The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1909-07-12


The biggest parade that the auto.
mobile industry has ever known was
that which started from Woodward
ave. and the Grand boulevard shortly
after 1880 o'clock Saturday afternoon.
Approximately 1000 cars were In the
big limo. which slowly formed as tho
various divisions debouched from the
vide avenues north OF the boulevard
and swung into formation behind the
escort.
\ In the decade since the automobile
became an important factor In trans
portation. never have SO many ma
Once. IN New York, there were 385 cars
In Il procession-and II was a recor,i-
breaker. But, I'm the city which is
recognized as the hub OF the automo-
bile business. the hundreds Of visitors
connected with that trade found
gathering which made all previous eff.
forts In that line seem as pigmies.
Not In numbers alone but In the
beauty Of the decorations OF individual,
/ cars and the diversity OF types shown,
tacle. Immense floats betokened the
enterprise OF various firms and II was
o question for an expert to decide as
TO which, was the most ornate OF these.
Five bands placed In big sightseeing
cars furnished music Cor the parade.
Line a Long One.
| The fact that the cars were ranged
| I'm single Ale with safe running space
between made the line the longest OF
any procession ever held here. On
account OF the length OF the course. 1t
also gave the greatest facility to the
people OF the city to view It,
First in the line came the police
escort Four police officers seated in
runabouts driven by chauffeurs in
white livery formed the advance
guard Then came the motorcycle
squad. under command OF Sergt. John
Staples, clearing way Marshaii
John Gillespie came next In his car.
his aides following at intervals.
In the first car OF the parade prop
er were seated Geo. Lane. president
OF the Detroit Automobile Dealers
association: Mayor Breitmeyer. Ches.
]. Glidden and Frank B. Hover. chair
man of the contest committee. Fol-
cars containing the officials OF the
American Automobile association IN
cars furnished by the Detroit Automo-
bile club, President Frank hecker
riding in the foremost OF these
The third division was composed
entirely of decorated electric ma
chimes. some OF the arrangements be-
ing unique and very attractive. This
division had formed on Horton-ave.
and the fourth division. which had
formed on Lothrop-ave., also con-
tanned only electric cars.
Auto Fire Truck.
Next came two divisions OF decor
ated gasoline and steam cars which
had formed on Bethune-ave. east and
west Then followed the seventh
division, forming on Smith-ave and
consisting OF Packard, EMF, Winton
and Chalmers cars. The Packard
division was one OF the largest in
the parade and was led by the new
automobile fire truck with its quota
/ OF fire laddies In uniform.
The eighth division, consisting of
Brush, Cadillac. Olds and Hudson
cars. formed on Pallister-ave. while
the ninth division. Mitchell. Ford.
Hupp and Buick machines formed on
Chander-ave. The tenth division con-
sisted OF commercial vehicles and
some of the most gorgeous floats were
In this division
The largest float of all was frat OF
the Packard company. For novelty,
the Cadillac float, showing the Land
ing Of Cadillac" was winner. Gen
uine Indians had been secured To give
local color The Rapid Motor Vehicle
] Co. had truck covered with real
flowers. which gave 1t a brilliant ap-
pearance. This float headed a divi-
sion OF 80 Rapids, trucks and sight
seeing cars.
Hammond. Standish & Co. had big
decorated truck to show their Apex"
meats. Another interesting exhibit
was the Vinton Co. float.
System In Everything.
Marshal Gillespie's aides were Chas.
Grant, William f. Metzger, Frank
Briscoe. Robert X. Davis and William
+. V. Neumann. They were busy in
their Individual cars, getting the con-
course Of vehicles into the proper
places and starting them of promptly.
| The regulation for the parade called
1 for a speed OF not to exceed IL miles
per hour and distance OF 20 feet
between cars. Decorated cars were
required to go slowly at Belle Isle
bridge approach to allow the judges
to catchS their numbers and descrip-
ton.
Ball games and other athletic
sports followed the ending of the par
ade at the athletic field on Belle Isle.
|