Arizona republican., 1918-01-06
STUDEBAKER BUS
 MAKES OVERLAND
 TRIP WITH EASE

That some automobile dealers do not Lllow such thing as poor freight and . transportation facilities to upset their plans for a busy season is demon strated by the fact that the Baltimore Stakeholder distributor last week se- cured a siX-c cylinder 16-passenger bus for prospective customer in his territory by driving the machine over the roads from the Detroit factory.
 Studebaker 'busses on the stage routes of the west have become very numerous during the past few years, displacing the now antiquated even though romantic pony express" of the early days. In addition to covering a greater mileage per day. accommo- dating more passengers per trip-to say nothing of the extensiveness of their express and delivery traffic these 'busses have opened up new channels of trade and increased the opportunities for business in towns where railroad facilities were not of the best
 Owing to the thickly settled con- munities, and close proximity to many railroad main lines and branches, such 'busses have experienced no widespread popularity in the east. However, with the advent of the war and the conse- quent overload placed upon all regular transportation facilities, the situation became desperate enough to warrant the adoption of any new form of travel that would give relief to the sorely pressed railways. That is why, per- haps, the east has been so willing to try the methods used by the westerner to move passengers and freight, quick ly from place to place, entirely inde- nf cyf.a . ]aIa. ,Au.z And that is why, too, Studebaker deal- CTS throughout the eastern territory have found a ready sale for all the Studebaker 'busses possible for them to obtain from the factory.
 The Baltimore dealer has been par ticularly active in promoting the sale Of these big passenger cars, disposing Of them to individuals and transporta- ton companies for suburban and fit ney' service, almost as fast as they could be unloaded from the freight cars. His ever-increasing problem has been to get them fast enough and in sufficient quantities to meet the de- mand. Last week found him without bus on his floor, and with a pros pect ready to "close"-providing a ma- chine could be delivered to him within week. Fully conscious of the desper-
 
 ly booked the order and assured his customer delivery would be made as requested. This was on Friday.
 Next morning the dealer was in De- troit, by noon he had convinced factory officials his order must be filled inn mediately-and four o'clock the same afternoon he was on his way to Balti- more. Driving over roads that were cut deep into the mud and snow. through weather that was anything but ideal for touring, the big bus steadily plowed it's way without tire or mechanical trouble of any nature At 5:10 ?. m. Thursday the machine arrived in Baltimore, mud-spattered from front to rear, but running per fectly. Maintaining an avera go schedule of 15 miles per hour and driy ing only during the daytime, the big bus covered the distance of 619 miles in practically the same space of time required by a light touring car. The consumption of gasoline for the entire journey averaged 11h miles to the gallon.