The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-09-17
Foreign Decorations Cost Amer.
leans Much More.
,OST $50 MILLIONS.
This for Cars But More Than
Half Went to Labor.
Other Items Of Interest to
Motor Enthusiasts.

w MIS- dAl L4llS L<4A Ii OC1uB P6S$SGu
along about the great extravaganza of
the nation in buying automobiles"
states R. A. Palmer, secretary and
general manager Of the Carter Car
company, 81 find it very interesting to
look into the matter of other extrava-
gances and make comparisons. For
the time being. we will admit that the
automobile is nothing more than a
luxurythe plaything of the rich.
How does the amount Of money
put into them compare with the
amount spent for other luxuries? We
need nothing more accurate than gov
eminent records Statistics are look
ed upon with a shudder and listened
to with deaf ear by the average per-
son and for that reason few realize
what is spent. They never Icok it up.
But they imagine the automobile is n
exception. 1t is q case similar to the
habit some are said to have of not
luxury-the plaything of the rich.
1T is an indisputable fact, how
ever, that there was brought into this
country alone from other nations last
year, luxurieS which amounted to the
total sum of two hundred and fifty
million dollars. While these stupen-
dOus figures are in mind, remember
that the total valuation of the auto
mobiles built in America during the
same time, was only one nunOro1 ana
thirty-five million dollars, or a little
more than half as much.
with still greater interest it is not
ed that of this amount spent for lux
uries from other countries, three ar
ticles, each worn purely as decorations
viz: diamonds, laces and embroideries,
cost the buyers of this country at re-
tail at least one hundred and thirty
six million dollars. This alone would
buy all of the automobiles built here.
And but very little of this amount
was paid back for American labor
automobiles goes back into salaries
| and is thus passed on and on.
These figures are only for one year,
| still, this expense has been going on
year after year and no one has said
a word about 1t.
The most interesting thing about it
| is that the automobile is not luxury
nor rich mans plaything. It is SO
classed in instances but there are five
cases where 1t is a necessity to one
a few miles from town has used horses
| and carriages for years They have al
ways owned the best horses they could
afford. In instances, farmers have
driven teams worth thousand dollars
and carriage worth from two to three
hundred more. Now these people drive
| automobiles and save horsef1esh and
| time.
There are hundreds of men in cities
who are doing just double the work
they were able to accomplish before
they owned an automobile. Is it an
extravaganza for such people to own
a car? 1t almost every Office in every
large city a few years ago were pale
faced, puny, sickly looking fellows who
were called men. They tried all kinds
of exercises to make health. Look
over the pages of the magazines OF
those days and notice the many adver--
tisements of patented devices and
schools to make men grow healthy.
And these schools thrived.
What has been the result since the
automobile has been brought within
the reach Of thousands of these peo-
pie? They are stout, husky chaps with
muscles Of iron and a brown upon their
cheeks which equals their country
brothers. 'Red-blooded' has become q
term which is much in vogue. Did you
ever hear 1t before the automobile ar
rived2
But it isn't the office man alone
who gets the benefit. His family &C
companies him when he rides after Of
flee hours. The result is a great i'm
provement in health. Instead of g
month of fresh air during the sum-
mer vacation, it is a delightful triI
daily. Yes, possibly a suburban home
all the time. Whoever knew of dia-
monds or of laces doing this good-or
of any other good outside of crafty
ing a desire for display? The automo.
, bile is indeed factor in American life
which cannot be removed. 1t is there
to stay and will last as long as the
world stands or until some more i'm
proved method of transporting individ-
uals from place to place quickly and
economically can be devised. Few are
they, who, once owning an automobile
go back to the horse and carriage vol.
UNFAIRLY"
Through twenty-eight counties o.
California, ]. A. Graves, a Los Angelo.
banker, has recently taken an auto
mobile party of six over a 2,275-milt
route, which he proclaims as delight
full discovery for motorists. Fou
weeks were spent in the pleasures o.
touring through some of the wildes
parts OF the state.
A large amount of the heat takel
up by the cylinder walls of the gaso
absorbed as the piston makes it's up
ward stroke after the power stroke
How to dispose of the exhaust case
quickly has been a problem with TIL
builders of automobile engines.
Passing through many states in tn
course Of 1900 miles. Mrs. C. W
Clark and party of four of Indianapoli
made a memorable trip of tire
: months and nine days touring in Mrs
brought home twenty-odd pennants
representing important cities an
states through which they passed.
There was in Denver, September
and 16. one of the most novel relia
bility contests ever held The McDuf
fee Motor Car company held a Chal
mers owners consistency run. J. Il
McDuffee, president of the Denve
. company, has given a sterling silve
cup for the winner. A number of la
: dies who own Chalmers cars entere
the contest. Between twenty and thir
;. ty entries were made.
F. T. Mcbride of Portland. Ore, fol-
merly of Butte. Mont. claims the sta
Q bility record for 1ong-distance automo
bile driving. With five people in h