New-York tribune., 1911-12-19
BOXERS TRAINING HARD AUT0 NEWS OF THE DAY.
Great Strides Made in Manu-
faCture of American Cars.
FIGURES TELL THE TALE
Average Time in Last Vanderbilt
Cup Race % Miles an Hour
Faster than in First.

dotCi bhtri III - Wv
Vanderbilt Cup race statistics OF the last
seven years furnish a graphic illustration
of tho remarkable strides toward improve
ment in manufacturing methods made IN
the automobile industry during that period.
In 1894, the year OF the first Vanderbilt
contest, George Heath ploted @-horse-
power Panhard 10 victory over the Long
Island course. The Panhard covered the
2si.4 miles of the race in hours p minutes
and 20 seconds, an average rate or o.
miles an hour. In the recent Nanderoil'
race Ralph Milford, in 46-horsepoWer
Lozier completed 29l.3 miles in hours %
minutes and seconds. II Will thus De
seen that II Milford had driven for the
same period OF time consumed by Heath
in the first race and had maintained his
speed OF 74o7 miles an hour, he would have
covered approximately io7 miles as COM
pared with Heath's 2Si miles.
The great difference I'm the time RECORDS
of the two cars cannot, OF course, be at
triouted entirely to improvements MADE III
the automobile In the last seven years. the
Savannah course il much faster than the
former course on Long Island. and the po-
Icing OF the course at the Southern city
was I'm absolute contrast to the methods
pursued at former races. But the fact that
the Lozier was the first American car Oh
the shaft-driven type 10 triumph IN TINS
race since it's inception furnishes an ample
demonstration that automobile manutactuF-
ers in this country are at least Keeping
pace with foreign producers Of high-pow-
cred cars.
The greatest contrasts I'm the speed rec
ords OF the Vanderbilt race are shown be-
tween the races OF 1894 and 1905, and 1910
and 1911. In both 1906 and 1911 the average
time was nearly ten miles an hour faster
than in the previous year. The time made
by the Lozer in 1912 was almost twenty
two miles an hour faster than the time
made by the Panhard in the first Wander
bilt only seven years ago.
The Pacific Coast is rapidly becoming
mecca for motor cars. according 10 ~ -
Smith, president cf the Premier Motor
Manufacturing Company Of Indianapolis
who has Just returned from three weeks
trip TO the coast. Mr.. Smith was especially
impressed with the motoring In California
where. he states, il has become almost UNI
versaI. The good effects OF this general use
of the motor ear are everywhere apparent
One beneficial result is noticeable IN the
health and general appearance of the mo-
florists, who constitute a large portion or
the population.
"It is little wonder that one Immediately
becomes enthusiastic over Southern CALI
fornia." said Mr.. Smith, when We can
Iod tr.atafh hat- al
I'm a few days find ourselves in country
where the thermometer is probably ranging
between IS and S5 degrees, and balmy sun
shine almost every day
with this delightful climate and its pos
siblities it Is not surprising that those who
are thrown In these surroundings seem to
turn their thoughts TO the idea OF getting
out into the air more than In other sec
tions. and the best proof OF this is found
i'm the fact that IL Los Angeles there Is
said to be one automobile for every twenty
inhabitants, including men, women and
children, and I'm spite Of this great number
of cars in use the buying interest in Los
Angeles is as great as is 10 be found any
where. I'm fact, they seem TO have learned
better how to use a motor car to advantage.
However. the motor car business is prac-
ticaIly as good in Northern California
Even in san Francisco they are entirely
free from severe winter weather, and the
automobile is used as a year round con-
vevance. and but few inclosed bodies are
to be seen
California is steadily demanding a stur-
dier and higher class car. While their
roads are beautiful IT is nevertheless true
that on a tour Of any great extent hills of
considerable size are encountered, and with
the great possibilities of using a motor car
every day Of the year the owners are be-
ginning to realize that service is what they
are seeking and the best and the most dur
able car is most economical in the end.
"I was very much impressed with the
great amount OF business which is being
done or the coast with motor delivery wag
ons. I do not believe that the coast has
taken up the heavy truck quite as seriously
as is true in some Of our Eastern cities, but
, the delivery wagon capable Of carrying
used much more extensively than is true
in the East and yet this is only an indica-
ton Of what we can expect throughout the
country, as the motor propelled delivery
wagon Is rapidly becoming as much of a
necessity with the progressive merchant as
the electric streetcar as compared with the
horse drawn streetcar. or the automobile
with the horse drawn vehicle for pleasure
and family service"