Omaha daily bee., 1910-06-26


and long horned steers. Today
II suggests automobiles and gas
HELNlWl oline. The plowman came into
49, the west and contested domain
with the cowman-and the plowman won.
Whereat, the cowman, pressing spur to
broncho flank, galloped away to a mystic
somewhere, and the vast cattle ranches
were subdivided into small farms. Barbed
wire was ruthlessly torn away from fence
post moorings like the parched tendrils of
a last years vine, and the entire country
underwent a metamorphosis, out Of which
came the automobile instead of the camp
wagon, and the open road spread over and
obliterated the picturesque cowpath.
Meanwhile, in the east, where cattle
ranches were never known outside of story
books, the automobile business had grown
from fad to practical reality. The west,
with its newly-made roads, heard of the
gasoline way and quickly adopted 1t. How
ever, it Is of comparatively late date that
the automobile has been recognized as be-
ing a practical vehicle for long distance
travel In the beginning its use was con-
fined mainly to city boulevards and made
roads of adjacent country. Among the
first to recognize the possibilities of the
automobile in extended overland travel was
Charles ]. Glidden
When Mr.. Glidden registers at a hotel
he writes Boston" opposite his name. but
fact is. he is a cosmopolitan American
as much at home on Canal street, New
Orleans; Griswold street. Detroit; Colfax
avenue, Denver; Euclid avenue. Cleveland;
Temple N. W.. Salt Lake City; Kings
Highway, St Louis or Florence boulevard
Omaha, as he is on Bacon street In his
own aesthetic Boston.
Being amply endowed with time and
money, Mr.. Glidden originated the Gldden
tour idea back in 1904 simply for the pur-
pose of demonstrating the theory concern
ing the practicability of the automobile as
a road machine.
You know that the Glidden tour OF 1910 is
due TO touch Omaha on its homestretch
journey tomorrow
You know that you expect to see pro-
cession OF mud-bespattered automobiles
honk honk their wheezy way into town.
You know vaguely that a considerable
distance has been covered.
If you know more about the minute de-
tails of what the Gldden tour really is,
the how of it and the why of 1t, read on.
Little did Mr.. Glidden dream when he
offered a trophy for touring competition
In 1904 that his action would be
of such great moment in the upbuilding
Of what is now the greatest industry in this
world of ours. Manufacturers have not
been slow TO give Mr.. Glidden credit for
the improvements in the automobiles of
today over those of a short six years ago.
In 1904 the first tour, the famous run of
the Mud Larks" from New York to ST.
Louis was held This tour was governed
by the American Automobile association,
and was so timed that the contestants ar
rived in st. Louis to open the automobile
department of the Worlds fair The
total mileage for this tour was 1873 miles
from the New York control.
The 1906 tour had it's start and finish in
New York. Its itinerary included Hart
ford. Breton Woods, Concord and worces-
ter 1t was for this run that Charles ].
Glidden first offered his trophy, which
was awarded 10 Percy p. Pierce, driving
Pierce car. the distance covered being
ST. miles.
The 1906 tour started at Buffalo ran east
through the principal cities in central New
York, north along the shores of Lake
Champlain, across the border line into
Canada. east from Montreal to Quebec,
south inte Maine. finishing at Breton
Woods. distance OF 1.lS5 miles In this
tour the Glidden trophy was again
awarded to Percy P. Pierce, driving a
Pierce, and the trophy offered by Paul H.
Demipg. chairman of the touring board.
was awarded to G. w. Kelsey. driving a
Maxwell car.
The 1907 tour, starting at Cleveland. ran
west to Chicago. thence east across the
states of Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania and
Maryland to Baltimore; then to Phlladel-
phia and across New Jersey to New York
City, where It terminated. having covered
1870 miles. For this tour the deed of gift
Of the Gldden trophy was so changed that
the award was made to the club whose
team finished with the greatest number OF
points to its credit. The trophy was won
by the Automobile club OF Buffalo, whose
team consisted OF two Pierce Great Ar
rows" two Thomas Flyers" and one
Packard.
This tour offered the first contest for a
Hover trophy presented by the chairman
Frank B. Hover for the runabout finish,
ing with the best score. In this contest II
X. Sheridan, In a White Steamer, haC
an equal score with G. S. Smith in Stod
dard-Dayton, both being perfect with M
ing OF three days tour from New York
TO Buffalo was necessary for decision
and resulted In the trophy being won h!
the White Steamer
The 1908 tour started at Buffalo. ran
south to Pittsburg. east 70 Boston. north
20 the White mountains and south TO Sara
toga, covering 1910 miles The Glider
trophy was for the second time competed
for by club teams, a team consisting Of
three cars.
The No l Buffalo Automobile club team
comprising three Pierce Arrow cars, thi
Columbus Automobile Club team. compris
ing three Peerless cars, and the ChicSg