The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-10-23
Suggestion Is Made That Auto
mobiles Should Be Given
Proper Designation.
RAILROAD CUSTOMS ARE
OF HIGH PRACTICAL VALUE
Distinction Sharply Drawn in
Names for Passenger and
Freight Carriers.

realization that automobile nomen-
clature has sprung up much as does a
local dialect, or district slang. is spread
ing i'll the automobile world, and there
seems to be imminent some concerted
effort on the part OF those most con-
ceIned TO straighten out the tansIe. 1t
has been learned that this subject was
brought up and discussed at the las.
meeting OF the Association OF Licensed
Automobile Manufacturers. One men,
Der 1t is understood. pointed out that
The custom Of the railroads offers hint.
they classifying their trains as passenger
and freight trains. and all their rolling
stock outside OF engines. into the two
general groups of passenger cara and
freight cars. there being a variety of spc-
cies In each group.
American Locomotive company. makers
or the Alco. and James Joyce manager
OF the American Locomotive company's
automopile department. when sought,
View.
:, I am not the author of the suggestion
that we follow railroad practice and clas-
sify automobiles as freight and messenger
cars said Mr.. Joyce. but the SUBJECT ia
one IN which am deeply interested and
one II VIII be we'll TO have discussed II
WIN readily be conceded that there has
peen great laXity and abuse In the appll-
cation OF automobile names The con-
fusion Is becoming seriously awkward.
ana the time has come when an effort
snonId be made by manufacturers and
owners TO Keep In use the most fitting
ana simple names. n the proper names
are agreed upon. and all work together.
THIS can readily be done. I have heard
OF men almost quarrellng over the ques-
ion OF whether a certain car had on 1t
q immature tonncau. baby tonneau, toy
tonneau or tourabout body. That how
ever, Is triling compared with tho need
TOT generic names for the broad division
OF automobiles.
Classifying Names.
With the DEVELOPMENT of the MOTOR
vehicle IN many. different forms for car
rylnS merchandise 1t must be recognized
tnat TX is becoming important TO have in
general use some classifying names to
discriminate the vehicle used for hauling
goods from that used for passengers, Dis
examinations that have sprung into COM
mon use are commercial vehicles and
pleasure cars While one says 'conlmer-
cisl vehicle, however, another says mo
tor truck another power wagon then
another gasoline truck and so forth
Of the hrst two names. commercial ve-
hlcle and pleasure car II IL agreed that
neither is adequate nor desirable; both
are vague and iii LIFTING. The term.
pleasure car covers In a way. the vari-
Gus species OF touring cars. town cars.
y
generic name, It Is decidedly objection
able, being too suggestive of Joy rid
Ing and other fivolities. The express
sion commercial vehicle does not sf-
names applied to the motor cars used
for individual transportat ton. and, be-
sides, the term Is far too loose one; 1t
apples quite as properly to mule
draWn dray and freight packet as Il
does TO an automobile again, It is too
cumbersome. Personally, I would be In
favor OF the expression. motor truck
to cover the whole. range of motor We
hlcles used for hauling goods. The term
Is concise. euphonous and descriptive.
Under this caption would como all the
varieties of delivery wagons, vans, lor-
rvs, drays. etc. and the same as there
are now touring cars. iirnouslnes, etc,
under the head OF pleasure car The
etymology OF the word, truck and Its
general usage justifes It's employment in
this broad sense. The expression Is now
quite commonly used for the heavier We
hicles, and II everyone interested began
20 employ 1t as the generic term for all
merchandise carrying vehicles, referring
TO thousand pound truck as we'll as
to 'hve-ton truck Ii would soon be
adopted. There is no sense in buckinS
the tide in this matter. but the wise
the least resistance by trying to have
adopted names now in use, or others as
suitable and simple possible.
Practical Terms.
''In place of the expression. pleasure
cars, as general term for the various
runabouts, touring cars, Iimousines. etc.
suggest that passenger motor car he
substituted. though I am not seeking To
have my own ideas adopted. What I
most desire Is 10 see a lively interest
taken In tho subject and wholesome
"In suggesting the use OF passenger
motor car as a generic term hnye a
very definite idea that before long the
first word OF the phrase win be dropped,
as being unnecessary to convey the prop
cr meaning. There is excellent reason
that this should be so. II We look into
the origin and use OF the word. car wa
will find that il carries the Idea of pas
songer vehicle as an almost Inevitable
association. We get the word from the
old French term. with which IL is idcn-
tical but its derivation goes back 10
chariots OF the Romans were alternately
called cars In Shakespeare NE find al
lusion to the chariot of the sun god as
Phoebuss car while the funeral car
OF the middle ages continues In evidence
on the death os royalty. or any mortuary
occasion of great pomp and ceremony
Always there is associated with the word.
il Will be noticed. the idea OF II being
a. personal conveyance aud not q dray.
Moreover. there Is something Of dignity
and almost Of majesty In the word
the name motor car, which forms a
perfect antithesis TO motor truck. Will
eventually be found sufficient; yet 1t viii
he well To start with tho expression. pas
senger motor car in order TO more cf-
fectually emphasize the distinction Ia
those who arc novtiates in the motoring
field The word automobile which We
from abroad, as we did motor
car can be retained to embrace all
classes of motor vehicles. But let us
have a full discussion aud an agreement
upon the names most fitting. then n
hearty cooperation toward having them
generally used.
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