The San Francisco call., 1908-05-21
Additional Sports News
Two Prominent Auto
Men Visit City
Frederick S. Fish and Hayden
Edmcs Speak Optinasticdlly
of Motor Vehicles
By z. r. PHommedieu

Two men prominent in the automo-
bile world arrived in San Francisco
yesterday. They were Frederick S
company Of California and president of
several other direct branches of that
house. as well as the home company,
and Hayden Eames, general manager
OF the Studebaker automobile company
which is a part of the great concern
of Studebaker Brothers. Eames is one
of the best versed automobile manufac-
turers in the United States, and was
able TO shed a great deal of light on
the motor commercial vehicle. This
branch of the automobile industry,
which is practically unknown to the
coast. has assumed proportions in Eu
rope and the east that has placed it
beyond the experimental stage. Eames
pins his faith TO the electrical vehicle
for drayage purposes, and claims even
with the hills of San Francisco that
the electrical vehicle for moving
freight is much cheaper than the horse
drawn truck.
In discussing the subject he said
We find in most cases that the merchant or
those who handle the freight Of the city try
TO work ont the problem from one wagon or
truck. We have here the wagon bearing the
initial expense of upkeep that can be divided
practically between dozen vehicles To more
thoroughly understand this point let take
the locomotive No one viii dispute the fact
that the locomotive is the finest piece of ma
ehinery constructed-that it runs on smooth rails
and is given the careful treatment TAX
ing the New York Central road, for example.
which IS undoubtedly the easiest rolling
stock Of any railroad. 1t is shown that II
per cent of its engines always in the re-
pair shop. Every engine has TO go to the re-
pair shop at the end of certain mileage.
whether II shows the need of it or not, and
Is thoroughly gone over. Experience has taught
that this is q necessity. Take the case of the
London bus service when il put into opera
ton. The company made preparation for
handling its q railroad does its loco
motives What was the result7 The first year
the directors had most glowing report to give
the stock holders and the stock doomed. At
the end of the next six months the buses COM
menced TO give away and one after another had
TO be laid up for repairs. With the result
that at the end Of the second u months there
What is the RESULT The London company now
has complete workshop, where the buses
60 after a certain mileage and are oYerhaued.
and the cost Of upkeep is almost nominal as
compared TO what II cost the first two sears.
So It is with a firm that should take up the
motor commercial vehicle. These cars must be
overhauled like any other piece of machinery.
does. The simple reason that a motor truck
has great power is reason why II should be
overloaded. Experience has taught that en-
gine can do just so much work. and to over
load them means that something must give
way. This has been the greatest fault with
the east that the motor vehicle, and especially
the electric. is great deal cheaper than the
horsedrawn vehicle. These facts have not been
demonstrated by experiments, but can be proven