Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-10-02

| eyes of the motor world are
! now focused on the interna-
tional speed contest of the. year,
| the grand prize race for the Automobile
Club OF Americas gold cup, which will
! Include in it's entry list the fastest cars
| iE til, world.
! The grand prize race is scheduled for
Saturday, October Is, just two weeks
hence. over practically the same cours
| as the Vanderbilt cup race was held yes
terday morning. Already a large num-
Der of cars are entered. The present
| week will witness many new entries. now
that the big American road race has bean
| decided
! While the Vanderbilt had many fast
| cars. all entries in this event were limit
ed to less than COL cubic inches pis on
displacement The grand prize race will
be an out-and- out and free-for- all, With
no limitation as to size of motor.
THIS VIII result in fewer number Of
entries. but this will be made up With
sensalicnalism, which will be a fea ;ure
of the coming race. Then. too. it is tie
sta" American speed kings will be pittcd
against the foreigners who have peen
tuning up their machines across the
water for several weeks past in anticipa-
The all-absorbing topic is whether the
five-thousand-dollar gold trophy will go to
a foreigner or to an American or to an
American car. The fight for the suprem-
acy of the road will be hard fought
from start to finish, and there will be
plenty of food for thought when the
smoke of the battle clears away. Every
country in Europe as we'll as America will
be alert two weeks hence and watch
every movement of the speeding cars.
The distance of the race has been in
ased from 27S miles to 3792 miles.
which will mean a considerably added
strain on ear: aid drivers. For :his
reason all the rIcr.: honor and glory goes
to the victor.
At Savannah, Ga, in 1908, the Automo-
bile Club of Americas contest had its
ma gniticent premiere. Those who have
witnessed big races both here and abroad
expressed the opinion that the race was
the greatest ever seen anywhere in the
world.
1t was won by Louis Wagner in a car
of practically the same type he Will pilot
this year. Wagner won the race by few
seconds margin, the closest finish ever
known in a road race, Hemery scoring
second and NaZZaro third
In that event Ralph De Palma drove
several laps at faster rate of speed than
was driven in any road contest. The
spectators fairly went wild with enthu-
siasm on that occasion.
This years race promises to equal that
of 1908 in many respects and greatly sur
pass it in others, especially as regards
the course, which is considered deal for
long distance races of this character.
Practice for the grand prize race on the
Long Island parkway will begin October
T. Drivers in both contests will be per-
mitted to practice daily, except Sundays.
- ro III in
the morning.
Postmaster General Frank Hitchcock
has recommended that when the next
contract for mail delivery in Chicago is
let motor trucks be given the work in
stead of horse-drawn wagons.
The Postmaster General believes in and
favors the pneumatic tube method of de-
livering mail to and from the main fed
era building to the railway stations and
the numerous substatlOns about the city.
but recognizes that it will be some time.
probably several years, before this meth
cd of transportation can be put into force.
Horse-Grawn vehicles are too slow, he
thinks, and therefore favors installing
motor trucks
With view to improving traffic condi-
tons in the business section of the city.
Maj. Sylvester last week detailed a score
of bike" men from the outlying precincts
to assist the regular men in handling the
horse-dra WIN and motor vehicles in the
crowded thoroughfares.
Attention has been specifically given to
drivers of heavily laden wagons who
heretofore have been driving on the wrong
sides of the streets cutting corners too
closely. and not needing the rules Of the
road in general. The result of the cru
SADIE is plainly evident. those unfamiliar
with the regulations on this point being
cautioned, with the result that conditions
are rapidly improving.
Ax
With the reciprocity movement extend
ing all over the country to benefit tour
lists, West Virginia has fallen in with the
movement. The action of the West Vir
ginia State Automobile Association has
had the effect of obtaining from Gov. w.
T.. Glasscock the assurance that he will
lend aid to having the present laws
changed at the next session of the legis
lature.
Reciprocity has been looked upon by
the lawmakers as a hindrance to West
Virginia. but the constant appeal of the
autoiSts has succeeded In winning the
promises of many of the state legislators
to coincide with the views as expressed
by Gov. Glasseock.
West Virginia is peculiarly situated, and
would benefit from a reciprocity plan
more than any other state in the Union
Its two "Panha ndles' extend to tn. Dor
ders of at least five other states, and in
the northern Panhandle. where is stu
ated the principal city Wheeling with
from 500 to 60 automobile owners, it is
impossible to go more than half mile
west or fifteen mi!ts east until other
states are encountered, Ohio on the west
and Pennsylvania on TIE east. both states
favorng the reciprocity movement.
Already a hill has Detn drafted. and
will be presented to the lawmakers at
their next session Meanwhile the pres
ent law. requiring all visiting tour
lists to pay the regulation license, will
stand, but the law is not at present strictly
enforced.
According to some manufacturers, the
automobile has already displaced 100000
horses and wagons, the average upkeep
of which is 81 cents a day. compared
with the average upkeep of an automobile
of 80 cents day.
Mis-. Catherine Lay Howe took tour
through Maryland recently IL her ma
chine, ha Jing with her Mrs. F1anhhh L.