The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1911-07-21
LE.Els
NI!N.l..T|l''R !
LE..2 U
OVER ONE EItjNpR Ed CARS ARE
NOW HERE ANH MORE Will
4 ARRIVE BEFORE TIE LEAVES
SHALL FALL THIS 4. uTlMN.
.lSS0aATI0N D De FORMED
MANY LOCAL WOMEN 4 ING
TO- RUN MACHINE AREFuL
AND LAW-ABIDlte OWNERS
AGAINST RECKLESS DRIVERS.

AGAINST RECKLESS DRIVERS.
Do you know at thesratio Of popula-
ton there are more automobile In
Fairmont- than in any other city in
West Virginia and probably great
many more here than in many other
municipalities in the United States
the size of this city according to the
enumeration given out by the govern-
ment of the census of 1910?
It has often been remarked by
strangers visiting this city this SUM
mer that there appeared to be an url-
usually large number; of autos here,
more than they had seen in any city
the size OF Fairmont.
Last summer there were not a
great many machines in this immedt=
ate vicinity, but today there are more,
1875 automobiles in Fairmont prop
er Of over a dozen different makes,
and before the leaves shall have fallen
this autumn there will be more than a
15O autos owned by Fairmonters,
as there are now due here about thir-
ty or more machines from the factory
and which are arriving almost daily.
Fairmont has the automobile bug,
there is no question about itsand it
seems that every one who is in posi-
tion to purchase a machine has ols
or has glYenSap order for a car u
Last evening, being 3 beautiful one,
nearly every machine in this city Ms=.
on the spin and at one time, shortly
before eight O'Clock, one could stand
at the head OF Main street and see
more than dozen autos in that
ithoroughKare at one time.
1t is understood thatSa movement is
on foot to organize an auto associa-
ton here; to be known as the Fair.
mont Automobile ociatiol and
which sin be sstff ffIiats With the Amer
lean Automobile Association, one Of
the wealthiest and largest organtza-
tlons in this country. In the next few
weeks there will be fully one hundred
automobile owners In this city prop
er and it seems that there is no lee
son why such an association could NOT
be organized here with little ii any
trouble. The idea Of such an organi-
cation is principally to petition and
bring power to bear to have better
roads for automobiling and at the
game time benefit those who traverse
the roads in any kind of vehicles or
on horse.
Women Of this city are fast learn
lng to drive cars and during the past
several months number OF young Ia
dIes-not all married, either-have
been taught by their male companions
to run the machines, and apparently
they seem Just as skillful in handling
the autos as men.
with the many automobiles in Fair
ront-which does not have the widest
streets in West Virginia by any means
there have been no accidents OF a
serious nature, but this is not due to
The fact that all the drivers are care
Iul regarding the speed limit and the
sounding Of their warning horn IN
turning corners. II is true that the
majority of the drivers run their cars
with cautious hands but the reck-
less element do not and their actions
are not approved by the public III
general nor by the autoist who OBJ
serves the law.
Among the hundred odd machines IN
Fairmont proper there are II Pack.
or1sn q "MaxweIls" 6 Cadillac"
6 "overland," "speedwells." 3
"Wintons," "Mltchells," A "Hupp,
mobiles" 2 "oldsmobiles," 2 Speed
wells" a Bucks / "Arben2," pas.
senger and one freight "Garford" 3
white Steamers" Peerless" l
"Plerce Arrow" and from one to three
other makes. 1t will be noticed that
there are more Packards than any
other make in Falrmont. In addition
10 the automobiles there are three
motorcycles and several freight
autos.
It is said that 1t cost on an average
Of six cents mile to operate an ordt-
nary car in this city proper on account
OF the many hills
Fairmont has the auto fever good
and proper and Ifs believed by those
who are in position to know that by
this time next year that there will be
several hundred automobile owners In
this city II sales continue in the next
twelve months as they have this
summer.