Evening star., 1909-01-17

Automobile dealers have been kicking
at the weather recently. saying sloppy
streets and Icy asphalt keep people from
taking demonstration rides. One dealer
said recently:
If / wanted car I certainly would
not let a bad day keep me from trying
one out. The worse the day the more L
would want to go, because l would want
TO see what kind Of tricks IT would play
and how mGh nicer it Is to sit in dry
car than be plugging about in the slush'
The last touch of highgrade luxury
that has been added to the criminals lot
is a splendid up-to-date 4O-horsepower
automobile police patrol. The Pope Au-
tomobile Company is the agent for this
latest incentive TO be arrested, and rep
resentatives Of the firm have been talk.
ing to officials at the District building
about buying one One of the patrols Is
in use In Hartford Conn. Its specif1ca-
tions are: Wheel base, 130 inches: tread,
IS inches; 4-cylinder water-cooled motor
OF 40 horsepower: three speeds forward
and reverse, jump spark. The entrance is
from the rear. The driver sits on reg
ulation automobile seat and the body OF
the patrol is closed, with wire grating
in front. Seats running lengthwise give
room for ten people, and the inside has
dome electric light. The patrol can carry
a load of prisoners at the rate or forty
miles an hour.
In his first annual message to the leg
islature Gov. Fort of New Jersey has
some things to say about the motor
car. 1.-The automobile is with us and it
has come to stay he remarks. TT must
be given all highway rights. under prop
e. restrictions to protect the public and
the occupants of the machine. Railroad
regulation as to the running OF trains
safety appliances and the like are IN
tended for the protection of the passen-
ger more, if anything. than the traveller
crossing the tracks.
"IAlI vehicles upon the public highway
should be required to carry lights.
Speed regulations in the open country
should be liberal: thirty miles an hour
could be allowed there with safety.
ARREST and trial should not be summary,
but the right to stop should only exist
10 inquire as to the possession by the
driver of the machine of the requisite
authority or TO obtain It's number If
violation of law be claimed.
''Suit should only be instituted by direc-
ton OF the department in proper courts
near the residence of the alleged offender.
or at convenient points within the state
for the nonresident.
''Willful injury to person or property
by the driver of a car, or such injury by
an intoxicated driver. should be a mis-
demeanor. and punishable accordingly.
without of course. the loss of right to
maintain civil suit by the injured party
or the owner of the damaged property.
THE present license fees are not eX-
cessive and should not be modified by any
reduction, unless it be through some sys-
tenn of uniform legislation between the
states"
A. B. Tucker. who was identified with
the automobile industry for many years.
died recently of acute gastritis. Mr..
Tucker was secretary OF the touring
board of the Automobile Club of America
superintendent of the first Glidden tour,
Buffalo to Breton Woods: of the second
Glidden tour. New York TO Breton
Woods; racing secretary Florida East
Coast Automobile Club and superintend-
ent of the 'Ormond Beach races.
George M Cohan recently gave to Mrs
Cohan a splendidly equipped and elabo-
rately appointed Limousine car of striking
appearance.
Mr.. Cohan ordered the car as he dashes
off plays-in minute-the inspiration to
purchase the machine coming to him dur
ing chance meeting with his old friend
Edward .. Cordner, jr.. formerly con-
world. but now in the automobile busi-
ness. The pair shook hands in ST Louis
early in December.
Rush me out a car for Christmas Ed
die Cohan said, land let it fulfill every
Anglican idea Never mind the cost
The order was rushed to the factory
the car was delivered to the Cohans en-
route, and now Mrs. COhan is seen tour
ing in every city visited by the comedian.
Amusement was caused by an advertise
ment of an automobile company that ap-
peared in an athletic club journal copies
of which were distributed during a recent
automobile show. Around the picture of
a police patrol there appeared the fol-
lowing reading matter: Seven passen-
ger car, price $1,000. Not a five pas
senser car with extra seats. A car for
seven passengers. Tour all day, and
every day, in comfort and with speed,
making all stops on schedule time 1t
was intended that the picture of a tour
ing car should have been used in connec-
tion with the advertisement.
The Moscow-St Petersburg automobile
race will be held May 26.
May has been selected for the Targa
F,lorio, in Sicily.
y CluD mas Deen organized at MIL
bank, S. D., and will make road i'm
provements its principal object
AS general proposition an electric
automobile will carry the equal of its own
weight.
AS rule, automobile bodies are lighter
than a corresponding body on a horse
drawn vehicle.
There will be industrial and taxi
cab competition in the neighborhood of
Paris from April 10 TO 20
y motor bus line is TO be put in opera
ton at Harbor Springs, Mich. in the
spring.
Tie Rochester Automobile Club is plan
ming 10 hold a number of smokers during
the winter.
The Richmond County Automobile Club
of Staten Island, y. y, is planning a new
clubhouse, to be finished next spring, at
Grant City.
In 1900, when the first automobile show
was held in New York, the nmber of ex-
1ibitorS was sixty-nine. At the Palace
show just closed the number was IsS
The Oklahoma City Automobile Associa-
tion has pledged $4,000 for the construc-
tion of twenty-five mile speedway
around the city.
Germany and Sweden will both hold in
dustrial vehicle competitions during May,
the exact dates 10 be decided by mutual
agreement.
1000 cars year is planned by motor