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About The Sunday Oregonian. (Portland, Ore.) 1881-current | View Entire Issue (April 7, 1907)
3(5 THE SUNDAY OREGOXIAN. PORTLAND, APRIL 7, 1907. RECENT RECRUITS TO PORTLAND'S AUTOMOBILE ARMY PLANS FOR AUTO Y 'Dealers to Enter Cars in Hiil Climbing Contest to Be Held in May. BARNEY OLDFIELD COMING May Race Here Against French Ex pert for World's Championship. Club Contests May Be Held on Irvingtnn Track. Portland auto enthusiasts will have the chance of seeing1 a series of auto raises the coming Summer. At a meeting of the Automobile Dealers' Association, held last week. It was practically decided to hold a hlll-cllmbing test slme time In the latter part of May. This contest will be fol lowed by a race on Irvington track. All the dealers of the city heartily Indorse the plan, and entries will be open to every owner of a car. The dealers also will enter their cars, and will do everything to tnake the contest a success. A committee, composed of FTed A. Ben nett, as chairman. Howard M. Covey and W D. Wallace, of the Keats Auto Com pany, was appointed, and given Instruc tions to go ahead and pick out a suitable course for the hill climb. From one of the members of this committee It was learned yesterday that either the Barnes road or the Ford-street drive will be Chosen. If It Is the Ford-street drive, the run will begin somewhere about Sixteenth nd Washington streets, continue over Ford street and follow the car track to the top of Portland Heights. There is one Obstacle to this course. It being feared that the streetcars would interfere to a great extent with the machines. On the Barnes road there would be no obstacles to the autos. but It would not be so easy for spectators to witness the test. The committee went over both roads, but have not made public its decision. Barney Old field Coining. Another event that will probably be pulled off in Portland Is a race between Barney Oldfleld. and a French driver from Han Francisco. W. F. Lipman. who re turned last week from Southern Cali fornia, said that Oldfleld will visit the cltv some time In the latter part of June. His manager has made arrangements for the visit, and Oldfleld will bring his fam ous "Green Dragon." the car with which h broke the world's record. The French man whose name is unknown, has waited a long time to meet Oldfleld. and offers to race him for the world's championship. The Frenchman has in San Francisco a French-built roadster, and declares that his machine can make better time than the "Green Dragon." A meeting of the Auto Club will be held tomorrow night at the Commercial Club, and officers will be elected. This will be one of the most Important of the club s meetings, and an effort will be made to bring in every auto owner In the city. The club proposes to hold a number of runs this Summer, and will try to have every owner In the city enter. It alao will place signs and sign-posts on all the principal roads, so that the autoist will have no trouble In finding his way. These signs will he placed on the roads around the citv. and as far north as Seattle, and up the Willamette Valley as far as Eugene. This will be a great benefit to tourists as well as to the public In general. A ban quet will be given by the club some time next week and Invitations will be issued to every auto owner in the city. Bad Weather Interferes With Trade. Last week was dull in the trade line, and few sales of cars have been report ed in the city. One car. Charles llton's tt horse-power Pierce Great Arrow, ar rived Tuesday, and is now in service. This car has the longest wheel base of any machine In the ejty and Is considered one of the Heat machines in town. Mr. Ilton has used the Pierce cars exclusively, and one. a 30 horse-power 'Ofi model, has trav eled over 30.000 miles and is still in good shape. The to Pierce if built on the French model. The H. L.. Keats Auto Company trans acted considerable business this last week, and one car. a 30 horse-power Buick touring car. was sold to the Bilers Piano Company. The cost of this machine was B6S. Among the other cars solfl by Keats this week were a carload of Buick tour ing cars to Medford, Or., one to Spokane and one to Seattle. A Thomas Forty, a Buick and an Olds touring car to Ta eoma. a Buick. a carload of Olds and a Pope Toledo to Seattle and a Thomas Forty to A. L,. Allen, of Medford, all ship ped this week. J. B. Yeon's new $6000 deml-limousine is now due In the city and it will be the first of Its kind The deml-limouslne is a French creation and there are only three of them in America. Mr. Yeon saw the car at the Chicago show and imme diately purchased It. Another car that attracts considerable mention Is a new Dolson. This machine was brought to Portland as a demonstra tion car, and Gibson & Walker are the igents. Only one of the machines is in the city at present, but the agents ex- THREE NEW SIXTY SiORSE POWER TflOMAd CARS OVHED SY ED. RIDDLE, ESTES SR.OTHEJ5S AND M.BECKER.. asEgg pect to have another and larger machine in a few weeks. The car is a 28-32 horse power, carrying five passengers. The large car will have 5&-S6 hnrse-power and will carry seven passengers. "Waterless" Knox Arrives. H. M. Covey has received two new cars this week, one a 30 horse-power "water, less" Knox and the other a single cylin der Cadillac. Both these machines will be used as demonstration cars, and Mr. Covey expects thai the Knox, which has air-cooled motors, will, prove a sensation In tho cltv. Fred A. Bennett has made a number of sales of cars this week, most of which are. out of town. Dr. E. C. Holmes pur chased a Reo touring car. The others are all out-of-town sales. Carl Sterling and Henry Lilenthal, of Brownsville, each purchased a Reo runabout. Dr. W. F. Phy. of the Hot Springs Sanatorium, a Reo touring car. and the Wright Mercan tile Company, 'the Foster Brown Mercan. tile Company and J. H. Hutchinson, of Union, Or., each a Reo touring car. Mr. Bennett expects to have a carload of Reo and Ford touring cars in the city this week. Floyd Cook, of the Cook Motor Car Company, returned Friday, after a week's visit in San Francisco. Mr. Cook went South on business and reports the auto trade in San Francisco flourishing. Another meet lag of the Auto Dealers' Association will be held Tuesday night, and the plan of the hill climb will be taken up and discussed. The committee which is to select the run will report to the association. AUTOMOBILE VS. BICYCLE WHEEL NOT DRIVEN OUT BY HORSELESS CARRIAGE. Slump Came Before Auto Was Factor Bicycle Again Com ing Into Favor. Did the automobile drive out the bi cycle? The question is again gravely discussed by some publications in com menting on a recent cenus bulletin, which shows that the capitalization of the automobile Industry was greatly In excess of that of the biaycle trade in 1905. Very little reflection will show that the number of bicycle riders In this coun try up to the beginning of the automobile Industry was so great as to be out of all comparison with the. comparatively small number of automobiles in 1905, or for that matter even in this year of grace. From statistics of Its own com piling the Brooklyn Eagle announced a few days ago that the number of regis tered automobiles in the United States is HO.O00. Assuming that 10.000 of them have already gone out of commission for everand that is certainly a very con servative estimate the number left is precisely the quota of bicycles made in one city Toledo In the year of greatest production before the slump in the late 90s. Everyone who knows the true facts is aware that In the last two or three years the bicycle demand has gone up by leaps and bounds. Very careful estimates show that there were at least 1. 500.000 bicycles in use in the United States at the close of 1906, so fnat even if the total automo bile figures are accepted, the disparity is still enormous. The fact is, and every one will acknowledge it. not one in one hundred who owned a bicycle previous to 1900 owns an automobile now. or is likely to do so. And that more riders are re turning to the wheel today, and others who have never ridden before will be awheel this season, is very evident from the present state of the bicycle trade A SSEW TfIR TV MOR5E PO WE R. DOE TAXIMETER CUTS OFF TIPS GRATUITIES FOR CHAUFFEURS TO GO OUT OF FASHION. So Says General Manager Kelsey, But Where Will He Find His Drivers? C. W. Kelsey. general manager of the new concern which will introduce taxi meter cabs, announces from his head quarters at the Hotel Belmont, New York, that the new enterprise will be known as the American Cab and Express Company, says a New York exchange. As soon as possible this company will open stations in New York, Philadelphia, Bos ton and the other principal cities. This first invasion of this new type of gaso lene motor car will be made on the streets of New York City. At present In Paris there are about 1000 taximeter cabs being operated, and are found to be a great convenience. However, the Ameri can Cab & Express Company's facilities will be far superior to those in Paris. One point in particular in regard to the new taximeter cab is that it will do away with the overcharge and tip nuis ance, now so universally practiced by our modern cab drivers. The operators of the new cabs will bo called motormen and not chauffeurs, and will not be permitted to accept fees from passengers. A notice to this effect will be posted inside each car. All these men will be graduates of a school maintained at the factory and will be thoroug-h mechanics. They will be capable of making road repairs and, as each machine will be equipped with detachable tires and carry an extra in flated one, there will not be the loss of running these machines on flat tires. This company will be able to maintain its cars much better than those operated abroad, as the American Cab & Express Com pany will own Its factory, whereas in Paris the cabs are not manufactured by the operating- company. Gasoline taxi meters will certainly be the thing for those who have the "cab habit.'' SOUTHERN ROADS NOT GOOD W. F. Lipman Tells of Automobile Trips in California. William F. Lipman, secretary of the Portland Automobile Club, who re turned last week from Southern Cali fornia, 1b enthusiastic over the pros pects for the sport In Portland. During the Summer he expects that the Auto Club will do a great deal to promote general interest in motoring. In re gard to his trip, he said: "I Baw a gTeat many people in Cali fornia who had come from New York. Chicago, Boston and other Eastern cities with the intention of spending the Winter touring the state. They brought their motor cars and private chauffeurs, but most of them were dis appointed. During the entire Winter the weather was bad. and there was only a fortnight when It was possible to drive a car over the muddy roads. From December 10 to April 1, it rained nearly every day, and the roads were in bad condition. At one place in par ticular, the Casltas Pass, the road was washed out In the early part of the year, and remained almost Impassable for the whole season. Am expenditure of 5200 would have put It in condition, but the people did not seem to care, and allowed the road to remain In had shape. I think that the roadB around Portland are as good as those of South ern California. ' 'If the people of Portland would get together and put up a purse for the Improvement of the Mount Hood road, I SOM think that we could draw a great many Eastern tourists to the city. If we would improve this road. Portland and Oregon would be to the Summer visitor what Los Angeles is to the Winter tourist. We could draw to this city a host of Eastern people for the beauties of our rivers, mountains and country In general is known throughout the East." BUILDING CAR FOR HUNTERS Eastern Maker to Supply Demand From Pacific Slope States. Since Roy E. Faye, the New England representative of the Matheaon. trans formed his car into a hunting machine and W. J. Dingee, of California, demon strated in his state the convenience and durability of this type of car, numerous requests from the Pacific Slope have reached the New York office of the Matheson Company for chassis to be similarly equipped. Consequently, a car adapted for rough service in hunting and camping is to be constructed. The motor will be of 50 horsepower, the chassis being reinforced structurally so that It will meet the requirements of hard usage and hilly country, in addition to the extra weight of outfit. The car will be from 13Vi to 15 feet In length. Under the driver's seat are to be located stor age and dry batteries, and attached to the storage cells a small dynamo, which, when the car Is not in motion, will generate a current sufficient for heating and lighting. Beneath the second seat will be compartments for ammunition, guns and camping vccessorles ; also metal cases for provisions. A refrigerator which 'slides in and out likj a drawer is to be fastened beneath the chassis. The interior of the car will be equipped with bunks in two tiers, which fold up like berths, thus giving plenty of room when not used for sleeping. At the rear there will he comfortable quarters for dogs. The entire car is to be covered with a waterproof canopy, extending well over the motor hood and the sides flaring over the wheels. Attached to this top will be a special extension with flaps that can be used in stormy weather, being staked down as tc form a tent 30 feet In length. A ventilator in the roof of the car will give fresh air. MOTORCYCLES AND R. F. D. Every Maker Trying to Devise a Machine for Mall-Carriers. While it's a little early for anyone to hazard a prophecy as to a line of busi ness in which a motor cycle cannot be used to advantage, it Is certainly true that one field of industry In which It fits with exceptional smoothness Is the rural free delivery. Every motor cycle maker is working on the problem how best to adapt his machine to this work, and new models for the carriers are be ing quietly "tried out" all over the coun try. That this field is by no means a restricted one can be learned from the ofllclal figures, which show that there are more than 86,000 mral free delivery carriers in the country, today, while in creases are being made in the service with all the celerity possible. Wheel Market In Russia. Consular reports from Russia say that in that country, as well as everywhere else on the civilized globe, the bicycle business Is showing great gains. In 1903 there were nearly 10,000 wheels imported, of which number Germany furnished over 7000. Russian trade statistics do not seem to be kept up to date, as the figures given above were the latest available in February last. It is claimed that the demand for wheels from this country is growing stronger from year to year. America's quota exported to Russia In 1903 was only its bicycles. DOWNFALL CAUSE FOR REJOICING Noisy Nelson-Nolan Combina tion All But Driven Out of the Game. DANE IN BAD COMPANY His Manager a Disgrace to Pugilist ic World Comment on Gins Lewis Match Colored Man Likely to Win. i BT TVIL.1 G. MAC RAE. Can it be possible that, after all. the Nelson-Nolan combination is on the verge of being driven out of the pugilistic game? Bvery fight fan in the country hopes htat this Is the case, and the news from Chi cago, where Nelson was hissed out of a wrestling match, would Indicate that the eliminating process is on. This, In con nection with the fact that the San Fran cisco fight fans would not allow Nolan to dictate terms for a match between the Dane and Gana, is an indication that this noisy combination is dead, or about to die. The best evidence of this is the fact that Gans himself, becoming tired of waiting for a return match with Nelson, has signed to fight "Willie Lewis. The Baltimore Oriole and the white lad have agreed to meet at 133 pounds at the ring side, and have made the usual stage money deposit of $5000 to bind the match. It Is now up to some club to told for this attraction. The fight will go to the club making the largest offer, and once more we may expect to hear from Jimmy CofT roth, who tried his best to match Gans and Nelson; Tex Rickard and the fight promoters of Los Angeles. While Lewis is in a manner entitled, on the showing he has made, to a match with Gans, the fight fans would much rather have sen Al Herford's ex-meal ticket hook up with (Britt or Nelson. Both Britt and Nelson have fought Gans, and both lost to the negro, and both claim to have been cheated. Britt lost on a foul, and Nelson, backed by his windjammer manager, Nolan, claimed he was robbed. Nelson, but for his persistent tying up to Nolan, undoubtedly would have fought Gans before this. Knowing the Dane as I do, I do not share the opinion of Rick ard, and others, that the Chicago lad is a coward and afraid to meet Gans again, although it must be confessed there is some foundation for this 'belief. Othes wise he would have cast aside the ob jectionable Nolan. Lewis Hardly Gans' Equal. Gans can beat Lewis and Britt. He should not have much more trouble in dis posing of Lewis than he did of Herman, unless Gans has deteriorated greatly since his test battle with Herman. Lewis Is a strong youngster, and in a number of his best battles he has shown considerable class, yet he has not done anything that would make the fight fans give him more than that lucky chance every strong, shifty youngster has in going against an old-timer. Britt Is a bit more shifty than either Nelson or Lewis, and he stands a chance of being able to keep away a lit tle longer, but the end would be the same. Both Lewis and Nelson have a punch that brings sleep, while Britt hasn't The fight fans of this country, and even of England, have made up their minds to drop Nolan and Nelson. Nolan talked himself out of England. It did not take the English sports long to discard Nelson, and from advices reaching these shores from across the pond the reception the pair was accorded over there would have given a hot tamale a congestive chill. At first they were welcomed to England, but as soon as Nolan got his Jaw to working that was the end of him, and Nelson had to suffer just as he is doing over here now. In Milwaukee and lots of credit should be given the fight fans of that city Nel son tried to discredit George Siler by get ting into the ling and putting up that old cry of robbery. Slier was to referee a fight there that night, and when Nelson began to abuse him he was promptly hlssed out of the ring. This was the starter. Chicago was next, and now word comes from Chicago that Nelson has quit the ring. He consoles himself by saying that he has mooey enough and does not have to fight any more. Nelson Saved His Money. It is to the Dane's credit that he has saved and invested the money he has earned in the ring. It would have been more to his credit had he dumped Nolar instead of quitting the ring. He had a chance to become one of the most popu lar Ighters of his day. Even his rowdy fight with Gans. and the fact that he lost, would not have hurt him to any extent among the fight fans had he, after this fight, dropped Nolan. But he has not, and constant association with a manager of Nolan's stamp has made him as big a braggart as is Nolan. As bad as Nolan i6, he still has time to recover his lost pres tige. All he has to do is to ditch Nolan A fight that the fans will watch with interest is the coming battle between Mike ("Twin") Sullivan and Honey Mel lody. They will meet In Los Angeles, and it should be a battle worth seeing. Corf roth was after Sullivan to fight Joe Thomas, but Indications are that McCarey, 15 H. P. Four-Cylinder Ford Runabout, $70O. 16 H. P. Four-Cylinder Ford Runabout, 84-inch wheel base, pressed steel frame, shaft drive; the easiest riding, best powered runabout sold under $1000. Compare it with any other which sells for less than $1000. Price $700 Six-Cylinder Ford 40 H. P. at 1000 revolutions; cylinders 4i2 bore, 44 stroke, 120-inch wheel base ; absolutely no vibration : double ignition system; the easiest operated of any big car built. .$3000 A demonstration in this car is a revelation of flexibility and control. THE REO 20 H. P. Touring Car, with detachable tonneau; 94-inch wheel base, pressed-steel frame, multiple-disc clutch, full elliptic springs, cylin ders 4 by 6 inches. Price . $1400 If any one tells you their car has more power than ours, find out the size of their cylinders; also ask them to take you out over the grades; then let us take you over the same grades. Seeing is believing, and hot air won't take you up hill. 8-10 H. P. Reo Runabout, the most reliable, simple and most econom ical automobile built; this car will run the longest with the least attention and is the best car for an inexperienced person of any thing in the market $700; with folding rear seat $725 All prices F. 0. B. Portland or Spokane. All models in stock. FRED A. BENNETT DISTRIBUTOR, OREGON AND WASHINGTON, 471 Yamhill St., Portland. 718 Front St., Spokane. of Los Angeles, will get him. There is also some talk In San Francisco of a fight between Nelson and Britt, but there is little chance of this, for Britt does not want Nelson's game any more than he does Gans. Just now, while Heney is showing up the hand of the fight trust in San Francisco, it will be best for the game there to lie low. That weak, womanish chin of Peter Maher s was a poft spot for Marvin Hart to land on. Maher must have been train ing on booze and free lunches to allow Hrt to cinut him away in two rounds. A year ago Maher couid have whipped the Kentuckian with one hand tied behind his back and one foot in an Oregon boot. It was old Billy Booze that defeated Ma her. not Hart. MEET AT COLUMBIA APRIL 13 Over 100 Entries So Far Made for Amateur Event. An important' event in the athletic world will be the indoor track and field meet that Is to be held at Columbia University April 13. Over 100 entries have been received, and everything Is now in readiness for the entertain ment of the visiting athletes. Events for both preparatory schools and col leges have been arranged. The young er boys will not be allowed to com pete against the collegians. This will be the third annual meet at Columbia, and promises to be a greater success than any one previous. Among the institutions that have en tered are the University of Oregon, Oregon Agricultural College, Pacific University, Multnomah Club, Portland Y. M. C. A.. Seattle Athletic Club, and possibly the University of Washington. Besides these all the interscholastic In stitutions' of Portland will enter In the academic events. For these institutions, a half-mile relay race, a 50-yard dash, a 220-yard hurdles and a broad jump have been arranged. The High School will prob ably send a team of 12 men. and Port land Academy one of ten. EXODUS FOR TROUT STREAMS Anglers Take Night Trains to Reach Ground Early. Today is the first Sunday of the trout-fishing season. Though the sea son opened last Monday, the big ex odus of anglers took place last night. The O. W. P. depot on First and Alder streets all evening was crowded with fishermen waiting for the Estacada car. Eagle Creek, on the O. W. P. line, one of the best trout streams near the city, was the destination of most of b8J m 'S M fA2 fill I jfr. B 3!Si: QjtgAT.MMA.f. yOfMXANS HO iliL, rOBILAA'D, 0, them. Some, however, were bound for Deep Creek. A large number of anglers left last night for the Tualatin and McKay's Creek. Small baskets have been the rule among those who have tried their luck since the season opened. Working for New Clubhouse. Nothing of Importance was done last week by the Portland Rowing Club on ac count of the wet weather. The work of building a new club boat-house will go ahead without delay, as the float Is now in position, and all the lumber on the spot. About $2000 has been collected for the new club-house, all In voluntary- con tributions. The only effort made by the committee in charge of raising funds was to send out a circular letter to all mem bers. As soon as the weather becomes set tled, a committee will call on each mem ber of the club personally, and request contributions. Judge C. C. Cole, of Des Moines. la., foi I many years dean of the Drake Untverdtj Pension of $1280 a year. He wan graduated from the Harvard Law School. It Will Pay You to See Us When in Need of BICYCLES MOTORCYCLES AUTO SUPPLIES BASEBALL GOODS Our stocks of these lines are complete. WHOLESALE AND RETAIL Ballou & Wright 86 Sixth St., Portland, Or.