The Washington times., 1911-02-13
MOTORING ASSUMES
GREAT PROPORTIONS
From a Former Fad 1t
Has Become a
Necessity.
By ALFRED REEVES.

Making strides of a gigantic nature,
the motor car. since the first automO-
bile show in New York eleven years
ago, has Travelled from a place where it
was the toy of the rich and a vehicle
for pleasure use only to its present en-
viable position in our industrial life,
where it can truthfully be called a tool
of civilization. Instead of motoring be-
ing considered a fad. it is now a neces-
sity, like any other means of transpor-
tation, and its position as a timc-saver
answers fully any question as to its
future.
1t has performed in most loyal fashion
ever since it came into general use, and
certainly no other invention OF which
we have record has Travelled the pace
which marks the advance of the motor
car during the past ten or eleven years.
To appreciate the progress which has
brought the gasoene-fed vehicle to it's
present high position, one has but to
consider the short time since motor cars
were regarded as experiments and curl
osities, for such was their status when
the first automobile show was held in
New York elevNn years ago.
Each year has seen progress of an
extraordinary sort, until we have the
perfect car of today, the very latest
models of which will. be shown at the
big automobile show.
Nearly 100000 Machines in Use.
With almost 100000 machines in use in
this country, and the number fast in
creasing, the statement that the auto
mobile is now the tool of civilization
admits of little argument. The sO-calIed
pleasure car or passenger carrying We
hicle is. to a large degree, an absolute
necessity to a great number of our
American people, not one of whom
would think of giving up his car any
more than he would consider dispensing
with his telephone, after it's advantages
were appreciated. In addition there are
;.rUueeii,i5 Oi new owners entering the
field every month. all of whom are re-
ceiving proof of an indisputable charac-
ter in favor of the motor cars advan-
tages.
Cars are now so generally used, and
the COnveniences and time-saving quail
ties so strongly in evidence in our eVerJ-
day life, that machines are not alone
taking the place of the horse, but arc
opening up new fields in our lives that
would he undreamed of under ordinary
conditions. As a health giver, and az
an educa tional factor. the motor is far
more important than as mere vehicle
for pleasure driving. Every family. car
crn motor vehicle. The head of the
house can use it going to and from his
business; for making calls: entertaining
customers, and business associates, and
for touring This use of the car gives
him a greater knowledge of the country
while the mental and physical exercise
of driving makes for better digestion
and better health. The ownership of a
car certainly adds prestige.
A mans wife and daughters may use
the car for social calls, entertaining and
for open-air driving.
Of Educational Value.
On behalf of the sons, it must be ad-
mitted that caring for and understand
ing a great piece of machinery like the
motor car has an educational value,
while the mental and physical faculties
in man are developed by driving The
fresh air recreation cannot but improve
his health, and using the car gives the
sons more time with the other members
of the family, and therefore brings him
under the best influence.
AS a willing slave for all work, the
motor vehicle is now entering that
broad commercial field involving the
er and more economical distribution of
merchandise, which foretellS the emancl-
patton of the horse, and will tend TO
bring close to hand the time when that
noble animal will become the pet of
mankind, instead of the slave of cruel
business life.
1t would be absurd to say that the
horse will be relegated quickly. for with
81, 1,000,0 900 horses in the country and some
1000 900 horse-drawn vehicles, the dis
placement proposition will be of steady
out not abnormal growth. Nevertheless,
the ultimate outcome must see traffic,
especially in our large cities where it
is of a congested nature, given over en-
irplv n NSI
not too optimistic to say that ten years
from now, a horse on the streets of
Washington will be as rare as a motor
vehicle was ten years ago.