The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-11-08
AUTOMOBILE SHOW OPENS IN ALLAN TIA Great Display of All Kinds of
 Cars THE FIRST GASOLINE GAR A Relic of the First Days of HorseIess Locomoton Is Among the h.
 terestine Objects on
 Display.
THE FIRST GASOLINE GAR

National Automobile show, the first to ex- hibisthe 1910 models of the various manu- facturers, was formally opened at the auditorium-armory here at 2:So o'clock yesterday afternoon.
 The opening exercises were very brief. as it was recognized that the large crowd assembled would be chiefly interested in inspecting the exhibits. They were pre- sided over bt s. D. Waldron, president of the National Association of Automobile Manufacturers. who introduced first, Mayor Robert F. Maddox. who delivered the opening address, directing attention 10 the meaning and import of the occasion.
 He was followed by President Asa D. Cantiler of the Atlanta Chamber of Com merce. who, in few words. officially declared the show open. The music of the occasion WAS furnished by the Fifth Reg iment band and following the exercises the crowds filled the halls where hundreds of automobiles of different sizes and makes and descriptions, together with various accessories. are on display.
 The National Automobile show has brought together an even 150 exhibits by as many manufacturers, including 80 diff erent makes of cars and 70 manufacturers of automomile parts and accessories.
 There are exhibits Illustrating all the various processes in the building of car from the ground up, and cas of all shapes kinds and sizes. ranging in price from $s75 up to SS5Oo.
 grJ,ora ;. .ooroa1,- f,alya seen in the south which is not on exhibi- ton. and there are several sorts which have not yet been marketed in this sec ton.
 The exhibition completely fills the vast building in which but two weeks ago as many as 5000 persons assembled to wit ness a horse show which used scarcely more than two-thirds of the structure. It occupies every foot of available space on three floors: First, the basement, part of which as well as part of the ground floor is used for armory pur- poses by the local militia; second, the ground floor including the auditorium proper the approaches and Taft hall the latter containing a seating capacity of 2O0O persons, and, finally, the messan- inc floor, a specially constructed gallery built within the auditorium to provide much needed space.
 The show has brought to Atlanta more than 1000 persons who are directly inter- ested in the exhibits. including presidents and other officials of some of the leading automobile manufactures in the United States, officials of the two associations of manufacturers, persons in charge of ex- hibits, salesmen, demonstrators, mechani- clans and others
 Freak Exhibit.
 Among the freak exhibits is the first gasoline car made successfully in the United States, now the property of the Smithsonian institution of Washington. It was made In 1893 by the Haynes Auto company, and while here will be taken for B trip to the speedway and around the course.
 The show will continue through Satur- day, November 13 and the price of ad- mission has been fixed at 50c, the fpur- pose being chiefly to prevent the over erowding of the building by persons not interested except from standpoint of sheer curiosity. On Wednesday the show will be made somewhat of a social func- tion when for that day only the admis- sion price will be s1.
 This exhibition is one of the most irn- portant and interesting features of the kind in the south. It is difficult without seeing it to appreciate the true extent and meaning of it. Hundreds of persons contemplating the purchase of cars have deferred action until they could see the Atlanta show. But there Is scarce a doubt that many of them will be so bewildered by it when they see it. that it will be difficult then for them to make a selection.
 Endurance Contests.
 Incident to the week there will terminate in Atlanta or. Tuesday, November g. seven good roads reliability contests com ing from as many points in the state, bringing to the city at least 150 contesting cars with approximately 400 occupants. There Is now total of 200 entrants in these various contests, and indications point to the fact that fully 75 per cent of them will be among the starters
 The points from which these various runs to Atlanta will be made with the ap- proxiamate number of entrants at each are as follows
 Savannah. 40; Fitzgerald, 32 Albany, 30; Dublin, 20; Macon, 30; Milledgevllle, 20; Athens, 20, and Augusta, 10.
 The Fitzgerald Albany contest Is prac- tically one. the contestants coming to- gether at Macon. These runs are to be made purely upon a basis of endurance and reliability; speed will be a minor clement
 Cash prizes aggregating more than s5oOO are offered to the winners in these con- tests, the largest being s335 for the win ner in each of the three classes in the longer runs: in the shorter runs they range from $s5 down to $20.
 The finish in all these contests will be at the clubhouse of the Atlanta Automo- bile association overlooking the speed way where the big races will take place. The first Of the cars will begin arriv- ing Tuesday about noon, and they will continue to come in during the afternoon the last of them arriving around 6 o'clock
 As they come In they will be met by the local timing and reception committee. composed of w. c. Humphrey, chair man; John w. Grant, w H. Riser. E, IT Inman, Johmn E. Murphy and Charles [. Ryan, who will check them in and turn them over to the specially designated of hclals from the respective starting points who will make the technical measure ments and examination for prize awards.
 Informal Luncheon.
 At the club house there will be served 10 all of the participants In these con- tests an informal luncheon. and there will be bounteous plenty for all who come.
 The entertainment features of the pro- gramme are in charge of the entertain Tnent committee of the Atlanta Chamber of Commerce.