davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune., 1915-12-05
A Car to Every 100 PEOPLE.

In the last decade the automobile industry SHOWS
an increase in volume and value Of product Of
9278 per cent. It's nearest competitor in point OF
growth, electrical manufacturing, has gained only
1O7 per cent For 1915 alone trade authorities
predict further increase In volume Of production
of from 20 to 95 per cent, computed on the 1915
volume and estimate the aggregate output OF
American factories at 100000 new cars, with
sales value Of approximately s700,000,0co.
The totals appear even more impressive when
considered In proportion to the population Of the
country, and mean that in the coming year there
will be produced and sold motor car to every
100 people in the United States. Il is estimated
that at the present time there more than
100000 pleasure In use in America, or one
TO every fifty persons, or to carry 1t further and
considering four persons to family, approximate
ly one motor to every twelve families. By
the end of the fiscal year Of 1916 and assuming the
estimated production to have been disposed Of,
this ratio will have been reduced to one automo
bile to every eight families.
The distribution Of this tremendous msnufact-
uring volume has been general and In way
fined to the more populous sections Of the country
New York State. Of course, leads the Republic in
the number Of cars owned in any state. W.T.
something than 100000 machines owned with
in its borders, but in relation to the density Of
population Of the other states New York is far
from being unique. Take Kansas, for example Il
the corn barons continue to buy automobiles at
the present rate, it follows, mathematicaly, that
by July l, 1918, there will be owned in that state
motor car for every solitary family. To-day
even, according to Kansas statistics, there is one
automobile to every thrty-four persons in the
state or to pursue the original ratio, TO every
eight families
Had the old idea in motor manufacture pre-
vailed and the higher class companies gone on
producing few cars at a high price for limited
market, as before, It is most unlikely values
would have attained their present stable level 1t
is only because the leaders in the industry set
about to serve the broad central market and ef-
fected such additions to plants and equipments and
facilities as to be able to market the highest class
car at price within general reach that the pres
New-York tribune., 1915-12-05

police reports show that 90 per cent OF IA. 49,.
dents are caused by the careessness Of the n,r,.s
Under the new form the police report Of /. 49,.
accident covers the cause, location, nsturs. ..-
BUSINESS, type Of vehicle involved, age Of ,,,..',
and time of day.
OF 1888 accidents in August in which ysh,y.-
were involved, and the causes Of which wsr. -
ported, 903 Cor 90 per cent? due to IN. ,,,,,
Of the injured, 81 to the fault Of the driver, !,
to defects In the vehicles, 81 to skiddine ,,i :,
TO various other causes.
or TAB persons struck by vehicles Of sllu..
including bicycles, during the month, go -
killed or injured a result Of their own t-,.
and only 81 due TO the fault of the driver, in
2s4 persons were struck by vehicles when ero,...
streets at other than street intersection, Pr.
from vehicles accounted for 224 accidents. So
persons were hurt when getting on or of dr..
cars in an improper way; 1877 we're killed a, 4.
jured while playing in the street through M t.,.
Of drivers; 30 into or in front of yeh,.l..'
26 were intoxicated, and 5s were stealing ride.
Among other interesting facts shown by n. ~
port are that street accidents increase st,,Sp,
from January TO July and then gradually deer.,,.
until the end Of the year; that most aees,,,,
occur from IL a. m. TO 12 noon and from >.
p. M; that about rs per cent Of the persons fa,.,
hurt are children, and that the largest numb,
Of children killed and injured are aged from -.
to eight years.
New-York tribune., 1915-12-05
Plummer Leaves Locomobile.

II is not a pleasant thing TO see such aristoerAto
old timers as John f. Plummer getting out OF
the automobile business. II may be possiols ne
has not left us entirely, but he has resigned from
the Loeomobile company and when eslied MIN
yesterday morning at his country seat on the Hud-
son he said he could not make any positive an
nouncement for the future.
He was Just going to shoot a few moth balls on
the Sleepy Hollow links and did not appear TO be
deeply interested in the Bread Line. From this
infer somebody has reserved drawing room LOT
him somewhere on Automobile Row.
All he would say about the Locomobhe was that
al. I, still tn. best car in the world" This much
we had already gathered from its advertising.
Nevertheless, II is but fair to assume certain
changes have taken place in the organization since
the death Of S. T. Davis, jr., the founder. Mr'
Plummer has been with the company for sixteen
wears. and the association could hardly have peen
broken off so suddenly without cause
In 1902. when the Loeomobile high Wheel
spider-like steam carriage, Mr.. Plummer went
around the world preaching the gospel OF Loco
in China Japan Australia, India, Egypt and South
America In 1908 he placed in charge OF the
New York branch, and the Locomobile grew 70
he a vehicle for the exclusive Mr. Plummer boosted
il TO social level from which it could easily look
down on anything which prOwlsd up and down
nltra clubs and a sweet morsel for the women OF
fashion to discuss at their afternoon time killers
When It became necessary for the Locomoois
+o bav. a home in New York which was In keeping
With It's social position Mr. Plummer selected the
ate and planned the building II will stand Tor
many years as testimonial to his excellent 'aste.
Although Mr.. Plummer surrounded himself and
the Locomobile with this dignifed atmosphere he
wa never undemocratic, and his exquisite cars
S;ere never too good for the humblest shopper to
see Every visitor was treated with extreme polite
ness from the moment he entered the door until ne
left and was asked TO call again.
Mr.. Plummer was always ready TO cooperate with
his fellow dealers in any movement which was for
the good of the trade. He was for long time
president Of the New York Dealers Association
and did much to make it influential organiEa-
ton.
when say that Automobile Row has lost, only
temporarily, hope, mighty high type OF business
man, think ! express the feeling Of every man
who has come in contact with Mr.. Plummer during
his sixteen years Of active service with the Loco
mobile Company Of America
New-York tribune., 1915-12-05

side" meaning outside Of the eompsny's regular
customers.
There Is every evidence that the Standard IN
tends to adhere to It's policy Of taking care OF It's
old customers first. The latest consular reports
show that the United States is exporting only
shout two-thirds Of It's usual volume of gasolene
The value Of the gas exported during the nine
months ending last September was only slO-
$4,000, against S16,5l40O0 for the corresponding
months Of 1914 Since September the exporta-
ton Of gas has been far below the minimum record
The plain fact is consuming more gas
than the supply of crude oil will yield at figure
which the automobst considers reasonable.
have heard it said by men in the automobile
trade that they feared would face 30 cent
gasolene next spring. But have been unable to
find an official Of the Standard Oil Company who
would predict such price.
The oil men hold, the contrary, that the press
ure will likely be relieved before spring. If things
should quiet down in Mexico, might get back
to 15 cent gas At present the East is drawing its
supply Of gas from what is called the mdcontinent
fields. The gas we use in New York comes largely
from Oklahoma.
New-York tribune., 1915-12-05

1t will carry two three FOUNDERS and several ma
chino guns Ten men will compose the crew
II is what military men call double drive, hav-
ing a steering gear at each end. There is only
one motor, but the driving gears permit OF re-
verse speed Of more than fifteen miles an hour.
The car may be driven into an attack head on,
and II things get too warm 1t may be backed
out at good rate OF speed, the rear driver taxing
up the steering.
Just how many battle cars the first train VIII
contain has not been decided. The majority OF Vne
cars will be smaller than this one and designed
to make speed.
Ebert H. Gary, chairman of the United States
Steel Corporation, and Charles NJ. Schwab' OF the
bethlehem Steel Company, have interested them
selve, in the train and are going to manufacture
the arnor plate.
New-York tribune., 1915-12-05
Springfield Body Co.
Ouadruples Facilities
New Million Dollar Corporation
Takes Over Business and
Plant of Old Company.

The Springfield Body Company has
been incorporated with capitalization
OF S1,0OO,0O0 10 take over the business
of the Springfield Metal Body Com
pany, of Springfield, Mass.
The new corporation will be headed
by w. L. Fry, New York City, as presi.
dent; vice-president and director of
sales, f.. w. McGookin, Detroit, Mich;
vice-president and chief engineer, Hind
sale Smith, Springfield, Mass; treas
urer, A. p. Smith, Springfield, Mass.
The board OF directors includes as
members Walter /. Fry, Z. W.. Nc
Gookin, Hindsale Smith, a. z. Smith
and Frederick Fuller
About a year ago ". l.. Fry, presi-
dent Of the new corporation, became
interested in the old company.
The demand for the convertible body
convinced Dir. Fry of the business pos
sibilities in that field.
He realized, however, that the trend
of the automobile business was toward
medium priced cars, and that in order
20 reach this market, which was grow
ing by leaps and bounds, ne must lower
the price Of convertible bodies. HIS
problem was, therefore, one OF organl-
zstion-of securing men OF proven
ability 10 handle quantity production
and large volume Of sales.
Just how well MIR. Fry analyzed the
possibilities OF the market for convert
ible bodies and solved his problem OF
New-York tribune., 1915-12-05
Who Said Racing Was Dead2

In the daily rush of men and motors we may
easily overlook an important development or per-
sonage II wa. by mere accident that stumbled
upon a copy Of the address Of G. W. Dickinson,
secretary of the Michigan State Fair, before the
American Association Of Fairs and Expositons,
Just held in Chicago
His subject was Automobile Racing" and after
reading the rather lengthy document l am con-
vinced that we have never yet seen the ideal au-
tomobe race.
Mr.. Dickinson has lifted the curtain which hid
it from our view and put on the right track
He saws the monster cement or board speedway
idea is bug which the public will not fall for, and
that it cannot be made to pay because the big
speedway offers opportunity for spectacular
driving the only thing that will hold the crowd.
Mr.. Dickinson says we must 60 back to the dirt
track, with an oval Of a mile or a mile and half
The car must be negative element His Ideal
would be for every driver to use the same make
Of car, thus eliminating advertising element
which he considers great drawback to the senu-
inc sport.
He believes we have three sensational features
in automobile dirt track racing which cannot be
introduced on the modern speedway, and that upon
them the entire future of the sport must depend.
They are the spectacular skid, the hair raising
slide and the blood boiling leap. Only the great
Snowman, he says can realize this, and only the
Snowman can put automobile racing on lasting
basis. Mere sustained speed, he holds, is mo-
notonous and tresome.
Just how seriously the exposition managers took
the suggestions made by Mr.. Dickinson is not
known, but 1t is interesting to realize that the
kings Of the old dirt track school Of racing still
have at least one sturdy champion left If in the
course of time the perfectly safe speedway fails
to thrill US with it's form Of racing have one
more chance to hold the public with the automo-
bile slide and leap.
New-York tribune., 1915-12-05

the train. They will come from donations by
number Of public spirited business men who re-
slize that New York State should take the lead
in demonstrating the necessity for such unit
in every state guard. 1t is estimated that 'he
train will cost not less than $4,000.
As Is always the in q development OF this
kind. II has remained for one enthusiastic man 70
put his shoulder to the wheel and stir up the
initial funds Lieutenant Fl. G. Montgomery, of the
18th Regiment, and a member of the Metropolitan
and other clubs, has been working quietly among
the business men Of his acquaintance since last
summer.
He started out with the Idea Of building motor
train without cost to the state and presenting 1t
to the guard.
When | saw him at the Metropolitan Club yes
terday he said ne would prefer not to taiS about
what has been accomplished.
understand, however, that the whole plan for
organizing the armored train and presenting 1t to
the guard has been carried out with the approval
and cooperation Of General Organ, commanding
the guard and when the are assembled for
service the state will have an armored motor unit
equal to anything of its kind in the world.
The accompanying illustration shows what will
probably be the largest battle car in the train
New-York tribune., 1915-12-05
Automobile Salon
at Hotel Astor
Exhibition Which Opens on jan
uary 3 Contains Several
Domestic Cars.

January 3 to 8, inclusive, Is the da,s
selected for the Automobile Salon. neio
annually in the Grand Ballroom OF Ie'
Hotel Astor, New York. The iorih'
coming salon will have more exhibitors
than any of its predecessors, snd 'ns
participation of a number Of Ameries1,
makes will emphasize the changing .,
this long established show from one once, o.
foreign cars exclusively 70 an e1hiOr
ton of representative nign grade s''
Of both Europe and America.
Foremost among the American makers
who will exhibit their new models
the Automobile Salon the first week ~ !,
January is the White Company 81
Cleveland. In arranging to snow W
product in New YORK On.y az the ssiyn
this veteran company was actustea V
a desire to be represented az an e1nlD.'
tion limited to high grade cars OF ".
ternational reputation, where amP.
space could be had TO properly dispNv
its new models, and where eondluon'
were most congenial for those ih'e'
ested in auto mobiles OF this class.
Stefan j. Kjeldsen, who will aga.
manage the Automobile Salon, nSie'
the different makes of cars FOR whIsH
space has already been secured IN 70,
following statement: "The exhibit o.
three makes Of prominent Ameness,
cars at last years salon, alongslae u
those of foreign manufacture, rsfAss
a change IN the character Of these Sh'
nual exhibitions.
New-York tribune., 1915-12-05
Gasolene Extremely Scarce.

The gasolene situation is quite desperate. the
Faithful Old Standard Oil Company, which seldom
kicks when business is bad, has not complained
but It is fact that never before in the history
Of the oil business in America has the Standard
been compelled to turn down orders because OF
shortage In crude oil
This is the time Of year when the gasolene manu-
factursr should store for the spring business, but
understand that none Of the Standard OIL COM
panies can get enough crude oil TO produce the
volume Of gasolene which is demanded for cur
rent consumption
The telegraph and telephone wires have been
kept warm by Standard officials for a number OF
weeks past in quest Of crude oil. In the mean
time the company is said to have turned down
numerous large orders for gasolene "from the out
New-York tribune., 1915-12-05
HurIburt Opens New Plant.

The Hurlburt Motor Truck Company
has just opened its new plant on the
Harlem River, near Third Avenue
Motor truck users in New York are
familiar with the product Of this com
pany, which has been growing rapidly
during the past four years. II was
founded in 1912 by William B. Hurl-
burt, who had already established him
self here as sales maneger. lie was
for a number of years the Packard rep
resentative in the metropolitan district,
and he has built his own organization
along the most substantial and scien-
tihc lines.
Associated with him are a number OF
prominent business men, who take an
active interest in the affairs of the
company. On his board of directors
are:
Robert B. Roosevelt, capitalist. New
York and Washington: A. A. Anderson,
capitalist, New York City; Dickson Q.
Brown, vice-president Tidewater oil
Company, New York City; Dudley Oh
colt, yice-pIfsident Central Trust Com
New-York tribune., 1915-12-05

S6.000,000, none Of which has yet been
offered on the market.
Ray NJ. Owen is 10 be president and
T.. S. Partridge sales manager of the
Patent Corporation, which has a right
to use all the General Electric patents
which would improve the Owen Mag
netic car.
The electric parts Of the Owen Mag
netic car will be built at the General
Electric plant at Fort Wayne, Ind.
II is the purpose of the new company
to license other automobile makers to
use the Owen Magnetic system, which
is a gas motor employed 20 produce
electricity for running and controlling
the car. In this system both mechani-
cal clutch and gears are done away
with and the car operates OF an indefi-
mite number of speeds.
New-York tribune., 1915-12-05
The Carelessness of Pedestrians.

Now that the New York Police Department has
begun a classification of street accidents, which
will assist in placing the blame where 1t belongs,
we may soon see an end Of the statistical faker
who has for years been trying to hang all the
fault Cd the motorist, There are careless drivers
of both passenger and commercial cars, partcu-
larly Of heavy trucks, and the police cannot be
too severe on them.
Right thinking motorists will back up crusade
against reckless passenger commercial vehicle
driving because it is for the good of everybody
concerned to check all forms Of lawessness in the
city streets, but there is common sense OF Jus
tice in making ordinances which apply only to
motor vehicles, when the most recent and accurate
New-York tribune., 1915-12-05

pany, New York City; Duncan G. Har-
ris, director Ritz-Carlton Hotel, New
York City; Donald Mackay, capitalist,
New York City; Howard Stout Nelson,
banker, Daren, Conn; William F. Ac-
ton. president Norwalk Securities Com
pany, Nor-yalk, Conn; Walter S. Will
son. banker, Bankers Trust Company,
l6 Wall Street, New York City; George
A. Mclaughlin, lawyer. New York City;
Judge Henry w. Gregory, Norwalk,
Conn; Kurnal r. Babbitt. secretary
Alaska Castineau Mining Company, 20
Broad Street, New York City; Reed G..
Ha iland, real estate, Fifth Avenue and
Forty Street, New York CITY;
William b. Hurlburt, president Hurl-
burt Motor Truck Company, $50 Fifth
Avenue, Ne, York City; John p. Grier,
member Charles d. Barney & Co, %
Broad Street, New York City; Merle
Middleton, Lime Locomotive Corpora
tion, New York City; Archibald NJ. Nc
Crea, chairman of board of directors
Union Spring and Manufacturing Com
pany, New York City.
New-York tribune., 1915-12-05
Battle Car for New York National Guard

lines tho reason the Packard directors decided 70
20 In for the development Of tho aero m0'0r' anu
in fact the whole airship.
Mr.. Joy says that three out OF the seven
a, the Packard company have served in either the
arrnv or navy in time Of war, and that two other
directors have served in the Michigan State troops
They consider it the duty OF the company 70
carry on this aeronautical work as an example 10
al classes Of manufacturers Mr.. Joy thinks u
is the duty of all business houses to cooperate
with the government in It's scheme OF preparedness
He says he thinks every manufacturer In the iand
should mobilize his facilities and stand prepared
to serve the government in a practical way at a
moments notice.
New-York tribune., 1915-12-05
C GASOLENE GO SSIP
By HANK CALDWELL.

ths. the public would never take to the Grand
Central Palace
But as the years roll round the automobile show
appears to get larger and larger, and the only
trouble Manager s. A. Miles anticipates this year
Is IN handling the crowd He has placed all OF
the exhibitors without much difficulty. The Whlte
company is the only large exhibitor of former
year. which will not exhibit in the Palace this sea-
son. Despite the general reduction in car prices
the aggregate value Of the exhibits this year will
be more than a million dollars in excess Of the
value for any preceding year. 1t is also fact
that .he man who buys one Of the cars shown this
wear will get more for his money than ever before
New-York tribune., 1915-12-05
Premier Plant Sold.

Frank f. Smith, trustee of the
Premier Motor Manufacturing Com
pany, announces the sale OF tho assets
of the company to a syndicate, but
fails TO disclose the names or the
purchasers. Mr.. Smith says the syn
dicate has ample means for reviylng
and carrying on the Premier business,
and will Immediately start to put TINS
once famous car back on the market
The purchasers hope TO exhibit their
1916 models at the New York and Chi
cago national automobile shows.
New-York tribune., 1915-12-05
Accidents Outside of New York

The last report Of the Masssehusstts Hishv.,
Commissioner shows tho real danger 10 u,
pedestrian in that busy and tbckly popu,nt
state docs not lie with the automobile but r,u.,
with the streetcar.
Nearly twice as many persons were killed u
injured In street railway accidents In Mssschv.
setts during the year 1914 as in automobile a.
cidents, observes the Highway Commissionsr
"Any computation made" he states, "on a.
suming an ordinary mileage for automobiles and
taking the actual mileage Of the street railvsu
will show that the motor vehicle runs several
times as many miles as the streetesr does betor,
1t either kills or injuries any one"
Considering only accidents to persons who vsrs
not passengers, 10000 streetcars killed or injured
1,491 persons, and about 100000 automobile, and
trucks killed or injured 33O4. Some person was
either killed or injured for every $4,000 mile,
that a streetcar was openated, and one person 70,
every 10000 miles motor vehicle was operated
assuming that the automobile travelled an ayeag.
of 5000 miles in the year.
"In accident cases it often happens the Con.
missioner observes, "that the pedestrian. the h,
cycle rider or the driver Of carriage is careless
or reckless and to blame, rather than the opertsr
of the motor car. It is certainly deplorabls that
SO many hCSiueHSo oCSuip out IL must oe porne
mind that some accidents are unavoidable, 20
matter how careful the operators Of motor on
may be-"
The figures gtye.. and observations made con.
firm those Of the Coroner OF Cook County for
street accidents In Chicago, those of the New York
Police Department and the accident reports Of the
Boston Police Department, which show that enly
small minority Of accidents are due to the fault
Of motor vehicle operators and that the ratio Of
accidents per mile travelled is much smaller for
automobiles than for streetcars and horse drawn
vehicles.
New-York tribune., 1915-12-05
Winter Models Popular.

II the response in the way Of orders,
new connections and retail busines is
a criterion, then the policy of the
King Motor Car Company to make
their announcement of models in the
fall or winter months has proven a
success. Since announcing the i'm
proved fve-passengsf eight-cylinder
King this company has had an extra
avalanche of orders added to their
business, has been besieged with re-
quests from dealers inquiring about
the line, and have even been congratu-
lated by automobile owners for making
their announcements at this time.
New-York tribune., 1915-12-05
Series of Lectures at A. {. A.

A series of illustrated lectures on
"Highway Construction and Mainte-
nance. with the problems incident
thereto, will be given under the joint
auspices Of the Department OF Hight
way Engineering OF Columbia Univer-
sity and the Automobile Club of Amer
lea. The lectures are 10 be held in the
assembly room of the Automobile Club.
PAT West Fifty-fourth Street. and all
interested persons may obtain, without
charge, tickets of admission by apply
ing to the secretary OF the club.
The first OF these lectures will be
given by Arthur II. Blanchard. profes-
sor in charge of the graduate course in
highway engineering at Columbis Uni
versity and consulting highway engi-
neer. New York City, tomorrow even
ing a. $3.50 Professor Blanchards sub