Arizona republican., 1917-02-28
STEAMER
MAY Be SHOWN
At AUTO SHOW

nj hUIU UHUW
Announcement by G. H. Reuben that
the Doble steam car will be among the
possible exhibits in the automobile
show. March Z, 8, 3 and 10, and that
orders for the first shipment have been
placed in the hands of the manufac
turers, was the outstanding develop
ment of the auto show program yester-
day Dealers throughout the state
have been seeking the Doble agency,
and il has just been awarded to
Reuben a Smith, Phoenix and Arizona
representatives for the Kisselkar and
the bort. 1t is expected that the first
cars viii be in this city in time for dis
play at the show
Intense interest is expressed in the
Dobe steam car. since if the claims
OF the manufacturers are proved true
the car will revoutionize the motor
world There is also a high degree Of
interest attached to the car and its
practicability in this dry area, where
water is scarce in many places. Since
water is one of the prime necessities
for generating the cars power, and
steamers in the past have used large
amounts of this liquid, local enthusiasts
are curious as to the Doble's capacity
and consumption.
The steamer has had but one real
test in this dry climate and that was
several years ago when the racing pro-
gram between this city and Los Ange-
les was in its infancy In one of the
first races to be run over this long
course a steam car WAS among the en-
trants and lack Of water proved disas-
trous. In order to assure the car
water on the trip VI CONS made the dis
lance across the desert several days
in advance OF the race, scattering ut
stated intervals large cans Of water.
Each Of these cans was marked with
signs, and as the steamer ate up miles
between the coast city and Phoenix it
drank up can after can of water The
plan might have succeeded and the
steamer might have been the first into
this city had It not lost its bearings
and left the main read.
Since then the steamer has had many
tests in various parts Of the country.
and several have been in use in sec
tons Of this state, but none has en-
tered a race over the desert and none
has been given test similar to the
supreme trial given the contestant in
this classic. Interest in the steamer
in this district has died out since that
date. and motor enthusiasts have
watched the experiments in this make
of car with distant curiosity as to
what might be the final outcome.
According to the claims of the man
/ ufacturers of this new steam car. il
viii travel at least 1000 miles on one
filling Of the tank with water. Its
/ power as has always been recognized
. in steam cars, is unlimited. IL burns
/ 4 cheap fuel, coal oil. instead of gasO-
/ line. Mileage from one gallon Of
I cheaper fuel. say the makers. is much
/ greater than the mileage of the gas
car. The old difficulty OF steaming up
/ IN the morning or after the car has
stood cold. declare the manufacturers.
has been overcome. The new steamer.
according Ia the claims Of the makers.
/ viii be ready 10 leave the garage in
side 40 seconds after the chauffeur has
4 taken his seat behind the wheel. There
will he no more lost time waiting for
steam TO rise in the boiler.
These claims and others which have
! been advertised by the makers Of the
I car promise To introduce into this ter
/ ritory. where power Is one of the prime
! factors IN tho making Of a car "A ma
/ chine which will climb any hill and
pull practically any sand through
I which there IS a road. The value Of
the car from a mountain infested ant
rugged road standpoint will be limit.
less if the boasts of the makers ear
be proved beyond doubt
With the announcement that some
surprises in the form Of new cars I,
this field will be shown at the aut,
show comes also the announcement
that exhibitors and dealers in this cit,
Will demonstrate their cars at the Echo
canyon run and on other occasions pre-
ceedng the show, in order to arous,
interest in the great event and in orde
10 give people Of the city an idea o
what is in .Stbre for them during tn
progress n the show. A. ". Newton
sales manager OF the Maxwell line
handled by the Babbitt- Poison com
pany. is the first to announce his In
: tention of demonstrating.
Mr.. Newton declares that while 81
; the trip Ia Echo canyon next Sunday
when several thousand residents o
this valley are expected to join in tn
automobile picnic. he viii demonstrat
II a Maxwell with some difficult and dar
ing feat He has refused 10 max
known what he Will attempt but de
clares that he has in mind a stunt
! worthy OF the car. He viii make
tour Of the road inside the next fe,
+ days to examine for any other pOssibl
tests which may be superior to the on
he has in mind, and will then max
known what he will attempt 10 do !
his Maxwell.
Members of the sales force of Nc
? Arthur brothers and members of tn
W. +. Ferguson force. the first hand
ling the Packard. Jeffrey and Dodg
and the second the Oldsmoble. ais
have announced that they will en-
deavor To set records for demonstra
ton before the opening of the shov
and that they will perform feats of un
. usual merit with gheir machines. Other
| / Of the local dealers also plan simila
attempts and it is probable that SON
startling feats, in the form Of powe
speed and what-not tests may be dc
vised By the mechanics and driver
who VIII perform them.
n General interest in the Echo canyo
| run is high. and dealers and others
tho city are preparing to attend in
large number. Every automobile mel
chant In the city and many of the
friends will he on hand for the rui
: and it is probable that the attendant
: will reach into the thousands