The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1912-07-19
KATOS TRUCKS STAND
TEST ON A HARD TRIP
From Saturdays Daily.

From Saturdays Daily.
Secretary E. F. Soaring of the
Mankato Commercial club has re-
ceived the following letter from ID.
ID. Cummins, written from Ken
dali, Wis, he having charge of the
Kato truck that is being tried out
by the government in a practice
march through some pretty rough
country:
Through the columns of the
Mankato press l have often noticed
your efforts to secure everything
good for Mankato, but have often
wondered why your club passed up
one of the best propositions Man
kato could secure, and which at the
present time lays at your door wait
ing for you to take it in. | have
reference to the Four Traction Auto
company of Mankato.
Confidence in Machine.
From the very start | have had
entire confidence in Mr.. Rosenberg
er's four wheel drive patent, and
isnce getting in two weeks driving
one of his cars in one of the sever
est tests the U. S. government
could possibly think up, | wonder
more why your club does not jump
at the proposition. And then when
stop to think that proper fac
tory would empty from 1900 to 1000
men, one-half of whom, at least,
would bring families to Mankato,
begin to think that Mankato is
either blind or foolish not to take
hold of the matter.
"Since leaving Madison two weeks
ago the KatO has done wonders
every day. The officials in charge
of the contest have put up every
obstacle they could possibly think of
to stick the trucks. Six out of the
eleven trucks that started from Mad
isOn have gone back to their fac.
tories. Three out of the five left
are fourwheel drives and the other
two are already United States prop
erty.
Goes at High Speed.
1T is quite noticeable that the
Kato makes the hills and goes
through sand on high speed, while
the other four-wheelers go through
on second, while the other two are
helped by soldiers. The roads are
fierce, and those who ask us what
road we travel are in turn asked
what is the worst road, and when
they tell us, we tell them that that
is the road we will go over
'"The Kato is bear, and if prop.
erly pushed would demand the at
tention of the truck world. The
test is going to prove that the four
wheel driven truck is far superior
to the rear wheel driven truck, and
manufacturers are going to begin
looking around for good four wheel
drive patent, and in fact are doing
so now. And there is no doubt but
what the Kato will be sought for
and mint Of money made out of
it, why not let Mankato people make
this money and get the benefit of
it?
Small Capital Required.
AS | understand the matter, it
would require but a small amount
OF capital to start Mr.. Rosenbergers
patent on the road to a roaring sue
cess. Why not investigate the mat
ter? Hoping this may open your
eyes to good proposition, re-
main, Yours respectfully, d. d. Cum
Minis"
Mr.. Rosenberger states that he
has had inquiries from some of the
principal dealers in the country as
to his ability to furnish the Kato
trucks in quantity. These dealers
are in position to handle several
thousand year. He has been
awaiting the outcome of the govern.
men test, feeling that if the Kato is
named as the winner there would
be no difficulty in getting sufficient
capital to build and operate a large
plant, either in Mankato or else.
where
Result Will Be Made Public.
"The result of the test is expected
to be made public in August, and
Mr.. Rosenberger has entire conf
dence in the ability of his car to
win. He ran the car himself the
first few weeks, and then turned it
over to Mr.. Cummins to run, and
has been home since then, but in
close touch with Mr.. Cummins.
The tryout given by the govern
ment has been most favorable to the
Mankato-made car thus far. 1t
would seem that there ought to be
enough local capital that would be.
come interested to take hold of the
matter and push the manufacture of
the car.
A large number of members of
the Mankato Automobile club have
signified their intentions of joining
in the sociability and reliability tour
of the local auto club. About thir-
ty SO far have stated that they
would go on the tour.
DR.. ]. w. Andrews, chairman of
the committee on arrangements,
stated today that some have raised
the objection that if so many cars
took part, there would be consider
able dust raised. But Mr. Andrews