The Washington times., 1909-12-30
ELECTRIC AUTOS
NEED PUBLICITY
Manufacturer Urges That
They Go Into COmpeti-
tons and Show Worth.
BY HARRY WARD.

BY HARRY WARD.
Ever sin~~ the electric automobile
/ outErew its swaddling clothes and
! demonstrated its right 10 serious con
| sideration as a vehicle OF practical
utility for everyday city and suburban
uses. one Of the largest manufacturers
OF this type Of car has advocated fol-
lowing The trend OF gasoline motor car
exploitation as a means OF ceutering
interest i'm the possibilities OF the cleo
trio. He realizes that competitive tests
are the only events which would salts
faCtorily engage the public attention
but Inc points out that such public
demonstrations and competitive tests
| must be made by stock cars OF stand
ard equipment only, so that the public
may not be mIsled as to the true value
of the stock electric for practical needs.
In view OF the several excellent cleo
tries now made In this country. he
points out that manufacturers owe Il 70
themselves TO encourage such competi-
tive contests as Will bring the posi-.
bilities Of this type OF automobile 20 the
favorable attention Of thousands who
are able TO own them. and eradicate
the deep-rooted belief that an electric
gets that tired feeling" after twenty
five or thirty miles. or that IL will balk
most of the hills a gasolene car can climb.
In its sphere, It is the ideal car, and
that il is on the threshold of a wide
spread popularity and demand is sure
" the handwriting on the wall in thc
opinion OF the manufacture in qucs-
ton. There is no question but that
hill climbs, endurance runs. and other
competitive events for eleCtTiCs would
prove of the greatest interest 10 thou
sands Of people.
Tile g, hibit Of the Packard Motor
Car Company at the Madison Square
Garden show IN New York next month
viii express the great progress which
has been made by the Packard company
in the production Of inclosed bodies. 20
said :. a Luttrell, Of the Luttren COM
pany, agents here for the Packard. THE
feature Of the exhibit Will be blue and
gray Packard 80, with limousine body.
The Packard IS town car will be shown
as a landaulet and Will be painted I'm
brown, with striking trimmings iu
orange and light blue. The third car
in the exhibit will be a Packard 30
phaeton entirely i'm white, with Roman
gold trimmings. The trimmings % the
inclOsed oars are especially imported
materials, while ali the bright metal
parts are silver plated
REQ plant in Lansing. Mich, may be
gained when IL is stated that the plant
embraces twenty-fOuT acres. on which
are erected fourteen large brick build
ugs. These afford 693W square feet
of floor space. The plant has value
OF over 100000. IL employs 100 skilled
engineers. maChinists and workmen. In
connection with this plant is a testing
track over a third or mile long, with
grades as high as thirty per cent, which
every REQ must negotiate many times
before it is shipped. The plant will
have a capacity or fifty cars day in
An expert SAYS that both in theory
and practice the clutch pedal OF an su-
tomobile exists only for stopping, start
ing and changing gears To use It for
temporary slows" is to abuse f.
Senator Reed SmoOt. OF Utah. yester-
day received the seven-pa Sstnger Stude-
baker go touring car he recently or
dered from the Commercial Automobile
and supply Company. The ear Is fully
equipped and is similar TO tho one re-
Gently purchased BIZ Speaker Cannon.
Lieut. Charles K. Train. commander
Of President Tafts Yacht, the Sylph,
has purchased A IIupmObile from the
Wilson Company.
The annual meeting Of the Automobile
Club of Washington for the election Of
officers FOR the ensuing year. VIII be
held at the clubs country home on the
evening OF January S.
CUno H. Rudolph is a member OF the
Automobile Club Of Washington. and
the members Of the organization are
elated over his selection as one Of the
DiEtriCs Commissioners NIr. Rudolph
business associate. William ID. West, is
president OF the club.