in use ir
the harbor to properly advertise 1t
Such an effort, in the Judgment OF
competent men. would insure the SALE
of American motors. New boats are be-
ing built, but fitted with European mo
tors. There is no doubt that, if prop
erly introduced, there would be a large
| sale for American made engines fo,
these boats