The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-12-31

be meetings Of the association
every Saturday evening at S
o'clock at the headquarters Of the
Richmond Automobile club, in the
Jefferson hotel. Fie requests svsty
member OF the association TO at
tend these meetings that they may
keep in touch with the work Of
the show committee.
That undoubtedly the most import
ant function of the auto show is its
educational value TO dealers. is the
opinion of j. II. Simms.
"Of course, a large number OF cars
are sold" said Mr.. Simnls, but these
sales are valuable only as help
toward paying the expense of the ex-
hibit. The big thing that we must &C
compiish with our exhibit IL TO give
the dealer enthusiasm and selling
points for his work In the local ter
rttory.
The dealer comes TO the show and
there sees all the cars side by side.
He sees his car where he has a
chance to compare 1t with the cars
! with which ne must compete and he
learns just where 1t La better. AT
! no other time has he such an oppor-
tunity Of getting first hand inforrna-
ton on the whole situation.
And the prospective agent Ia there,
too" continued Dir. Simms. He has
opportunity likewise for selecting a
car that will please the people In his
! territory. Long ago the motor car
agents learned the fooiiahness OF grab
/ bling the first agency proposition that
/ presented itself. 1t was expensive
! learning, and now they consider care
/ fully. and the show offers them a view
| Of the entire Geld. making It GER
| tainty that tho car they choose TO sell
| liz Just what they want
! THE auto show Is Of inestimable
| value to the motor car industry. and
the manufacturer must exhibit IL he
wishes to help his agents as he
should. But II he sends his cars
there expecting to accomplish nothing
but the few sales he may make, he
la only throwing the money into the
| fire, and he had by far better keep
his cars at the factory.
THE shows are for the dealer
they are. In fact. his training school
There he sees the general GALES man
ager and the engineers, and learns
from them first hand just why they
made this new improvement and so
on. In this manner the dealer gets
the greatest amount of enthusiasm
and faith In the car he sells.
I'm my opinion" concluded DIR.
Simms. THE auto shows are LARGELY
responsible for the great advance
which the industry has made In the
last few years The shows have made
1t possible for the manufacturers to
secure a much greater distribution
and much more valuable co-opera-
ton with their agents than would 9TH
erwise have been possible"
Autos For Army Posts.
Pursuing the policy OF adopting
motor trucks in It's service the
United States government has pur-
chased four Alec trucks, two of which
will be employed in army activities at
the West Point post. and the others
In salvage work in the fire department
at Manila.
One OF the machines for West Point
10 Of three and one-half tons capacity.
It is fitted with stake body and
In used to haul hay, straw, oats and
so on for the horses stabbed at the
post. It also transfers materials
used in the maintenance OF the diff
ferent buildings.
The other truck, OF two tons rating.
Is equipped with a self-dumping body
and hauls coal from the railroad TO
the different buildings at the post.
Both OF these trucks have a par
ticuiariy hard test. as there is IL
per cent grade. which means a contin-
uous climb from either direction in
approaching the army post. Accord
ing TO the government requirements
the trucks have to ascend the hill with
capacity load st speed of six miles
per hour.
1t Is interesting to note in this CON
nection that the trucks will be stand
ard throughout a departure from the
custom sometimes followed by the
war department to make Its own
specifications and have the manufac-
tuners build their trucks specially. The
two vehicles for Manila have a course
over much primitive roadway, which
makes travelling usually difficult.
Hunting by Auto.
Quail 1uUang by motor car as
the latest novelty for sportsmsn. and. |
judging from the enthusiastic reports |
from Texas, this method OF getting |
full bag not only adds much to |
the comfort and pleasure OF tina |
sport. but also has its practical val |
ues.
Recently Roy Munger. OF Dallas, |
Tex, accompanied by friends. made |
hunting trip to west Texas, using |
MIS- IRdliiac touring car not only to |
get to the hunting grounds. but ac- |
tually employing the car In the field |
Mr.. Munger and his party made the |
trip In his car overland tn Big |
Springs and drove thence about sixty |
miles north.
The Munger party bagsed nearly i
as much game AZ the law allows. |
Blue quail were killed in large num- |
hers and the dnck hunting near Gail. |
Tex. where the nights were spent. |
was declared all a hunter could wish |
for.
Auto Mail Wagons Best.
After experimenting for nearly ten |
years In the use Of motor collection I
and distribution Of mail. the United |
states government admits at last that |
in localities where collection stops |
are few and far between a motor car I
IL far more eficient than a hors-s and |
wagon. In such cases II has decided /
10 allew the carrier to buy a motor
car, for which he will be allowed a |
sum more than ample FOR nainte-
rance and repairs.