MIDLAND MOTOR COMPANY

Ever since its reorganization the Midland Motor Company of East Moline has been one of the factories which has spread the fame of the tri-cities as an industrial center over the United States.

One of the things which served most to put the Midland automobile on the map was its journey to the Pacific coast in 1911 in one of the greatest trail-blazing contests ever carried out in the country. W. A. Peek of Denver was western sales manager at the time and he piloted the car over new roads to the Pacific coast via Denver, Salt Lake City and through the heart of the Rockies. The running time from Moline to San Francisco—2.645 miles—was 124 hours, the record made being an average of better than twenty-one miles an. hour during the entire run.

The performance of the car was admirable and speed and durability were qualities demonstrated. A climb of 5,000 feet over a mountain road leading into Schofield. Utah, and over a stretch four and one-half miles long, was a notable achievement of the trip and served to show that the Midland is a real hill climber.

Its appearance in Scho-fleld began a new epoch there, for it was the first motor car ever seen in that city. The car was not touched in any way for repairs on the trip out, the only stops necessitated being for tire trouble. San Franciscans marveled at the car's appearance on its arrival there. So did those who saw it on its return to Moline.

 

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