Norwich bulletin., 1913-01-08
DOINCS IN THE AUTO WORLD
Madison Square Garden Show Opens Saturday With TOP E hbitors-Providence Show January 25-Speedfest Ormond- Dayton Beach in March.

| Monday saw 760 men undertake the work of rebuilding the interior of l Madison Square Garden, New York, to accommodate the 18th national au- tOmobile show. which will open in that building and the Grand Central palace 1 Saturday night. Those 760 workmen ] include steel construction workers, l decorators, carpenters, electricians. painters, elevator builders, sculptors, 1 telephone 1inemen, painters. and men
 of numerous other trades. In all, there will be 1900 people employed by the show management in the garden dlr- 1 ing the automobile show period in preparation and during the show. All told. there will be TOP exhibitors 1 in the two buildings for the two weeks. Part 1, during which pleasure cars, accessories and motorcycles are to be | shown, will show 467 exhibits. Part 2. which is to house commercial vehicles and accessories, will have over 250 exhibitors In the garden 42 makers will display pleasure vehicles the first week, while the Paloce has greater
 number-46 all told.
 Automobile competition unquestion- ably has been responsible for better built and more reliable motor cars. Such events as the American national reliability tours are still valuable while
 events should continue to serve the
 wants of those who enjoy the spec
 tacle of high speed hurtling, with the
 consequent danger suoh as is involved
 in every strenuous sport. With A
 state bodies and some 800 local clubs,
 the American automobile association
 is now in a position to accomplish
 much for those concerned in automo-
 bling, and distributed in every sec
 ton of our great country. It's worth
 is patent to the man who drives a
 car or to the one who takes a leis-
 urely pace awhee1 or afoot.
 Automobiles are no longer an un-
 familiar sight in China. On the roads
 where one formerly met the wealthy
 mandarin in 8 handsome carriage, be-
 hind a pair of large Australian horses,
 one now sees the same mandarin in
 the latest model of American, English
 or French or German car. This is
 the observation of M. A. Greenfield.
 one of the largest importers of China,
 who is now in Kalamazoo, Mich.
 Motor racing enthusiasts may not
 have to walt until next spring for
 big race meet to materialfZe. Plans
 are being outlined to revive the Or
 mond-Daytona Beach for speed test
 this winter, probably in March, at
 which time of year the sand on that wave-lashed course will be in good
 hard condition. It would be a shame
 to have this historic course abandoned
 permanently, and few days ago several men prominent in racing mat
 ters took up the proposition of stag ing meet there once again. Already some recognition has been received from Daytona. The people down in Florida are more than anxious to have racing revived on the beach. for they always had a prosperous time when the northerners went down there and spent a portion of their winter and their cash. It used to be customary for those connected with the industry who could afford it to attend the meets at Ormond.i and then. ofttimes con- tinue their trip down to Palm Beach and Miami before returning home. Sometimes they would go on still far ther to Key West.
 The second Providence automobile show, January 25-Felbruary 1, inclu- sive, will occupy exactly 38,547 square feet of floor space. This measurement space rented and makes no allow ance for aisles, smoking rooms, exeeu- tive offices, or other similar sections. Practically every portion of the big state armory, in the basement and main floor, are to be used for show purposes. In the main hall contracts have been made for 25,35s square feet, and in the basement there Is a floor area. of 11,410 to be let. The accessory department will cover 1878 square feet. This will be the largest exhibition ever held in Rhode Island, and second only in New England to the biggest of the
 
 is hoped to have the Providence show outrank the others, especially in the matter of decorations.
 Buying is already being done in Detroit for the 1914 product, and sales men from the innumerable automobile 1 and accessory manufacturing concerns are being called to Detroit daily to | confer with the buying agents of the 1 larger companies who are taking time 1 by the forelock That there will be a l number of most important changes l for the 1914 product of many | of the factories is conceded. It is | that a number of models are l being designed right now with gear | less shifting devices and other inno- | vatfons are being adopted which will i simplify the motor cars of 1914 great 1 ly. One prominent engineer was re- gently overheard to say that the cars l of today are no more like what the l cars of the future will be like than day is like night The improvements 1 will be many, and changes are quite 1 as numerous as time goes by, as every 1 effort is now being made to simplify l the construction.
 The sum of $64,4ss has been paid ] into the Alabama state treasury for automobile licenses during the past year. The expense of operating the