Omaha daily bee., 1914-03-01
AUTO SHOW NOW A MEMORY
Ninth Annual Event Best and Big
gest Ever Held in the City.
ALL SATISFIED WITH RESULTS
Attendance Reaches the High water
Mark ana the sales Made Were
Far Ahead of All Former


Years.
at 10 o'clock last night the ninth annual
Omaha Automobile show ended and 900
dealers and statesmen began preparations
TO move their exhibition cars out OF the
Auditorium. At a late hour. or rather
an early hour this morning, the last OF
the cars rolled out the side door and the
dealers and salesmen gave devout thanks
that the show was a thing Of the past,
while at the same time they burst into
magnificent eulogies OF the 1915 show
II was the greatest show Omaha ever
had, was the unanimous expression of the
participants. The crowds were greater
the number Of cars sold was greater and
the enthusiasm was greater. Clarke
Powell announced last night that the at
tendance figures ran 20 per cent above
those Of last year. and last year was
the record Of the previous shows Dealers
estimated that the total business promuI-
gated during the show was several times
greater than the business at other shows
The crowd yesterday held It's own with
the large average established other
nights. IL was an Omaha crowd. The
country dealers all left Saturday morning
/ or Friday, with but a few exceptions, and
the face of the country doaler and his
farmer prospect was aninfrequent sight
/ But Omaha responded As is usual in the
case OF city folk. many Omahans put off
! going TO the show until the last minute
| Last night was the last minute and a
swarm OF the delayed but eager persons
hurried into the Auditorium 70 see the
sights as long as tho vision lasted. And
II was not a curious crowd, either, as
Saturday night crowds generally are
People were on business bent, and buH-
| ness they did. They listened TO the lee
lures, examined the cars, were attentive
to the sales talks and then bought the
car of their choice. The contracts ran
well up into large numbers and the ex-
hibitors were duly thankful that the clos
| ing night should be so fitting for sue
cessful show.
Many Sales Made.
But at 10 o'clock the Auditorium was
! cleared and all but those connected with
the show left the building within ten min
utes. Then the dealers and their sales
men and the factory representatives con-
gregated about to talk over the week.
| Business was over and they were no
longer rivals, but the best of friends.
/ Then was the best opportunity to learn
just how successful the show really was.
Every man was eager to add his praise
! 70 the event, and the visiting representa-
tlves were vociferouss In their approval
OF Omaha as a business city. They all did
a splendid business and some OF those
who have made the circuit of national
shows asserted that as cash basis town.
! where business was really business on a
money standpoint and not on the stand
! point OF talk, Omaha could bo classed
/ with any city In the country.
4 After they had talked awhile all got
/ down To work and hurried the cars from
the building II was slow process be-
l cause only one car could be moved at
n time and the cars ON the stage were
handicapped by the incline TO the arena
floor, but It was all done in record time
and the building was soon cleared
1 Clarke Powell. manager OF the show,
| shirked his duties as executive head and
! went home before the show broke up.
4 He departed Just before 10 o'clock so he
| could stop at the door, look back and see
| bustling activity on every side. Then he
| left without looking around. lie wanted
70 have an active scene on his mind as
he left and not one Of big, cold-looSing
building.
Before the show closed the exhibitors
began to talk of prospects for next years
event. with one or two exceptions all
we're In favor Of bigger and better
show next year A few OF the exhibitors
we're dissatisfied with the display this
year and they expressed the opinion tha.
they would refuse to re-enter the asso-
clatlon next year. Their absence will not
be missed because the more active stock
holders will be Ollowed more display
space ana thus improve the show hat
much. Clarke Powell stated that efforts
would be made to make the tenth event
the best OF all and that tentative plaus
would be made as soon as possible.
The show this year was a boom for
the automobile business. Interest WAS
stimulated to a high degree and dealers
in this part OF the country predict .ha;
the trade this spring and summer wit
be the best ever and that the show was
conducive to this animation.
Notes OF the show.
Frank Haller. OF the Lininger Imple-
ment company made several visits to the
show, although he manifested no activ-
| ity. Il think this years show is the best