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AUTOMOBILE MANUFACTURERS ASSN. (Formerly, National Automobile Chamber of Commerce): did not believe any steam vehicles were being built here. The last firm they had heard of in that line, was the American Steam Automobile Co., Newton, Mass., which they felt probably had gone out of business but nevertheless I wrote the latter yesterday and should have either an answer, or my letter returned by the Post Office, before this report is mailed you.

U.S. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE : Knew of no firm manufacturing them.

AAA - " " "

Mack trucks (International Motor Corp) " " "

Society of Automotive Engineers " " " " Felt that the steam system had been completely abandoned here.

A FEW POINTS which may INTEREST YOU, and which were mentioned by practically all of the men I talked with - and I think you may like to know that they all took a great interest in discussing the steam vs diesel/gasoline/electric vehicles, were

the future development of the diesel motor for cars (already being used)

the "complications" presented by a steam system

the complete abandonment (in their minds, at least) of the steam vehicles for this country. They all seem to feel that it is a "dead" issue here.

ANOTHER POINT which was brought up in the course of my inquiries, was the difficulty finding a garage for steam cars. Due to the fire (or flame) needed for a steam boiler, they cannot be garaged (I believe it is a law) with gasoline driven cars. There were in years past, a number of dreadful fires and explosions when vehicles of both systems had been parked in the same garage.

THERE IS ALSO A LACK OF GENERAL KNOWLEDGE here on the laws governing the operation of steam cars - which is a result, I presume, of having so few to deal with. For instance, in spite of what the apparently well-informed organizations consulted told me, I talked with a clerk at the Bureau of Motor Vehicles (license bureau) who said no special license was required, but that the holder of a license for driving a steam car could not, without and additional license, operate a car with another motive power.