Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-05-05

CONTINUED from Seventh Page,

Continued from Seventh PageD
and who own and drive their own ears
will be eligible to compete in this contest.
DOther cars may, and many are expected,
to Join the rum but they will not be con-
sidered in the distribution of prizes.
Although the announcement OF this run
is less than q week old. the news seems
to have spread far and wide, and is evok-
ing much enthusiasm in the farming and
automobile worlds. Letters have been
pouring in on the committee In charge,
many of them from important manufac-
turers all over the nation, others from
dealers anxious to offer special prizes,
| and still others from towns along the
proposed route, seconding the idea ana
offering to cooperate.
The farmers. too, have been quick TO
join in with the idea, and the first entry
was made the next morning after the
| announcement came out This was
thirty-horsepower Chalmers owned by a
| turkey fancier who resides in Plano.
Texas. Other entries have followed in
quick succession
A pathfinder, accompanied by press
car, will start out about the LIST of May.
| There was SO much rivalry among the
| dealers of Dallas to offer this car the
selection had to be made by lot. The
Case and Kissel kars were the winners,
respectively.
Besides being an event absolutely
unique in automobile history 1t, is gen.
orally believed that this run will have
| more to do with better understanding
between the farmer and the auto than
any other plan yet conceived. Besides
being wonderful impetus to the good
roads movement 1t is expected to in
crease the sales Of automobiles greatly
throughout the whole southwest.
A>* +
Arthur Stanley Zell, president of the
Jail MA$a a NAS,nV nv al ar
Cleveland Ohio, where he will spend
about ten days at the Peerless factory.
\ 4
Twelve years ago there were not over
5000 motor vehicles in use in America
now there are over 652. 461. these being
the registra ton figures up to April, 1912.
The daily production of pleasure cars
during the year 1911 reached the sur
prising figure of 700 per day and this
number will be exceeded at the presen.
rate for 1912. one maker alone now pro-
ducing 10000 cars month or at the rate
of a complete car every minute and TWEEN
ty-one seconds.
Commercial cars have not been fac
tor until the last three years. There are
now over 200 American manufacturers of
pleasure cars and 80 makers of trucks
Up to 1911 registration figures show
25.451 commercial vehicles in use.
Ut is significant Of the recent impetus
in the manufacture OF commercial cars
that estimates place the production for
1912 at 10000 Thus, in one year the
total number of motor trucks in use will
be doubled.
In a recent canvass, made by the Com
mercial Car Journal. it was ascertained
that some % per cent Of all users Of COM
mercial cars, in every line of business,
throughout the United States, are unani-
nous in the opinion that the motor-driven
truck is not only past the experimental
stage, but ranks with the telephone, tele-
graph, electric light and transportation
lines. Numerous quotations of letters
from men In all kinds Of business were
given, showing conclusively that CONNER
cial cars are considered more economical
than former methods.
Their use has opened up new terri
tories increased business and produced
satisfactory customers-while with horses
or even by rail these territories were
either inaccessible or too expensive to
bring within reach. Several instances
| were also given in which the trucks
actually compete with the railroads and
show resultant saving.
About June 1 important new regula-
tions will go into force abolishing the use
Of the foreign triptyque except for visits
| TO single country, and replacing it by
an internationa customs pass book. In
stead OF having to make separate de-
post for each country about to be visited
| the motorist will deposit the highest
amount Of any one country. Every time
he crosses the frontier the fact will be re-
corded On his pass book by the customs
authorities, and he will not be admitted
to a new country until he has been dis
| charged from the one he has just left.
This will make it possible to cross and re-
| cross the frontiers any number of times
with the certainty that the correct dis
charge always will be obtained, for the
officer will send the holder back if he has
neglected to have his papers stamped and
signed when coming out of the adjoining
country.
All cars taken across the Atlantic must
be Grated. Generally this necessitates
handing the car to the freight agent two
or three days before the time of sailing.
Some companies have arrangements
whereby the cars can be packed at the
docks thus saving the expense and trou-
BILE Of carting across the city. hnd allow
| ing 1t to be run almost to the steamer
side under it's own power. Transatlantic
rates vary from Is cents to 30 cents per
cubic foot. Below are two estimates for
| cars taken from New ork to Havre, the
cars in each case being Packard thirty
horsepower touring models:
| Estimate No. 1, New York to Havre:
Freight, $50 cubic feet at 10 cents per
cubic foot, $1o4: case and packing, $50;
caItage to steamer, SO; our commission,
$40: Havre landing charges, unpacking,
clearing .t,nss charges arg 81 Total :, s2g1 d..
Freight, 655 cubic feet at 30 cents per
cubic foot, $1965O; carriage In New York
CITY, s.: all risks. insurance half per
cent on 5000, $25: landing and clearing
charges, $40. Total, $238.5O.
| X y
| S. A. Taylor of the Goodyear Tire and
Rubber Company arrived from Akron
Ohio, yesterday and will spend q few
days in the National Capital. During his
stay he will be the guest of F. w.
| Powers, the local branch manager
~
| A million miles Of road in all parts of
| the United States this year will receive
attention OF one kind or another, as a
| result Of the greater use Of the high
1 ways, brought about mainly by the in
creased number Of self-propelled vehicles.
In making this estimate Chairman George
C. Diehl OF the A. A. A. national good
roads board. believes the total is a con-
servatfve one. for there are now 1000 900
miles of roads, Of which easily one-half
| comes in for a substantial amount of
/ daily travelling. In the spring reports
| which the good roads board receives from
/ all parts of the country there is unusual
| grist Of Information, indicating positive
| progress.
In Nebraska the legislative committee