Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-12-26

wood upon which shall be plainly marked
the name OF the next town or place-and
Of such other towns or places of note
as they may think proper-to which each
road leads, the number Of miles to the
same and the figure Of an arrow pointing
toward such town or place. In the case
Of the county commissioners they are
to have signposts Of similar dimensions
at the intersections of important high
ways for the same purpose as above pre-
scribed. Should the proper authorities in
the cities. counties. towns and villages
fail to comply with the provisions of the
| proposed law after ten days notice from
| the state roads commission the state
| roads commission shall erect such sign
posts. paying for the same out of its
| funds. and shall be reimbursed within
| ten days by such county. city, town or
village. Persons destroying such signs
| shall be subject to a fine not exceeding
$25. for the use of the community to
which such signs may belong.
Joseph Berberich, In Washington
| tester. recently made trip to Balti-
more in fifty-six minutes. The Wash
ington car used was a forty-fve-horse-
power model fitted with tester body.
1t is believed that this time can be low
cred by a finished car, owing to the fact
that the car which made the run was q
new one and the motor had not been linn
bered up.
Motorists always wait with impotence
the opening of automobile shows, as at
that time the new offerings of the motor
car makers are divulged for the first
time. Just what the big list of exhibitors
at the Grand Central Palace affair will
unfold in new wrinkles cannot be con-
clusively told until the opening on New
Year eve.
Several things have conspired to force
the season of 1910 to the front and per-
NIT at this date better view OF the
coming year than is usual at this period
of the year. The shortage Of goods
during the past summer cleared the fac
tories and permitted the new product
vehicles on the sales floors of agents
caused them to ask for the new product
instead of asking that it be held back
| till the old ones were sold. Several In
tereSting and pleasant things are to be
seen in this early view of the industry.
The gloom that fell in the middle Of
\ a national show two years ago, and for
which the show itself received an un-
panic was to blame. and which would
have been the same had the show been
held in midwinter has gradually iisen, till
| during the past season it gave way to
buoyancy of the highest degree. The old
demand for highest grade and most
luxurious automobiles was again felt by
| the trade. The designer was again free
to do his best, rather than to trim the
vehicle to the most economic production
point, even at the sacrifice Of features
that were OF pronounced value and likely
to be desired by the public.
Il
But this change, although felt last
summer could not be taken advantage
Of at once. The new design had to be
waited for. The 1910 market was the
first that could be utilized. A busy
people and rising prices In many lines
permitted better values. better quality and
larger numbers in the automobile line.
This optimistic feeling has been expressed
! in several ways, but the increased quail
ity of the goods. the increased quantity
| of the equipment, the increased number
priced cars are some Of the most plain
expressions.
A reversal of policy shows plainly in
MANY cases. Instead of striving to get
the product down to the market, as
| seemed to be necessary a year ago. the
product is being pushed upward, both in
quality and price. Even many OF the
makers who were building or looking
with covetous eyes on the motor buggy
as a product for the lowered market.
have now abandoned 1t and are market
ing the conventional automobile. The
country buyer who feared to buy or had
not the money to buy the pneumatic-tired
touring car q year ago was then looking
for some cheaper substitute. With the
return Of prosperity, high-priced wheat,
corn, cotton and beef. the buyer is look