The Washington herald., 1910-01-02
Automobile News Notes and Gossip

Automobiles sold in Washington in the
last ten years have broken. probably. all
records for a city of 425,00o population.
To-day the cars owned in the Capital
represent a total investment Of s5,cOoe"-
Records at the District Building show
that there are about 1850 numbers in
use in the city now, and a great many
persons have several machines registered
under the same permit. This, automobile
men say, indicates there are nearly 1900
automobiles in Washington at the present
All the factories have notified the local
dealers they VIII put many more cars on
the market next year than ever before
and plans are being made 10 take care OF
the increased business. Additional sales
men are being engaged, garages enlarged.
aud other plans made for the increase
in business.
While there have been many high grade
cars sold in this city during the year,
the general public still shows favor TO the
popular priced machines. However, Wash
/ ington bears the distinction OF having
more makes of automobiles than any
other city Of the same size in the
country. There are about 200 different
kinds of automobiles manufactured in the
United States. and Washington has them
/ all except about six or eight. Machines
ranging about 5000 in price have always
been the most popular, but some of the
most expensive American and foreign
makes are TO be found here.
In every direction from Washington
there are good. smooth, country roads
and the attention given them by the auto
loving public has made the city far
famed for its splendid motoring. The
deep sand roads pack hard In good
weather, and many experienced drivers
say they are as pleasant TO drive upon
as city streets. In many parts the open
country offers fair motoring.
In a recent automobile run from Little
Falls. y. Y. 10 Cooperstown, ". y, and
back the winner was Frank N. Shaul
who. in a Franklin motor car, made tbs
distance in s hours and 30 seconds. This
time was closest 10 that of Z hours, .
minutes and 80 seconds which had beer
secretly fixed by Mayor Santry. The prize
won was a large silver loving cup 4 CO.
incidence OF the run was the fact that 9
competitor IN another Franklin, c. j
lLundstTum. ran 50 nearly on the tint
schedule OF Mr.. Shaul as To capture thirC
place in 8 hours minutes and seconds
The distance was about sixty miles.
Dr.. NELL, Of Kingston, n. Y, lives Close
10 the Catsllin region. and as he is thu
owner or a six-cylinder Frankling touring
car. he has frequent occasion TO tell wha
q motor car will do IN the climbing o
steep grades. Twenty-eight miles south
west of Kingston and just outside o
! Euenville he made a five-mile climb Il
the top Of CragmoTe Mountain. The ele
Walton attained was Loo feet, and ther'
were six people aboard the car, which j
one Of the 1910 models. The climb wa
made IN twenty minutes.
In Scone, Perth, near LaunCeston. Tas
mania, is what is known as the Higl
street hill, and while automobiles are no
numerous IN Tasmania. the climbing o
this Hill is a feat which Is regarded as
test for those cars which are there used
and the success with which this clim
was made by q Franklin touring ca
which not long ago was secured by VIII
lam Gibson Is a subject OF comment Il
the Launceston Examiner. After describ
ing this 2s-horsepOwer model, 1t says
The car under review is very fast Of
hills. High street hill up to 'Biffrons' be
ing taken at d remarkably rapid rate
Charles P. Coslett. Of Los Angelo;
after having a years use Of his Frankli
motor car. still has in all four tires tn
air with which they were originally filled
They are Diamonds and have. never bee
punctured, although they have been use
for a distance Of 1910 miles. The car is
/ 2S-horsepower touring car.
Now that the motor car industry ha
begun 10 assume a somewhat def1nit
perspective, it seems but few years az
when the owner who started on trip q
. over 100 miles must needs be an intrepi
t sort OF a fellow. More than that, he wa
under a decided handicap If he did nc
= have some knowledge of mechanics, like
: wise some muscular ability TO cope wit
, tire problems. Although more than a fe
, years ago, it is but a short time ag,
reckoned by the normal growth of indus
tries. that these things were true. Wha
q change has been made, what an aC
vance performed, is shown by the follow
. ing. an extract from a letter sent to
4 W Mcguire OF Boston, by Franklin u
2 Hobbs What is of particular interest
? this Is that the point Of view is that (