The Washington herald., 1912-04-21
By WILLIAM ULLMAN.

I
en- the enthusiasm OF the few members
present. In addition to the formal
opening Of the cozy little clubhouse, a
meeting Of the board Of governors was
scheduled to discuss the soc!ability run.
set for May Is, and It is a deplorable
fact that the attendance hardly num-
bered enough for an enjoyable game Of
! poker. II Is probable that the threat
ening weather kept many way Capt.
Jose was generous enough 10 suggest
that the thunder and lightning was re-
sponsible for the nonattendance. while
Secretary Heyl thought OF another ex-
cuse or two that would give the miss
ing ones the benefit OF the doubt about
their absence.
However. there are about 100 members
in good standing, a goodly sum of
money in the treasury. and some jolly
times planned for the future, so It Is to
be hoped that those who have neglected
to take advantage OF their membership
will awaken to the fact that the pleas
ure Of motoring can be greatly In
creased by interesting themselves in the
plans OF the club.
| 1t was suggested that those contem-
plating entering the sociability run Join
/ IN a jaunt over the course about the
first Sunday in May for the purpose of
familiarizing themselves with the pro-
posed route.
A three-day endurance run-washIng-
ton to Harrisburg TO Philadelphia-was
also proposed. and Secretary Heyl was
board Of governors to consider the prop
ositien
Ted" Johnston, manager of the Buick
Motor Company's local branch, returned
last Tuesday from a visit to the factory
at Flint Mich. Mr.. Johnston declares
that he never saw such a congested con-
dition at the Buick plant before and that
two serious problems confront his fac
tory at the present time. One OF them Is
that they are unable TO build cars as fast
as the orders come in and the other
that they cannot obtain freight cars In
which to make shipment after the cars
are ready for delivery
No one seems to be able to satisfac-
torily explain Just why the cars are un-
ootainable, but are painfully aware or
the fact that they cannot procure them.
A glance at the sales and deliveries OF
the Buick Motor Company, IN another
column OF this paper, would suggest that
Ted had taken some "empties'' to
Flint with him and returned with the
goods, emulating the example of George
Hall, of Baltimore, agent for the Buick
in that city.
The writer visited a local freight yard
the other day, accompanying a local
dealer, endeavoring to pry his cars out
of the yard. and is free to confess that
he never saw such a mass OF automobiles
In one freight yard before all OF which.
considering the statement that shipments
are arriving slowly, means that the local
dealers are doing a tremendous business.
The Buick Company has just received
the first model OF the Buick demi-
tonneau, which is being displayed in
their showrooms and should interest mo-
torists.
Frank G. Geraghty sells tires, but
Frank should be employed as a press
agent.
The way Frank G. can acquire a
stranglehoId on newspaper men, shoot
likeable conversation in his ear, pat him
on the back, and have him laughing
when he says good-by is really marvel
Gus and deserves favorable comment.
All OF which the newspaper man likes, II
he is human. AS to Mr.. Geraghty and
his occupation, he was formerly with the
American Locomotive Works and is now
associated with the Imperial Motor Com
pany as salesman, featuring Motz cush-
ion tires, for (which the Imperial people
are the local agents.
That there are now 10000 men ofh-
cially employed on the work Of superin-.
tending the maintenance and construc-
ton Of the, roads Of the. United States Is
one OF the indications OF the size Of the
American road congress that Is to be
held in the fall The American road con-
gress will draw not only the men who
nv L.
but most OF the automobile men Of the
country, all the manufacturers OF road
machinery and road materials, and thou
sands Of public oficials and private citi-
Gems whose interest in the road improve
ment movement. while not so direct, is
equally enthusiastic. Farmers through.
out the country are showing a lively In
terest in the approaching congress and
will be represented by a big delegation.
Because Of the immense size OF the con-
gress, which Is a consolidation Of the con-
ventions OF the American Automobile As
ISOLATION, the American Rod Builders
Association, The American Association
for Highway Improvement. and the Ma.
tional Association OF Road Material and
Machinery Manufacturers, the committee
on time and place which has been APP
pointed by the executive committee OF the
congress to select the city where the big
meeting will be held has been instructed
to carefully inquire into the railroad fa-
cilities, the hotel ccommodations, and
convention hall facilities OF the various
cities which are under consideration.
Strong bids for the convention have
been made by Chicago. Atlanta, New Or
leans, Detroit. Kansas City. st. Louis. At
lantic City, Buffalo, Washington, d. c.,
Philadelphia. Cincinnati.
Cleveland, San Francisco, Denver, Colo
rado Springs, and Mountain Lake Park.
Nd. All bids will be considered by the
executive committee, but no selections
will be made until the facilities OF the
various places have been personally in
spected by the committee on time and
place, which will start out within a short |
time.
The problem of selecting a city where |
the congress shall be held is not as sim |
pie q matter as It might seem to be. The |
COMMITTEES on time and place viii have |
to keep the convenience Of all four asso- |
Citations In mind It Will be necessary to |
select a city that win be as accessible to |
all the automobilists Of the country as It |
will be to the public officials, railroad |
men, and private citizens belonging TO the
American Association for Highway Inn |
provement and to the road builders and
the manufacturers.
The reinstatement OF Barney Oldfield /
by the A. A. A. contest board is sure to
add a not inconsiderabIe amount OF IN
terest to those events in which the versa |
tile Barney competes this year. For ali /
that practically all his records have since
been broken by other candidates for the
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