The Topeka state journal., 1911-09-30
Eastern Auto Company Seeks
New Western Agency.
Representative Pays Topeka a
Visit, But Denies Mission.
ANSWER is EVASIVE
Mitchell Says He Just Wanted to
See the State.
News of General Interest to
Motor Car Owners.

There is q possibility that Topeka
may land a big automobile distributing
plant in the next year, the property of
the United States Motor company. D.
c. Mitchell, of New York city, was in
Topeka this week. looked over the
town, but kept his mission strictly
private.
For several months the big eastern
manufacturing concern has planned
the establishment of a new western
distributing agency. With this will
go facilities for the manufacture of
thoroughly modern plant. When asked
concerning his visit here, Mitchell de-
clared that his call on Topeka was
really to obtain data on the autom obile
outlook in Kansas, but admitted the
reports that his concern was seeking
a new western distributing point.
81 can't say whether it will come to
Topeka or not" was MitchelFs evasive
reply "in fact I really have very little
to do with it. It does look though, as
if Kansas were to become a great pur-
chasing agency of motor cars and the
demand from this territory has been
tremendous. I should think that
Kansas branch would be a wise thing
and if Kansas branch were estab-
liShed-Topeka'S natural location and
transportation facilities would be
something that wouldn't be over
looked"
That was ali from Mr.. Mitchell. He
thought Kansas was a great state, he
said nice things about Topeka and was
enthusiastic over the outlook for the
automobile business. But from New
York city, the home of the United
States Motor company, came this COM
municatiOn:
Another big plant in the middle
west will soon be added to the chain
of manufacturing properties constitut-
ing the United States Motor company.
This will be the establishment of a
special factory to manufacture parts
for all of the models of past seasons
including the cars of Maxwell -Briscoe
Motor company, The Columbia Motor
Car company. Dayton Motor Car COM
pany, Brush Runabout company and
the Alden Sampson Manufacturing
company.
1.-The growth of business has made
it necessary to maintain the parts
making plant as a separate institution.
The plan involves installing machin-
cry to operate on a large scale and the
back almost to the inception of the
various companies. This is regarded
as pretty strong evidence of the dur
ability of the early models. In fact.
the United States Motor company's
statistical department learned from the
official records of the secretary of state
that 81 percent of the Maxwell cars
which were sold in New York in 1906
are still in service.
ID. c. Mitchell, construction en-
gineer of the company, is now in the
west looking for a site for the factory. |
He has been commissioned to carry
out the plans Immediately. What ma
chinery of former seasons is now
available will be installed in the new |
plant. At the expiration of each year
the tools and machines in the car max |
ing plants will be taken over by the
parts making plant. About 100000 |
square feet and ten acres of land are
required"
So that is the situation just as it is.
Somewhere in the Missouri valley is
to be established a new enterprise that |
is to be worth while. In view of the |
statement made by heads of the firm it
is hardly probable that Mr.. Mitchell |
came to Topeka for mere pleasure.
Just what significance was contained
in his trip. no one has yet been found
who seems able to state.