Evening star., 1917-03-04
AUTO SHOW OPENS
At UNION BUILDING
GayIy Decorated Booths and
Handsomely Finished Motor
Cars in Evidence.
WILL CONTINUE ONE WEEK
BY HOWARD S. FISK.

At S o'clock last night the doors of the
Union building, G street between 9th and
9TH streets northwest, were thrown open
20 the public and the automobile show for
1917 officially opened. amid a blaze of
electric lights. gayly decorated booths and
handsomely finished motor cars of every
description. The show, which is being
staged by the Middle Atlantic Motor As
sociation. Inc. will continue until Satur-
day evening, March 10.
The exhibition will be open daily
from IL o'clock in the morning until
1890 at night, except tomorrow, when
the show will not open until o'clock
on account of the inaugural parade.
There are on display on the two floors
of this fireproof building. located in the
heart of the city and adjacent to all car
lines automobiles of every type, incIud-
ing roadsters, touring cars, sedans.
closed types and convertible types.
ranging in price from a few hundred
dollars TO thousands of dollars
Pleasure Cars on Fourth Floor.
There fre more than fifty pleasure
cars displayed on the fourth floor
where an attractive display has been
arranged There is to be found a ma
chine to. fit every pocketbook. from
the most economical buyer to the most
fastidious buyer. The cars are ar
ranged around the sides of the fourth
floor. with the larger spaces in the cen
ter adjoining which is located the band
The third floor is devoted to the dis
pIay of motor trucks of various sizes
and accessories. On each moor there
are thirty three spaces, each sixteen
by twenty-four feet, and on each one
10 interest
motor car owner or prospective pur-
chaser Some of the latest creations
in the motor car world are to be seen
at this show.
The two floors are decorated with the
national colors. fitting in well with the
inaugural decorations. The colors are
Jraped around the posts of the building
and the side walls. 1t was the inten-
tion of those in charge of the show to
have festoons extending from the cell
Ing but the District authorities sug-
gested that this part of the decorative
scheme be omitted.
Several elevators are used for con-
veying the visitors to the show to the
upper floors. the visitors. walking down
to the ground floor. following the Gus
tom of the New York auto show. The
two large freight elevators in the
front and rear of the building are also
being used for this purpose.
Arrangement of Space.
The smaller space along the sides of
the building are used to advantage.
where the displays are not so large.
while the large center spaces form a
fitting background. with the two
spacious aisles on either side of the
exhibits. On the corner of each ex-
hibit is the name of the car and the
firm representing the line in the Ma
tional Capital
Two orchestras furnish music, one on
each floor. which render concerts at in
tervals during the hours of the show.
With the exception of several special
cars. the majority Of the cars on display
are stock models, similar to the ones
which may be purchased in the various
salesrooms of this city. The prospective
purchaser is assured at the show that he
will not have to wait for delivery on the
car he has decided on. as he has the
privilege Of purchasing the one on exhi-
bition.
A number of special nights" have been
arranged for the week. Tomorrow night
is to be known as Inauguration night in
honor of the thousands of visitors to the
National Capital. Tuesday is to be Dis
trict night. Wednesday dealers night and
Thursday society night. On the latter
occasion. as is usually the custom
throughout the county. the price of ad-
mission will be doubled.
Manifestation of Interest.
1t has been three years since an auto
mobile show has been held in this city
and considerable interest has been man
ifested in the present exhibition for
that reason. The exhibits for several
years past have been held in Conven-
ton Hall There is an urgent need for
a spacious hall for conventions and
automobile shows here, it is contended
and many of the automobile dealers
are anxious for the day to arrive when
such an exhibition building will be con-
structed. either through private capital
or by the federal government. Ar
rangements have been made for park
ing cars on 9Th street between and
III streets northwest during the week
of the display.
The officers and members of the or
ganization giving the show are as fol-
lows: Raphael Semmes, president: p
f. Rowe, vice president: Walter L. Car
ter. secretary; Irwin T. Donohoe. treas
urer; III. Z. French. Irving Barber,
Harry Myers. Frank G.. Stewart and E.
III. Voight, jr. II. E. French is man
ager of the exhibition.