The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1916-08-10
Makes Record Dash Across Country
Under Auspices Of American De-
Tense Society to Try Out Autoro.
bile Possibilities In Time. Of War

San Francisco, Aug. S.--That the
record breaking, transcontinental run
Just finished here under the guidance
of s. b. Stevens, the millionaire
sportsman Of Rome, N. Y, was
test more vital to the United States
J of America than mere demonstra.
ton of cross country motoring was
disclosed today when Mr.. Stevens
produced telegram of congratulation
from the trustees Of the American
Defense Society.
The high speed dash across the ma
tion was nothing less than serious
try out Of what the automobile can
be counted upon to do in time OF war.
The run had behind 1t the important
motive of preparedness with view
to ascertaining how fast men and
supplies can be shot across the con-
tinent to the defense Of the Pacific
Coast.
The Stevens run beat the best pre-.
vious record by Al hours and % min
utes.
The remarkable demonstration was
made in a Marmon car equipped with
Silvertown tires.
The telegram from the trustees OF
the American Defense Society which
revealed the object Of the trip, reads:
New York, July 20, 1915.
IS. 3. Stevens, Care Palace Hotel,
San Francisco, California.
"The trustees of the American De
Tense Society congratulate you as
chairman of the Motor Reserve Divi'
sion Committee upon your remarka'
BILE achievement and sportsmanllKe
record breaking run in the interest OF
American preparedness.
please extend our congratulations;
as well TO those patriotic Americans
who in cooperating with you made
possible this needed lesson Of Ameri-
can enterprise, bringing San Francis
co nearer to New York by period OF
Z two whole days under most adverse
: conditions.
"You have demonstrated to the GU
liens of this country the possibility
Of n new transcontinental mobiliza-
, ton of troops independent OF rail-
roads. It remains now for this ma
ton to lay the lesson Of your achieve
| ment to heart by the immediate or
: SANITATION of an adequate Motor re-
. serve.
"Joseph H. Colt, C. s. Thompson,
H. C. Quinby, Lee DeForest, Ber'
, tram II. Borden, DeForest HICKS
, trustees of the American Defense So
+. ciety.
: Thereupon Mr.. Stevens was induc'
! ed to 90 into details as to how ana
I wby he engineered the astonishing
: run which was accomplished In nVe
days. eighteen hours and thirty mi
nutes.
"It's a fact, said Mr.. Stevens. ear
. nestly. II it hadn't been for prepared
+ ness l would not be out here now.
4 The mere establishing of new
; transcontinental record and thereby
a being hailed all over the world as
speed maniac would not Of itself have
!. appealed to me at my age. You Kno"
o am a father, and have several chill
y dren. and | would not wish to FISK
4 NV neck simply for personal glory.
> "The transcontinental run In Mar
mon car was an effort to demonstrate
h what it would be possible for a mo
o torist to accomplish providing the
s original means of communication De
u tween the east and the west were IN
terrupted in some way by the forces
OF an enemy. 1t also shows the pos
v sibility Of the rapid mobilization Oh
n troops as an adjunct to train service
8 and further demonstrates the adVis
II ability of organizing at once ma
Q tional Motor Reserve, similar TO the
u very fine automobile Reserve Corps
which you have here in San Francis
I, CO. only on a national scale
y Mr. stevens went on to say that
g. Stewart Lake in charge of the public
n ity department of the American De
IS tense Society planned originally t'
have an armored Motor car cross th'
:. continent at a rapid rate of speed
. knowing that Mr.. Stevens was al
Is experienced motorist. having crossed
the continent in his own car on sew
eral different occasions, he came t
him for advice.
D. Mr.. Stevens went into the subjec
with Mr.. Lake exhaustively. 1t Wa'
proved that while an armored ca
n. could proceed slowly across the con
tiuent its great weight would pre-