The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1909-04-16
OF INTEREST TO AUToIsTs

Automobile importation into Europe
i'll the ten months ending Nov /, 1908,
amounted to $2,636,67S, goodly
amount of which was of American pro-
duet.
When misfring occurs, do not take
it for granted that the battery voltage
is low and connect up another series,
for the trouble may be from quite an
other cause, and you are only risking
damaging the coil.
Ohio has collected $4,000 in license
fees in the four months since it's mo-
tor department was established. More
than 10000 cars have been registered
and over 100 chauffeurs obtained the
right to operate machines.
A peculiar feature of the automobile
bill before the West Virginia legisla-
ture is that it makes its obligatory to
use fire chain or "other contrivance"
when the roads are slippery.
L. w. X. Vanderbilt, Jr, donor of
the world-famous Vanderbilt cup, be-
lieves that grand prize race should
be held at Savannah yearly. He was
delighted with the course.
Longer wheelbase, larger tires, better
and more comfortable seats, more cars
fitted with foot rests to allow a change
of position, longer and more comfort
able riding handle bars, a lower center
of gravity, better mudguards, more
efficient exhaust system, and stronger
frames-these are the improvements in
the motorcycle this year.
Listing for this years Glidden tour
is extended even to the tools. Penal
ties will be eXacted for the time spent
by driver and mechanician in repairs
except on tires, which, as before, can
Club teams have been abolished and
all cars will be classified according to
price, in five groups, and the running
time is regulated to correspond with
the presumed qualities of each group
The top tonnean or double versatile
car is now officially recognized as an
official class.
/ Ralph Hamln of Los Angeles, whose
Franklin Greyhound" shattered more
than one record in automobile contests
along the Pacific slope last year, is
having new GREYHOUND" built for
him, which is about to be shipped from
the Franklin factory in Syracuse. 1t
has been decided by the motoring en-
thusiasts of Los Angeles to have a
big road race in April, and Hamlin
is the first to declare intention of
entering the competition.
mo matter how good the spring
business may be-" says Charles H.
Foster, president of the Gabriel Manu-
featuring company, 'there are condi-
tions under which shock absorbers will
pay for themselves by aborting spring
breakages. And they have other add
vantages, among which we might men,
ton a greater average speed on or
binary roads and more agreeable condi-
tions of riding. Then, again, tires are
the bouncing of the body is restrained.
1t is difficult to estimate the saving
in tires due to the presence of shock
absorbers. Stock absorbers are made
in a variety of types, and it would
seem from the extended use of the sew
eral types that utility resides in all.
The application should be consistent
with the requirements, and wisdom in
| dicates that the conditions be consid-
cred preliminary. to the selection of
the particular type of shock absorber'
Motoring is booming in New Orleans
to such an extent that the local club
is aiming for membership of 1000.
A new club has also been organized
at Birmingham, Ala, in place of the
one that died out, and has several
hundred members.
Michigan is pointing with pride to
the fact that 1926 miles of new roads
have been constructed in the past three
and one-half years. This is believed
to be better showing than any OTTER
state in the union. OF the roads, Is:
miles are of macadam and 40 miles
| of gravel.