The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1913-04-06

Famous Told '999' is an epoch all by
itself in the history of American automo-
bile building" said Claud Miller, Wash
ington agent of the Ford, yesterday. ITO
every one who has followed the history
Of the industry at large or watches the
rapid growth of the Ford Motor Company
this car will always have a peculiar
significance.
1T was one of the first cars built by
Henry Ford, and Ii was pronounced
ready for running by its builder some
timo in the early eos. '999' was named
after the railroad engine in use on the
New York Central Railway. which bore
the reputation of being the fastest in
service and was numbered '999-'
"A friend of Henry Ford's at that
time was Tom Cooper. champion bicycle
rider. When the car was finally ready
for service neither Mr.. Ford nor Mr..
Cooper cared to see just how much speed
il had. When it was 'opened up" Ii
ran so fast that. in comparison, the
speed of a scared cat appeared a snail s
pace. This new invention was a for
midahle machine, lightninS-footed
monster OF the highway.
up until this time Barney Oldfield had
never touched a motor-driven vehicle
other than freight engine. He was
suggested by Nj. Cooper to Mr.. Ford
as the man who had the requisite nerve
to see Just how fast 'e99' actually could
run. Oldfield was then a bicycle rider.
He was sent for by Mr.. Ford, and
under the tutelage of the latter learned
to drive Oldfield proved worthy of his
reputation for nerve, and at the wheel of
'999' burned up the highways and race
tracks of the country. This was the
actual beginning of Oldfield's racing ca
reer.
Compared TO the car now manufac-
tured by the Ford Motor Company, 1893
WAS a crude affair indeed.
The present Ford touring car. with
its light vanadium steel construction
does not weigh half so much as did this
car"
The automobile is no longer the rich
mans plaything. and the big business of
today is. with the people of moderate in
comes SAYS Dave Hendricks, focal
agent of the Franklin Automobile Com
pany. THE novelty of owning an auto
mobile has worn off, and owners are
counting the cost.
Automobile economy is the newest
modern thought. From an expensive lux
ury to an economical convenience is
big step. The foundation point of econo-
my in automobile construction is light
comfort. are all intimately connected
to weight. The most economical engine
can neve- show low cost of operation
il TO move a cartain number Of pas
sengers il has also to move body and
chassis of excessive weight. But an
economical engine with a light car de-
signed to absorb road shocks will show
a dow operating cost. and will result in
greater total satisfaction.
There are two things which make up
the cost of motoring-the purchase price
of the car and the cost afterward. The
after cost includes operating expense,
repairs. and depreciation. and is often
so excessive as to make the purchase
price of small Importance.
THE expense of running an automo-
bile is in proportion 10 its weight. As
the weight goes up. the expense in
creases No one can deny that on the
average automobile owners have found
operating expenses TO he excessive. Some
owners in an effort to decrease expense
are using their cars less. This is not
the practical thing to do. People can
not give up the use of the automobile,
neither can they continue to pay the
present operating cost and the solution
Of the problem lies in buying car with
small operating expense.
Much Of the weight put into automo-
biles is superfluous and worse. II is
not necessary for strength. 1t handi-
caps ability and cuts down speed and
makes big expense for tires, fuel, and
repairs. On the other hand, lightweight
makes the power count gives greater
ability. more speed, and hill-climbing-
in other words. lightweight is economy.
Bulk and weight serve no good pur-
pose. Huge high power cars have had
their day in Europe. Small power and
compact cars are the rule there. The
average man doesn't know what to do
with excessive power, nor can ii do any,
thing for him.
In response to urgent messages from
Gov. Cox of Ohio and J. III. Patterson,
who is directing the relief measures at
Dayton, the Packard Motor Car Com
pany shipped eight Packard three-ton
trucks to the National Cash Register
Company's headquarters. This is ac-
cording to advices received by Sam A.
Luttrell of the Luttrell Company.
Washington representatives OF the
Packard Company. These trucks are
being loaned to the authorities to as
sist in rehabilitating the stricken city.
They are accompanied by ten men,
eight drivers and two traffic experts,
who will direct their operations under
instructions OF Mr.. Patterson and his
aids.
A special train was made up to con-
vey these trucks. and they were shipped
within two hours of the receipt of Mr..
Patterson's telegram. Word was re-
ceived Monday that all had been I'M
loaded in Dayton. They will work In
with twenty mine Packard
vehicles owned by the National Cash
Register Company, and placed by that
concern at the disposal of the citizens
Cliff w. Long, of the Commercial Auto
Supply Company, which sells the Stude-
baker cars, is an optimist, and to those
who can see nothing but i'll in the Next
can situation he is telling the following
story:
Doubtful OF his ability to get a message
to Detroit through the regular channels,
u. B. Richardson, Mexico City repre-
sentative of the Studebaker Corporation,
has arrived at the automobile cQmpany's
local headquarters, making his way out
Of the sister republic by a devious
route, on a journey that consumed more
than twice the usual schedule time. His
purpose was to secure an additional ship
ment Of cars to meet the abnormal de- |
mand which sprang up as soon as the
Diaz-Huerta government was established |
in power.
Mr.. Richardson's report of commercial
conditions ID Mexico will be reassuring
to all American manufacturers.
For some time prior to the revolu- |
ton" he says, business had been al |
most at a standstill, due to the belief |
that the Madero government was not |
Ac he ,l.or 4 4