The San Francisco call., 1910-01-30
MOTORIST MIGHT
HAVE been AVIATOR
All Piepenburg Once Was Con-
sidering Joining Wright
Brothers

Tlat A. n Piepenburs. rolanorsauto-
Mobile racing driver. is not today
soaring among tbe clouds ia sue
cessful type OF aeroplane al hand
some salary and receiving plaudits
with the other "birdmen" is probably
due entirely TO one Of the many freaks
of fate. While few persons are ac-
ousinted with the fact. Piepenburg,
who is now associated with the local
Studebaker branch. 10 years ago by
reason OF his achievements in the
buHding and operation Of aeropianes,
lad attracted the attention Of many
leading balloonists and aeronauts-
il was The sudden and spectacular
popularity OF the automobile, combined
with a practical turn OF mind, that
turned the tables for Piepenburg. Pre-
Rious to that event by only one week,
PiepenburS had made all arrangements
10 Journey - Washington TO meet the
Wright brothers and cOlabOrate with
them IN the construction Of success
ful type Of aeroplane. The latter were
al that time experimenting with their
So called glide machines
-Tt is true SAYS Piepenburg- that
IH years sgo / was actively engaged
Din the construction Of successful
tvpe of aeroplsne. and had il not been
Tor the sudden popularity Of the auto
mobile and the possibilities / saw.
have no doubt that ] would have sue
rccded In mv venture. one week before
3 decided "a forsake the study of the
air craft { had made all arrangements
-fo cola borate with the Wright broth
-ers Rut while ] have not been out OF
the automobile business since then, }
have never yet fully abandoned the
tnought re constructing and operating
au acroplane.
.-I have had many tempting offers TO
e" back into the automobile racing
game. out ] prefer 10 content myself
,rfth a speed within the laws limit. 1
would nor have 10 be urged twice~to
take my seat at the wheel OF an aero
plane OF some OF the types we Nave
seen In California"
Philip Henry of New York. = dele
Eatc ~ the good roads congress held
= during the last
autos Destroy co1tlv aSdresse5
nao""''" Ho"dS The Bridgeport au-
Tire subject Of the motor vehicle and
Euod roads.
During The course Of his speech he
said that while the United States boast
60 of Wei constructed roads as Eu-
I0pe. the method Of maintenance could
ust be compared TO that in vogue i'm
- t'ra nee. when. as soon 2 8 a road is COM
piefe0. corps Of men is assigned by
the government 10 cover certain mile
aEc and make the improvements IS fast
as necessary
In speaking OF macadam roads Henry
sid.
-If automobiles destroy macadam
road, it is sure sign that it has not
recn properly constructed. When tFaf-
fr is light the macsdam highway is
- cry efficient although il the number
&ng speed Of the machines are inCrea sed
This form Of road is very impracti -
He told Of various treatments which
have been experimental with in for
r ign countries to better the road sur
face. Sea water has been found TO
have IT'S advantages over fresh water
while sprinkling with a petroleum So
lUtion seemed 10 bring about good re-
suits.
a carload Of Hupmobiles arrived Fri
DAY and delivery Of the popular little
:. cars to those who
.Cood RuSiseSs have had their or
= nePoI.t time began yester-
day. More than
half the lot was sold before the cars
arrived. s. q. Chapman has been ad-
Tised by the factory that two carloads
of Oakland cars are on the wav and
So many sales have been made re-
Cfutly, particularly since The Oakla nd
aUtomobiie show, that all the Ga land
cars which chapman had on hand have
buyers arc waiting for the next ship
.TnI1r.
Among the latest purchasers Of eek
sand cars are J. II. Mercer Of Eureka
has Just received 40" Oakland tour
lrG car.