The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-10-26
Dealers Hold Convention.


Unique in the history Of the electric
vehicle, was the dealers and statesmen 8
convention held at the Cleveland fac
tory of the Baker Motor Vehicle COM
pany, october 18th, 18th and 18th, in
| that it was the first thing Of its kind
| to be held by any electric car manu-
faeturer.
Eighty-five dealers and statesmen
were present, representing nearly
every State In tNs Union. and inciud-
| ing ID. w. Richard, Of Richmond. En-
| thusiasm was the keynote of the oc-
casion from start to finish. All pres
ent at the final banquet. Friday even
inr in the banquet hall of the Hoi-
Jenden hotel. were unanimous in de-
ciaring that 1t was the most spirited,
progressive, inspiring and helpful con-
yention which they had ever attend
ed.
The feature which appealed most
strongly to the entire sales force was
the new Coupe models on exhioitioh
| i'm the assembly room. One dealer.
Ralph Temple. of Chicago, gave m
mediate evidence Of his approval by
placing an order for one hundred cars
OF this model This was the largest
single order given by any of the deal
ers. but there were many close sec
onds to IL and the company on con-
seryative estimate anticipated at least
70 20 ner cent increase in the volume
az sales in the pleasure car depart
ment within the next six months
Great interest was manifested IN
what George II. Kelly, manager Oh
the truck department, and W. he'
nedy. OF New York. retained ny tue
Baker company as head OF the nahes
hnreau of transportation costs, hdu
~ say about the development. pres
ant day status and future of the eiee-
rric truck. The addresses OF these men
hrought home forcibiy to the minds
Of their hearers the fact that the
price Of gasoline il fast growing pro
bihittve. that the price Of electric eur
rent IL constantly diminishing and
that the electric truck today adequate
Iv answers the requirements OF eighty
tixe Der cent OF sll city trackiess trans
portation- ~.
!. t,x,4epsyat3an, enthusiasm and 10y
atty were in substance the SUR.
matter of the other speakers. VINO
we're the officials of the company
Economy Run by Hudson.
II sTe4iftAs. the Hudson desl
or today told of an economy run ps
the New Hudson "S7" in which the
car achieved 20s miles to the gar
Ion of gasoline.
The test was made ON country
roads. when the going was not the
best by any means. The speed OF the
car ayera ged tweny miles an hour'
and was never over twenty-five miles
The test was made in the presence u.
q. A. Stetger and r. NJ. Anderson Oh
chicago. and E. ". MeGookin, or De
troit.
On several other occasions IN I'M
promptu runs IL was founu that lac
car was yielding eighteen ana nihe-
teen miles to the gallon OF gasoline,
In a recent run over fierce roads, a
member of the Hudson engineering
board between Detroit and Toledo
distance of sixty niles-secured six
teen miles to the gallon of gasoline
This road is reputed 10 be the worst
thoroughfare in the United States
t,lidden Finds Roads Bad.
Never in all my travels have ]
ever experienced worse roads tnan We
are traversing in the present Lakes
- she Gulf tour" said MIR. Charles
J. tilidden upon his arrival IN the
Maxwell "{er pilot ear. last night al
Greenwood, Miss.
Roads impossible under ordinary
circumstances, have been FeHdeFeo
, treachously dangerous by the heavy
rains. compelling rs to travel through
stretches of deep mud. sometimes
seventy-ive miles in length. over COW
cred Mississippi bottoms and danger
Gus leyees
Notwithstanding the many hard
ships, the tour is only cne-han gay
behind scheduled time, with all cars
including the No Maxwell that won
last years Glidden tour, maintain
ing perfect scores Mr.. Glidden con
tinues to reiterate the benefits that
would accrue towards good roads de-
velopment from vigorous support OF
next years Glidden tour over the
route now being travelled
Everywhere assurance Is given thai
vigorous support will be given next
years contest.
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