Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-01-28
ARMORY IS SCENE
OF BRILLIANT SHOW
Best and Latest in Motor Con-
struction Is Put on
Display.
AINSLIE MAKES AN ADDRESS
Mayor Speaks on Importance of
Industry and Value of Road
Improvement.
AINSLIE MAKES AN ADDRESS

Richrnond's first annual Automobile
/ SHOW. in the Grays' Armory. Seventh
F! and Marshall streets was formally
open"d to the public last night at )
! o'clock with an address by Mayor
! George Ainslie. and within short
/ 'im the South Sea Island Garden. INTO
which the drill hall had been cor
| vcrted. was packed almost to capacitH.
/ THAT the opening was an auspicuoue
| one. was tho unanimous verdic, Of
! business m"u. automobile dealers AMI
! numerous ci.y officials attending the
/ show. Conservative estimates place
the attendance last night a, 1000
! people.
| Long before the doors to the
armorE We're opencd-shortiy after
| 80 o'clock-a large crowd had
! gathered in front Of the building
waiting for admission. With the
march. 'On to the Richmond Auto
mobile Dealers Show" 10y the synco-
pated orchestra. the doors were thrown
open at 1:i5 o'clock and the crowd
marched into the armory Mayor
Ainslie arrived few minutes later.
opened the exhibition. He was "a
,roduced by President j. r. Finney
Of the dealers association.
ExPOSITIONs ARE
TIMEKEEPERS OF PROGltl.SS
Most of us remember the automo-
bile show that was held here in the
old Horse Show Building several
years ago" the Mayor said "As We
looked on the beautiful cars OF that
day exhibited at the show many Of
us somewhat naturally felt that thosa
! cars would be very hard to improve
! ! pom When President HIcISinley
opened the Buffalo Pan-American Ex-
| position--where he lost his life--he
used the cpigram: dispositions are
the timekecpers OF progress Those
! OF us who are here tonight who find
| it difficult to look into the future
can At least look far enough into .he
past to see the truth of that epigram
by comparing the cars here to be
seen with those exhibited at the
! former show.
Industrial America is the marvel
of the world and the history OF the
automobile during the last decade and
half is one Of the marvels Of indus
! trial America. can bring this
sharply TO your attention with the
statement that there are now In use
| on the streets of the city of Rich
mond more than twice as many cars
or all kinds as were manufactured in
the United States in the year 1899
The value of the Richmond cars IL
Approximately twice the value of all
the cars manufactured in the Unit,
| States in that year"
MORE RURAL THAN
CITY CAR OWNERS
After relating the output Of the man
utacturers during the calendar year
1916. and the growth of this country.
Mayor Ainslie said there are now $780,
200 automobiles registered and in use
in this country. and the end is no
where in sight. II is estimated. he
said, that there remain in the United
states 100000 possible buyers OF cars.
and. although ii is predicted that 500
90" cars VIII be built this year. there
Will be left unsupplied 100000 pros
poets. This does not include those who
VIII want new cars 10 supplant those
worn out or out of style.
''Now. the number of rural ,or
owners somewha, exceeds the number
Of city swellers who are owners OF
automobiles and thereby hangs a tale"
II" continued. Because when our
brother in the country began TO bump
himself around on his own poor roads
ne was Very willing To join hands with
IN" city fellow 10 help get something
done III the goodroad movement. and
the year 1916 saw the greatest single
accomplishments in aid OF good roads
IN III" histor! OF America when the
President placed his signature TO the
Federal eood-roads bin"
Concluding his address. the Mayor
said.
Gentlemen OF the association. T
heartily congratulate you upon tho
industry you have shown in promoting
this show. and the good taste YOU have
shown III the exhibits and their ar
rans"incnt. and feel that YOU have
staged what is but another mileston
in the industry az il affects the city
If Richmond"
LARGE AUDIENCE
on OPENING NIGHT
Last night was designated Club
Night" and members OF the Richmond
Auto!nohiit club were the guests OF ,hc
show association. The greater part Of
the attendance did not appear until
well after o'clock. and by that hour
II had become Il task To view the show
cars on exhibition Every aisle was
packed with people. while the various
p'''h9 N'It iiHp Ulleu Win aumlTlup
thr"nEs looking 1t the brightly pol
ishcd c:l.S. Several exhibits stood head
and shoulders above the others in
rhwing power. although the cut out
chassis. showing the working parts OF
the cars in operation. proved Il great
attraction.
y show in itself was the Richmond
Automobile Dealers Syncopatrd Cab
arei orchestra. which was imported
from broadway. While the associa tion
endeavored to secure local talent. this
was found Impossible because of tho
requirements. The crowd last night
before the dancing started, spent a
large part of it's time crowded around
the balcony box IN front Of the or
chestra. and the director. Robert Gill
bert. threatened to break up the exhi-
bttton. Like vaudeville singing and
CONTINUED on Fourth PageD
save 500. Buy To-Day That KLINE
CAR Price Advances Ee6runry Nnde