The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1912-11-15
ENTIRE
AUTO INDUSTRY
HERE Is AIM
N. A. A. M. Convention Adds
Impetus to the
Plan
MEETING COMES TO A
CLOSE THIS MORNING
Railroad Official Gives Reasons
for Lack of Special
Equipment

equipment
To make Detroit the heart OF the
American automobile industry through
Which the life blood OF the trade must
pags and from which IL must receivs .
Its every impulse Is the desire Of De-
troit automobile manufacturers, en-
couraged by the meeting of the y. A.
l. NJ here.
That such-a thing is not only pos
siGle, but entirely probable, Is gather.
ed from the conversation that is heard
today around the lobby Of the Pont.
Icbartrain, where the annual conVen.
tioE OF the National Association oil
Automobile manufacturers was
brought TO close this morning
Signs that point towards the
achievement of this desire by Detroit
are numerous. For instance, there
is talk that Detroit should be made
the permanent meeting place OF tho
association. Manufacturers find that
they get in touch with more machines
OF every kind here than they can at
any other place. They receive ideas
here that are found noySere else,
Heads OF auto companies with fac
tories In other cities seriously con-
template placing sales rooms in De-
troit, solely TO be in the center OF the
industry.
Wallace Hood, general sales man
ager OF the Wescott company, Rich
mond, Ind. will establish his Offices
hi re despite the fact that his plant
is elsewhere. Mr. Hood was formerly
With the Chalmers and Everritt peo-
pie.
The action OF the u. 8. Motors In
CO ming to Detroit is another sign
board pointing In the same direction
at others.
The program this morning included
addresses behind doors closed 10
newspapermen as follows: Terri
tory and discounts by +. r. Benson.
sales. manager of the Studebaker Cor
poration Good roads, by K. D..
Chaplin. president OF the Hudson Mo-
tor Car Co.. and Traffic. by j. 3.
Marvin, assistant general manager OF
the association.
In speaking of good roads, Mr..
Chaplin said: In the first place, we
believe that the motorists, as the
most insistent users OF the road,
should come forward and agree to an
annual registration fee OF fairly sub
stantial proportions, providing 1t Is In
lieu OF personal taxes, and every
dollar of il Is used In the maintenance
or roads already constructed. This
establishes ce-partnership between
the state and those who use its roads
continuously, and TO a greater extent
than those who employ horse-drawn
vehicles. 1t is plainly unconstitu-
tional to tax one elias sof road users
and to exempt another. but for the
time being, We would waive the point
because OF the results which natural
" follow the payment OF this substan-
tial annual fec.
I'VE advocate system of marking
the roads, which shall be universal
throughout the state. guide-posts win
proper inscriptions and devices to De
erected ct all intersections Of the
highways Such guide-posts snail be
erected and maintained at the expense
Of the township. and shall Indicate
the direction, distance. and names or
the towns, villages, or cities to AID
through which such intersecting hign-
ways run.
After the state situation has been
thus taken care OF. II is our conten-
ton that the federal government
should supplement these state SIS
TENS with system OF national roads
connecting al parts OF the country"
Following this mornings session.
pleasure trips and tours OF inspection
to the big auto factories in Detroit and
vicinity will be the program for the
remainder of the week.
The gathering OF the $50 members
of the association has brought about
what auto men say Is the greatest
assemblage OF their tradesmen ever
got together. except at regular auto
mobile shows. Added to the members
OF the association itself were more
than twice as many representatives or
companies transacting business with
the manufacturers.
There were men from every kind )f
auto accessory house, correspondents
and advertising solicitors from news
papers and magazines from all over
this country, and some from Europe,
and men representing the transporta-
tor department of the business.
The lobby of the Pontchartrain has
been crowded this weekend with auto
men OF every description. The con-
versation was staccato with honks
and odors OF gasoline.
When the automobile manufactur
ers have convinced the big railroads
OF the country that their models are
so permanent that the building of spe-
cia1 equipment to handle their ship
mei,ts will not entail big loss to the
"oads, they need have no fear OF car
shortage or lack OF special equipment
according to prominent railroad Of
fetal who attended the banquet OF the
National Association OF Automobile
manufacturers at the Pontchartralr,
last night.
At that banquet quartet present
ed a burlesque intended to present ID
the representatives of the railroads
present at the feast In a lauEhable
way the makers desire not to be held
ND for lack OF carr to ship their autos
lin and their wish for special equip
The Official quoted says that If the
manufacturers are much alarmed they