The Washington herald., 1912-02-04
AUTOMOBILE NOTES

Motor-sIeighing is the latest automo-
bile fad.
According to the united verdict of its
devOtees, a ride in a motor-sled COM
pares to mere automobiling as a cutter
ride to a trip in horse-drawn vehicle
with wheels.
The long period of cold weather in the
Northern cities has brought out a large
number Of mOtor-sleds of a more or less
ingenious type. Up to date the palm for
originality must be accorded to Frank B.
Willis, of Indianapolis, whose sled is not
cnly the most ample in size but also the
most sensational in deeds and appear
ance
Mr.. Willis started out by equipping his
Flanders go with runners in front, in
stead Of wheels. He had a lot of fun
with this rig. but had so much power
and speed at his disposal that he cast
about to make his vehicle more commo-
dious. He secured an extra Flanders
% BODY of the Suburban type, front
axle attached, and jointed it to his own
car, back to back. The extreme rear end
was mounted on runners and coupled to
a steering device This allowed the rig
TO be whisked around city streets on the
same principle as a hook and ladder
truck. Five seats were mounted on the
peculiar body. ..-. H..
Thus equipped Mr. Willis and his rig
have been for some time a rapidly rowing
center OF observation about the Hoosier
metropolis. He has festooned as many
as twenty persons yon the seats and sides
and has shown ability to make forty
miles an hour whenever he cares to. At
this speed the sensation is said to be as
near to flying as any imitation can ap-
pToach. Mr.. Willis doesn't yet know
how fast his rig will really go, and is
signing for an ice straightaway on which
TO really cut it loose.
So well was the Flanders "a0' auto
sled working in Indianapolis that Mr..
Willis braved the chance of a thaw and
took it, with party of friends, to the
chicago show. There many maintained
that the sled was more Of a curiosity
than the big show itself
Mr.. Wills calls his sled THE Skeeter, -
presumably after the Flanders $50" sim
ilarly dubbed, in which he won a long
string Of track races and hiIl-clinbs dur.
ing the summer and fall OF 1911
IF every automobile factory in the
United States was to produce double the
number Of machines it is now producing
and every machine was a commercial
vehicle, there would then not be enough
made to take care OF the increase alone
. in our commerce at the present rate OF
growth, If the government statistics can
be taken as guide" said w. (. Wright,
vice president and general manager OF
the Knox Automobile Company.
The new year book of the Department
of Agriculture discloses some startling
figures. 1t shows a wonderful increase
IN horse stock. In 1900 there were l5,-
100000 horses in the United States, ana
ten years later, or in 1910, there were
24.00O, 900 horses.
Where is the man who says that In
ten years the horse win be extinct? Also
where is the man who says the automo-
bile business is being overdoney
THE upkeep OF horses is increasing
faster than the value, while the upkeep
of the automobile is decreasing. IN the
face of these figures. how can any one
say the automobile business is being
overdone? 1t is really just now coming
into its own.
The Knox Automobile Company antic-
ipates that 1872 VIII be the biggest year
IN its history. Our commercial vehicle.
fire apparatus, and tractor business viii
easily be three times what it was in
ISL All the other old line manufac-