New-York tribune., 1910-06-24
Benjamin Briscoe !, Has Some
Words for Chancellor Day.

Rani,min Rriseoe president of the
United States Motor Company. has issued
reply to Chancellor J. r. Day of SYRIA
cuse University, who in his last address to
the graduating class referred to the auto
mobile as menace to the American
home, and stated that young business
men were becoming so infatuated with
the motor car that they were losing their
business places.
President Briscoe has written to Chan
celIor Day as follows:
"My attention has been called to your
recent utterances relative to the automo-
bile being menace to the American home,
that the capital involved in the industry
is wasted money and that it adds COM
paratively nothing to the wealth of the
country.
knowing you by reputation, L feel that
YOU would prefer to have your statements
backed up by exact facts, and that if it
could be proved to you that the automo-
bile has accomplished much in the way OF
economic usefulness you would be ready
to acknowledge it. I would, therefore, ask
your consideration OF the following:
THE automobile has brought the coun-
try nearer the city; it has raised land
valuation In nearly all sections of the coun-
try; it is cured sick people when medi-
cine did them no good; it has made the
strong stronger, and 1t is wiping away
border lines Through the automobile there
will be no South, no North, no West and
no East 1t is bringing the ruralites and
the city folks into closer connections. 1t
has been the cause of making the hotel
proprietors and merchants in country towns
more prosperous, has given employment
to thousands of men and women and pays
wages much higher than the majority of
industries.
'.The motor car is boon to merchants
and business men who deliver goods. 1t
is cheaper than horses, and thousands of
dollars are saved each day by merchants
who have adopted delivery wagons and
trucks in connection with their business
and who have relegated their horses to the
pasture.
II believe gross injustice is being done
the automobile industry by the thought
less expressions of prominent men who can
do a great deal of harm. / have seen edi-
torials and comments, for instance on your
baccalaureate sermon before the graduating
class at the university. and Your speech
has probably been copied in many pubn-
cations throughout the country.
''The only real economic waste which Is
part of the use of an automobile is the
paint varnish and refinement in f1nish-in
fact anything not incidental to the real
efficiency of the machine and which does
not aid in the saving OF time and che short
ening Of space"
One of the most interesting hill climbs
ever held In this country is set for to-mor-
row. when the Automobile Club of Port Jee-
ferson viii hold its first annual contest In
that town.
pIete because of several belated entries,
testants will participate in the sixteen
events scheduled. II is expected that the
total number OF entries will reach sixty.
The free-for-all event No. S, open to cars
of all types and motive power, will un-
doubtedly prove to be the banner hill-climb-
ing contest of the year With such famous
drivers as Ralph de Palma, Louis Disbrow,
Caleb Bragg, Fred Belcher. j. r. Kirkpat-
rick, CsM. Rutherford. Jules Devigne, w
D. SIoat and Kingsley Swan entered, mo-
torists are assured Of Witnessing some fast
driving.
Mr. Herbert, one of the Columbia Uni
versity observers or the 'Montauk Light Dr
Bust contest left a black travelling bag
in one of the cars, and would ike TO have
it returned If the finder will phone the
Motor Contest Association. the association
, will see that, MT Herbert Is properly noti-
fed.