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.