The Washington times., 1908-01-26
Present Garage Has Stor-
age Capacity for About
200 Cars.
Electric Equipment Pro-
nounCed the Most Com
plete in America.

| Its phenomenal growth is the most
striking feature in the short career of
| the Cook & StOddard Company.
Not yet four years old, and not by
any means reached the high-water
mark OF its development from all indl-
cations, the company has four times
found It necessary TO enlarge its quar-
{ ters TO make room for increasing bust
ness. Today Il occupies one OF the
most commodious garages in the South
and while the building was not built
primarily for that purpose. it is emil
nt ntly adapted to the conduct OF an
automobile business and affords ample
facilities for each Of the branches OF
trade in which the Cook & Stoddard
Company is engaged.
The fact that not one. but many, es-
Establishments Of this kind have sprung
up in Washington attests the phenom-
email growth Of the automobile trade
IN this city. But in point OF size few
OF the quarters can equal the present
home OF Cook & Stoddard, at Twenty
second and P streets. IN the building
formerly occupied by the West End
market.
The location Is convenient to the large
number Of automobile owners in the
northwest section. The accommodations
are equal TO an almost unlimited amount
OF business. There is a floor space Of
8 900 square feet and room for the &C
commOdation OF about 200 machines.
capacity which could IL mate tally in
creased by crowding- Two large en-
frances for incoming and outgoing not
only afford convenience fer the con-
slant stream Of storage patrons bring
ing in or taking out their cars, but
avoid the possibility Of accident
The present facilities would be moth
ing remarkable for a business slowly
built up after many years Of struggle,
but in view Of the short period which
the company has taken to establish It
self on its present basis it, growth is
little short OF wonderful. Organizing
under the laws of the District in DC
tOber. 1904 the firm opened at les Con
necticut avenue. with J. NJ Stoddard,
president; Z. r. Alexander, vice presi-
dent. and r. ". Cook secretary and
treasurer.
At that time the sales department
handled the White, Stevens-Duryea,
Winton, Cadillac. and Baker. As early
as December OF the same year 1026 Con-
necticut avenue was added. but this re
lieved the congestion so little that in
March, 1905 1924 Connecticut avenue was
obtained In June negotiations were
under way for the addition of No. 1922,
but this room was never occupied. as
the present quarters were secured short
" after At this time. besides the
three stores on Connecticut avenue. the
company also had & storeroom on L
street and a garage In the rear OF 1925
Connecticut avenue.
All these branches were brought I'M
der the same roof on the removal to
Twenty-second and P streets. in Octo-
ber 1906.
Besides the large storage facilities,
feature Of the new building is the
electric department, which occupies one
entire floor. and Is equipped with mer-
curry arc rectifiers. This apparatus was
recently pronounced by a leading auto
mobile Journal to be one of the finest
electrical garage equipments in this
country, II not in the world. In this
plant 1t IS possible TO charge ninety-two
Baker electriCs at one time.
On the same floor is the machine
shop and repair shop, with full equip
ment Of machinery of ali kinds for re-
pairs, and a battery room for the con-
struction and care Of batteries for cleo
trio machines.
The main floor has q floor space of