Evening Star Newspaper, June 26, 1921, Page 42

HIDE-AND-SEEK TRAFFIC OFFICER | CAUSE OF CONFUSION TO DRIVER | Differing Signals of Cities Result in "Trouble—Boston's White Belt System BY THEODORE P. NOYES. Mr. Motorist, have you ever been @riving at night in a city with which you were not familiar, and, on ap- proaching a busy crossing looked vainly around for a traflic policeman, and, not seeing one, kept on your way, only to have a traffic man jump ent from a crowd and call you down for not obeying his signal? Now, if you were familiar with that particular city and that particular crossing you would know just where to look for the policeman. and the chances are you would be able to dis- timguish him. But in a strange city, unless he was directly in your path or operating a semaphore, you would more than likely miss him. Of course. the fact that you don't know whether there is a traffic po- liceman stationed on that particular crossing or not tends to confuse you and make you not so sure of your ground. . In Different Positions. The cause of a lot of this uncer- tainty on the part of the visiting motorist is the fact that on prac- tically every crossing in every differ- ent city the traffic policeman is in a different position. ) At one crossing vou will find him operating a semaphore in the middle of the street. At another you will find him in a little house set on the curb, directing traffic. And at others you will find him at the crosswalk, either to your right or left, not only directing = automobile traffic, but pedestrian traffic as well. And, to add to that, you wiil find all sorts of different traffic sema- phores. In one city you will see a small apparatus with “Go" and “Stop” on it, another with just a large “Stop. To digress for a minute. In Phila- delphia the large sign with just “Stop” on it is use. When you did not see the stop it means that traffic is clear and you can go straight through. When the “No left-hand turn” was put into effect in that city it proved confusing for ting mo- torists inasmuch as the “No left- hand turn” sign was put on the sema- phores and from a distance it looked exactly like the “Stop” sign. So when you are in Philadelphia and you see a crosspiece on the semaphore you Suggested for Washington. . means stop. It is there all the time. The police department of Boston has taken cognizance of this situa- ition and has put into effect a rogula- tion which practically and efficiently solves the difficulty. The regulation provides for each traffic policeman. at night, to wear a sort of harness around the upper part of his body of white materfal. which makes “him easily distinguishable in whatever position he is standing. This harness is about two inches wide, goes once around the waist and up over the shoulders, crossing at the back and front. In this way, when approaching a crossing in Boston, look first for a white half of a Sam | Brown beit, and there will be no question in your mind just where the policeman is und just what he wants You to do. While the police of New York have adopted a sort of one-man electrical signal, which flashes the red and green from their manly chest, and the crossing watchmen of Washington, some of them at least, are illuminated by searchlights from above; the white straps of the Boston police stand out as both practical and inex- pensive, und not only that, but they have the feature of weighing almost nothing and adding no burdens to the officer’s nightly traffic duty. While Washingtonians who drive here throughout the year have no trouble at crossings at night, for the afore-mentioned reasons, that they know just where to look for the semaphore or policeman, visitors to | this city undoubtedly have the same trouble here as local motorists ex- perience when touring through other | cities. For this rcason it might be well for the traffic squad here to investigate the matter. and, if found feasible, adopt the white belt for its trafiic of- ficers at night. 1t is not only a protection for the policeman, to keep him from being run over by careless motorists, but a protection to the motorists, because it makes for a smoother running traffic. The policeman is sure that the motorist sees him, and the motor- ist is sure what the policcmen's sig- na's are, so, thercfore, they are both working in_co-operation with each other and the tratfic proceeds with- | out confusi: don't need to slow thinking it RULES 70 PROTECT TIRES ON TRUCKS Manufacturer Points Out Methods to Make Them Last Longer. Here 8 a set of rules for truck @rtwers on the care of solid and pneumatic truck tires formulated by the technical department of the United States Tire Company for the benefit of truck owners: All truck tires have a load limit.| Constant, slight or occasional heavy: i everloads shorten tire life. Distribute the load in the truck body so each tire will bear its pro- porionate share of the weight carried. When applying and dismounting pneumatic truck tires, flap and tube must fit properly and casing fit prop- erly on rim. Know—don't guess—your inflation pressure. Proper inflation pressure is as important as proper loads and speeds. Running in car tracks causes tires to break drwr early. Avoid car tracks. Check your whesl alignment. Tires cannot give full service if improp erly mounted. Neglected cuts lower tire mileage. Trim off loose slivers of solid tires. Mend tHe small and repair the large cuts in poeumatic tires. Chains and other anti-skid devices injure tires. Use chalins only when necessary and apply them loosely. Turn corners slowly to prevent tire strains. Apply power and brakes gradually to avoid useless spinning or locking of wheels. Tires are cut or scraped occasion- ally by bent fenders when the loaded truck travels over rough places. Tires are limited in shock absorb- ing power. Careful, slow driving on rough or rutty roads will reduce tire costs. Overspeeding a tire has the same harmful effect as overloading. Keep truck speed within prescribed limits. To avold unnecessary strain, lift the truck weight from the tires when the truck is to be idle any con- siderable time. AUTO GLAS FOR_ WINDSHIELDS OR BODIES. Installed While You Wait. Taranto & Wasman 1017 Now York Ave. N.W. Authorised Willard Service Stations Bradburn Bey o v Suppl; Modern Mt Sepely O Traylor-Ettl Bat'y Service R B e, Loy Al Bat'y & EL Service The John A Smith's 3119 18k St W.w. & EL Service Seithdea) Baty o e S . B . Per e fien s ww. i HIGHWAYS OF AMERICA CALLED ECONOMIC ASSET “The hizhways of America are an asset of the utmost economic impor- tance, becaus: they are concerned with the production and distribution of wealth. The development of our highway system through the building of more and better roads and the adequate maintenance of those now in is a national undertaking of !service ! ithe most far-reaching consequences,” says Mr. George W. Davis, president of the Davis Motor Car Company. “Civilization and progress have al- ways followed the development of trade routes. the opening of new ter- ritory. new markets and new com- munities, through new _connecting links of transportation. The cost of building- and maintaining highways skould be borne by every citizen. be- cause every citizen benefits by them. Good roads mean better transporta- tion for freight and for men, better distribution of wealth, better educa- tion, greater happiness for every one. Local, state and federal governments are at work on a new and greater iprogram for highway development. “In an undertaking of the magni- tude of the building up of our high- way system it is natural that the federal govesnment should take the | lead. Already $285.000,000 has been appropr.ited trom the nitional Treas- ury. any millions more will be spent. The United States must have a highway transportation system sec- ond to none in the world. Transpor- tation, intercity and rural, reaching from the centers of population into the very highways and byways of the 'coumry. will_advance us far beyond every other nation. Good roads are 1he agent of prozress.” weather. MOTOR CYCLE NEWS. 300-Mile Race July 4. DODGE CITY, Kan,, June 25.—Plans and preparations for the motor cycle classic held annually in this historic western town are rapidly being pushed to completion by the speedway asso- ciation, the chamber of commerce and others interested in the project. Prominent riders and factory men are arriving in town, and within the next two days practice trials will be- gin on the two-mile speed circuit situ- :]lle;l on the prairie just outside the Competition will undoubtedly be keener than ever. The Kxoelsior peo- ple, who were abgent in the line-up of starters in the 1920 race, will enter four and probably more of their fast- ::in;?ie:u?nb lh(eh 1-lut speed crafts y their engineers. In all probability, the “X" riders will be Les- lie Parkhurst, Warren Cropp, Joe Wolters and Jim McNiel. e Indian will very likely be rep- resented by its unusually | powerful line-up of machines and men, as fol- lows: Gene Walker, Shrimp Burns, Bob Newman, Speck Warner, Don Marks and Curly Fredericks, and pos- sibly more to be announced later. Ray Welshaar, Otto Walker, Fred Ludiow, Ralph Hepburn, Jim Higley and Jim Davis, winner of last years event and present 300-mile champion, and possibly (everal others to be ed later. w, named later. will comprise the Harley- From all indications the popularl known “Coyote classic” Ta big ger event than ever. " b¢ & blE Makes Army Dream Come True. OMAHA, Neb., June 25.—An Omaha man in an Army camp watching some machine guns In action mused: “If these machine gun chassis can stand this terrible abuse, why can't they be used for something more constructive than bullet pumpers™ n his return this youn worked to establish mu!t’:r c‘yscle:,:: standard delivery for grocers, clean- ers, tire service companies and for pick-ups in the jobbing and whole- uaAle business. s a part of his plan. he bou; chassis in lots of fifty and built Vfflhf ous kinds of bodies by the dozens. Omaha became the greatest mo- tor cycle delivery city in the country as a result, and the young man with the bright’ idea is glad that Uncle s::l\_ gave him time to think things Fishermen Like Motor Cycles. Because they are able to go into the fastnesses of the wilds, where the best haunts of the finny tribe abound, fishermen-at-large are rapid- ly taking to the motor cycle as a means of transportation. As a pair of fishermen expressed it. who returned to an Indiana city after a sidecar trip to a number of different choice streams in northern Michigan: “Where the crowds werc content to stop at _the easy rendezvous and do their fishing in the ‘fished-out’ streams we went right on until we struck a stream up in the wilds, which we knew to be well stocked with lively. hungry fish. And we had things prettyymuch to ourselves until on the third day we were there, a solo motor cycle rider emerged from a turn in the sandy road, with his ma- chine loaded down with a fishing out- fit and other luggage. Because of our we were able to select a choice spot and catch more fish, with less trouble and expense than those who had to fish near the hotel or sta- sidecar, tion where the trains let them off.” Motor Cycle Gypsy Tours Succesa. The motor cycle gypsy tours. which are fostered by the Motor Cycle and Allied Trades Association and held annually, were again successfully held in all parts of the country June 18 and 19. More than 55,000 motor cyclists are reported by official head- quarters to have taken part. In the Boston gypsy tour alome to Old Orchard, Me., Where races, games and a general frolic were held for two days by the motorists, more than 1.100 riders took part. The Minne- apolis tour was this year again one of the largest held and the Denver tour also drew more than 550 motor cyclists. In addition to these and other large city tours, smaller events were held by dealers and clubs all over the country. —_— Frank Chase is now connected with the sales force of the E. J. Quinn Mo- tor Company of this city. distributors of Wescott cars. Phone W. 166—Rosslyn 210 THE SUNDAY STAR, WAS The Punch " That Wins Is In LIGHTNING MOTOR FUEL It is the power and pep that have made Lightning Motor Fuel the one and only motor fuel for ' motor fuel that is better than can put in your tank— Because Lightning Motor Fuel gives a lot more power than is needed—not just enough—a lot more. Lightning Motor Fuel gives 25 to 35% more mileage—saving your good money because of that-and because it keeps clean and young._'"mlndz of motorists use Lightning Fuel.. It keeps their motors right in the hottest weather—in any ive motorists who want a progresst gasoline—better than anything you s HINGTO | QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS FOR THE AUTOMOBILISTS Answers to Last Week's Questions. 1. The trouble a driver unfamiliar with a car's transmission usually has when he attempts to change to lower speed on a hill or even on level road is that he usually pushes the clutch pedal all the way down to the floor- board, bringing the clutch brake into action, stopping the releasing or driven discs or cone from revolving. and at the same time slowing down the revolving speed of part of the transmission gears, preventing them from meshing with remaining gears revolving more rapidly when the at- tempt is made to mesh them. It is only when the cone or driven parts of the clutch are speeded up in proportion to about twice the car speed that gears should be changed from high to a lower speed, and the procedure would be to disengage the clutch by pushing in the pedal just enough to release it, shift gears to neutral, engage clutch and speed up the engine to double the car speed, disengage the clutch and shift gears to second. The changed when car speed is not more than ten miles per hour. This applies to both shifting on a hill or on level road, excepting that while going up hill the actions must be performed much more quickly, to prevent the car from stopping while clutch is disen- gaged. Going down hill it may be necessary to apply brakes to hold the car speed to an average of ten miles an hour while shifting is done. “72. The strangle shutter, etimes cailed the choke, is a disc-shaped valve located in the air horn or warm {air inlet to the carburetor, and is used, when closed, the prevent the admission of air to fuel being fed to the engine for combustion. When this valve is closed a very rich carburetor mixture is drawn into the cylinders, adapted for starting the engine when cold. The proper running position of the strangle shutter is wide open, and it should be in this position when car- buretor is being adjusted to running conditions. 3. All carburetors do mot have a gasoline adjustment. There are some of the plain-tube type which have merely r adjustments; a set amount of gasoline being constantly admitted to the carburetor. The carburetors with air-adjusting arrangements only usually have one for low speed and another for high speed. while in some |a change can be made in sizes of spray nozzles or venturi tubes if the proper mixture cannot be obtained by air regulation alone. 4. There are only a few points to remember when driving through deep mud, perhaps the most important one being don't hurry if you wish to avoid accidents to both your car and others you may be passing. The Set Up and on Display at ' 920 D St. Hines Auto Supply Co. EASTERN DISTRIBUTERS ‘Washington, a motor Motor Dealers An interesting Pproposition for ‘nn‘il you ‘call gears should be| safest way to travel through mud is In a lower gear. Do not force the car through especially bad places—if it stops back it _a few et, quickly engage a forward 8peed and again drive forward. Any forward momentum of the car while shift is made can thus be taken ad- vantage of. Keep the car as near as possible in the middle of the road, there will be no danger of sliding sideways into the ditch, and keep puddles of water between the wheels instead of driving through them with one side of the car. Some uddles of water conceal deep mud oles, and running into them with only one front wheel may result in stalling the car in the mudhole or possibly a complete overturning and injuring of car and passengers. 5. Oll should not be use& in the cooling system of a car together with j water to prevent rusting because the oil would rot the rubber hose con- nections between radiator and engine water jacket. 6. Automobile springs are general- ly made of vanadium steel, silica manganese, chromium alloy and car- bon steel, the latter being in more common use. High-grade springs with great resiliency and strength are made of the three former-men- tioned steels. 7. An annoying rattle which usually cannot be found by shaking the car when it a standstill is located in the spring shackles or ends of the springs where they are secured to the lcar fr ‘Wear at these points will cause side slap when the car weight is suspended after rebound of the spring when the car passes over a bump, and only a slight amount of lost motion will create a great deal of rattle. It is remedied by placing shims or washers at ends of shackle {bolts, drawing up the lock nuts on these bolts, or by replacing worn , bolts with new. | 8. Your clutch needs adjusting if were not l! ®ceec oo 4-passenger sport - 7-passenger touring car 4-passenger coupe sedan f#-0.8 Ksmosha HURLEY MOTOR CO., INC. 15221524 3¢th St. N.W. F-passenges DIsTRIBTYORS DEALERS Va. Nash UTo Ti13 Cathearer Btrose b= o~ Gornentowe: Na. et T Rore A Ve, the engine seems to be revolving too fast for the rate of speed at which the car is traveling. if low gear can- not be engaged from neutral while the car i standing with engine run- ning, if gears cannot be changed without grating while car is in mo- tion, if car starts with a jerk when clutch pedal is released slowly, or if the car will not coast freely or slack- en its speed and finally stops without the use of brakes when clutch is dis- first trouble indicates a slip- ping clutch, the second that the clutch will not disengage, or if it does disengage, the clutch brake is not functioning: the third indicates the same trouble; the fourth indicates dry or worn fabric or leather on fric- tion surfaces of clutch -or too tight an adjustment, and the fifth, the clutch is also too tight or will not disengage sufficiently. 9. That elusive ueak in the wheels, called a rim squeak. is caused by worn or rusty lugs which hold the rim in place on the wheels, lugs not tighteged sufficiently, a rim out of round or one that is too large for the wheel, causing a loose it and conse- quently motion between rim and wheel. If the squeak comes from rusty lugs, a drop of oil on each where the lug bears against the rim will remedy the trouble. 10. The clutch is disengaged before shifting of transmission gears to al- low easy movement of gears and shifting lever and prevent grating and possible breaking of gear teeth while the shift is attempted. It is possible to change gears without first disengaging the clutch, but consider- able practice and familiarity with them are necessary and danger of stripping the teeth and strain on the entire driving system is greatly in- creased. This Week’s Questions. 1. What electric system trouble is & of an engine? 2. For whal purpose are the tie rods which extend from one end to the other and underneath the rear axles of some make of cars? 3. How many automobiles were made during the first year of pro- duction in tke industry? Lower Prices on Nash Cars ‘TheNesh Motors-Compeny, Kenosha, Wiscoasin . Here Are the New Nash Prices Effective July 2 . ® e o0 e é e o e o 0, often the cause of mysterious misfir- | 4. What valve troubles will cause|car? an engine to misfire? £ 5. With what material may ignition contact points or commutator sur- faces be well cleaned? 6. What is the proper procedure in changing gears to bring the car from a standstill to normal running speed? 7. Why should considerabl: atten- tion in regard to adjustment and lu- brication be given the springs of a you tell when wood can and what 18 the remedy for the 9. How is sulphating of positive bat- tery plates remedied? 10. About how much wasted in a car which has poor co: bustion, resulting from wrong car- buretor adjustment? (Copyright, 1921. Thompeon Feasture Service ) If it's insurable—we insure it l If there's a loss—we pay it ' Auto Insurance—suited to your requirements There is opportunity for wise discretion to be ex- ercised in Automobile Insurance—and it is the fit- ting in of this protection in precise accord with each individual owner’s requirements that is a very im- portant feature of the service of this office. There’s an “easy way”’—and a careful, discrim- : inating way—to go about this matter. You'll get the painstaking attention here—for we pride our- selves on knowing that our clients are properly served. . Inquiries are cheerfully answered—without obli- gation. Talk with Mr. Ruoff. manager of our Insur- ance Dept—and let him advise you. Main 4340. Another point of advantage—losses to our in- sured are paid right HERE—and PROMPTLY. Boss & Phelps | 1406 H Street Phone Main 4340 | | i added and production practice so perfected that every process of Nash menufacture is a model of efficiency and economy. The savings have been substan- tisl And they demonstrate as nothing else -could demonstrate the remarkable Nash ability to mm?n-at the lowest costs downward we were im- proving Nash cars still further. Now we canannounce for Juty 2 a greater Nash value then ever at a reduced purchase price. At thenew prices the leadership of Nash cars is even more em- phaticaity apparent. NASH FOUR PRICES S-passenger touring.car. 2-passenger scadster 3-passsagee.cospe 1- o b MUwautes e e e @ K] ceeee &s sondord egulpasess