The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-02-08
R Car 4m9
(0 Msi va,
BY J. ri. sIMME.

BY j. III. SIMME.
Much has been written regarding
the changing conditions in the South
land. and many have been the evil
dences of her awakening. Pride OF
race. and effort have, of course. beer
the moving spirit in this, but mod
ernity' has been the bone and sinew
of the movement. Farms, towns, and
cities In the South all record their
quota of progress to this giant. Or
every side may be noted the displace-
ment of the method old with the
method new. How great the place
In future history modern methods
may take, the automobile will stand
to the fore rs an ally to development
and progress.
Richmond. which may well be
called the leading city of the South,
embraces incidents of considerable
interest in the story of progress. and
the power driven vehicle, step by
step, has accompanied her awaken
ing. We may well, then, take Rich
mond as an example In Determining
the present conditions south OF the
Mason and Dixon lire.
Here the pioneer automobile dealer
laughingly relates his early struggles
vexations, and triufnphs, from the
Gle to the present rapid assimilation
of the modern power truck.
The advent Of the first truck WA
looked upon with interest and sus-
picion The claim of the nlanufac-
turers that one machine was capable
of replacing as many as four double
teams of the classic mule was re-
garded as at the least, exaggeration
The question of cost of maintenance,
~ al ~ ~
three of the essential elements Of
motor truck operation rapidly arose
The pioneer motor truck disposed 81
the first two; the dealer selling II,
proving that he could solve the Last
by promptly serving the user in all
the necessary supplies, adjustments,
or minor parts. The claims of the
manufacturers proved TO be fair. and
suspicion disposed of. buyer followed
buyer in natural sequence. Rich
mond today Is well represented as Z
user of motor trucks. the city de-
partments leading. and many OF her
merchants. embracing packers. coal
dealers, manufacturing plants. to-
bacco warehouses. piano, and dry
goods dealers and divers others.
The types OF vehicles thus far rep
resented with the greatest degree OF
success are gasolene and electric.
Owing to the local typography the
gasolene truck has proven It's SUI
periority. though economical opera
ton is claimed for both. A consensus
of opinion among owners of motor
trucks in Richmond liz that the claims
Of manufacturers of such are, in fact.
modest. The way has been paved for
more liberal use of this means OF
transportation. which for the season
Just closed has shown an increase of
approximately see per cent.
II was, In fact. the advent Of the
motor truck that has brought Rich
mond among her larger sisters. In
that her automobile show of pleasure
cars and motor trucks was primarily
demanded by the prospective buyer.
In carrying out this plan the Horse
Show Building was leased with a floor
space of approximately $4,000 square
feet Arrangements have been con-
cluded for profuse decoration, all
space has been sold. and permanent
annual show guaranteed. From Feb
ruary 18th to 23d will be gala week
in Richmond, and she invites inspec-
ton at that time, her visitors being
assured of hearty and hospitable
welcome.
This shows Enterprise.
President l.. NJ, Foster. OF the Au-
tomobile Dealers Show association. Is
a great booster for Buick cars and
gives this information concerning the
enterprise of the famous Buick firm
Notwithstanding the $4,000 fire
which destroyed the brass and alumni
mum foundry of the Buick Motor COM
pany NJ Flint. Mich. they are still
making deliveries by the trainload.
Right ON top of the eleven trains
sent out in 1919. they are starting out
on 1913 business with two trainloads
in the first three weeks OF January.
The first was one OF Atty carloads
which went to the Nebraska Buick
company at Lincoln. Neb. This is
said TO be the first trainload shipment
of motor. cars made. into that terri
tory.
1.-THE second LIS one of eighty car
loads which will be sent out the COM
ing week to the Pence Automobile
company. at Minneapolis. The train
will carry $50 Bucks. and is the Sec
ond to go to the Pence people within
period Of only five weeks.
"A big concern like the Buick has
no end of trouble in getting enough
freight cars. Sometimes they can't,
and II they can't. they make delivery
weather and no matter what the
roads. Deliveries thus far this sea-
son haps bern made 70 points as far
away as Pittsburg. Cleveland and
indianapolis, not to mention Detroit,
Battle Creek and other places near at
home where that kind of delivery is
so common as TO excite no comment,
But the real trouble In sending out
a trainload shipment comes in load
ing and getting away without seri~
New England After