New-York tribune., 1915-03-14
ALL CLASSES NOW
ENJOY MOTOR CAR
Low Prices Bring Pastime
Within Easy Reach of
the NOn-Wealthy.
BY FRANCIS VI. HUGO,
Secondary of State

Although the illusion still exists
in some quarters that to possess a
motor car. or even motorcycle, IS
sign of wealth. there is abundant EVIL
dcnce that there are hundreds of thou
sands OF motorists whose means are
very moderate.
il is true that in the early days OF
automobiles there was no such tnlnS
as motoring for the comparatively poor
man, IS cars were expensive and up
keep high. All the pioneer work was
naturally borne By comparatively rich
men on the one hand and by enthusl-
asts, by no means rich, on the other.
Their varied experiences and the tests
they made over many millions or miles
of running, however, helped to perfect
the motor car, and every one to-day,
from the owner OF a second hand motor
cycle, 10 the owner of the most iuXurI-
Gus limousine, is benehting from the
labors and experiences OF these plon-
eers.
Nowadays there are motor vehicles
TO suit all purses, and as the spread CT
automobiling among all classes has
been wonderful, il may be interesting
to trace the gradual stages ny which
the smallest and cheapest type OF car
was evolved.
Two or three years ago the side-csr
in connection with the motorcycle
began 10 be used, and to-day nearly
one-half of the motorcycles have this
kind Of attachment, which can be used
at will. This makes motorcycling, orig
inally q lonesome pastme, much more
attractive. as congenial companionshlp
is everything when touring.
Those who do not realize how mex
pensive motoring of this kind has be
come wonder how the class TO which
MANY of these motorcyclists belong
can afford to indulge in it. But mo-
torcycle with side-car attachments, or
a good second hand motorcycle, can
be purchased at a price which enables
the man Of very moderate means, who
has never imagined he would be able
70 afford motoring. TO enjoy the pleas
ures of the open country.
Tho idea Of automJbiling being only
q rich mans pastime. and the old and
wornout criticism that taxes are bslng
raised from poor people to pay lot
roads for the rich. has become aoso-
lutelv untrue. Automoblling mas pc
come the pastime Of nearly all classes
and in years TO come II Is saie 70
nrophesv that the number OF indlvld-
uals in this state possessing thelr own
means of locomotion will probably run
upward OF 100000.
There is another development also
which has led to the education OF the
public in automobiling. Nothing VIII
do more to remove the prejudice ana
IN convert the masses TO the adVan-
tages of the motor vehicle than the
success of the buses. In New ork
City and throughout the state the ell
feet unon millions of its inhabitants
NAV be imagined when 1t is remem..
bered that hundreds of thousands OF
neople are thus conveyed TO and from
their work and business.
In connection with the popular use
of the motor buses there are sprlnging
m all over the country companies
which make passenger transport at a
cheap rate their object, as developed
now in the so-called "Jltney buses.
Considered from d broad STANDPOINT
automobiling is now resting on Sc
curer basis than ever before, ana any
legislation which aims at increasing
restrictions or penalties would De op,
posed by a widespread and po"efiui
public protest. ....,o
b;Ie organizations began TO realize the
;mnortance of basing their influence
on the support of all classes OF motor
ists and different means have been
adonted TO bring membership full or
nsTiial within the reach of all persons.
Moreover. there is also increasing eVi-
dence of a desire TO cater 10 the non
rich motorists in hote Is all over the
state and country, and the spread OF
automobiling 10 this class has become
ono of the features of modern ROAD
locomotion.