Evening Star Newspaper, March 8, 1925, Page 60

re ™ FINDS BRITAINHAS | EXCELLENT ROADS | But U. S. Can Learn Little on Construction or Financing, Fletcher Believes. ( Tn the matter of road construction highway financing and other prob- lems relating to the development of the automobile, America has little to learn from Great Britain, accord- ng to A. B. Fletcher of the United | States Bureau of Public Roads, who spent considerable time recently | traveling over the rural roads of England, Scotland and W On the | whole, the average rural English road | is much better than our Ccountry| roads, but the like of our best roads| is not to be found In that country. | Touring through Great Britain, Mr. Fletcher explained, an American car| was used, remodeled, however, with | a right-hand drive to conform to| Fnglish practice. For one accustomed t a thoroughly American car it proved a source of inconvenience, ac- | cording to this observ to be shift-| ng gears with the left hand hhd: passing other cars on the wrong side | of the road. | Roads Wind Badly. similarities and | some differences between the English| oads and the rural roads d States” Mr. Fletcher 1 reviewing his impressions of English highway practice. “They are perhaps more crooked even than the roads of our older States, and the reason for the poor alignment is ap- narcatly the same in both countries. Tn meither country was there any thought of motor trafic or any other sort of fast traffic when the roads were surfaced. “Our road problem is so much big- | than Great Britain's that the| gon for the better average im- 'ovement of the English road is ap- t. In all England, Scotland and there are but 177,000 miles of 10ad, cities and boroughs included, as ainst our estimated mileage of 2,941,000 outside of the citles and towns. “The English roadside almost in- variably is a thing of beauty,-und an American has to go to Scotland before he feels at home. The Scotch roadsides are nearly or quite as bar- ren and unkempt as most of ours.| The English roads generally have a. wide grass border, and there are trees and shrubs everywhere. Some- times the line of sight is restricted by the roadside growths. | Control of Trafiic. “The traflic contrel at bad road in- tersections in the country as handled | by the agen: of the automobile clubs, in co-operation with the police au- orities, is wonderfully well done d worthy of much more attention | than can be given to it here. In the matter of road signs, however, | we mark our roads, at least so far as direction signs are concerned, better than it is done in England. “The revenue which the British Minlstry of Transport has for road purposes, derived twholly from the registration fees paid on account of the motor vehicles, amounted in 1924 to about $72,000,000. This is about the same sum Congress has been ap- propriating recently for our Federal aid work. “Great Britain spends annually about three times that sum for road purposes, whereas the highway bill of the United States in 1922 was esti- mated at more than $1,000,000,000. “Prior to January 1, 1921, at which time the present.road fund was estab- lished, there had been in effect a tax on gasoline by means of which most of the grants made by the ministry were financed. After 1915 this tax s at the rate of about 12 cents a gallon. Beginning with 1921, the tax was abolished, and in place of the zasoline tax as a revenue producer a Tax of $4.80 per horsepower of the motor vehicles was substituted. “This tax is still in effect, and the owner of a Ford car, for example, payy into the public treasury annu- | ally nearly $100 for the privilege of | driving on the British roads. “The high registration fee has fos- ed the manufacture and use of powered cars and speclal atten- has been given to small- ov tion cylindered motors and Zwh piston speed WARNS OF “KNOCKING.” Folly to Hammer Parts of Auto That Fail. | Tealizing that it is folly to hammer parts of an automobile that refuses to >udge, there is no reason to be puz- zled if you do not seem to be making headway by pulling or pushing by hand. Try using a lever. Get a stout stick about three feet long and place t in such a position that by pushing or pulling on its end you can exert a powerful force at the desired point. This force, being gradual and cumu- lative, cannot present any of the dan- gers incident to pounding with a hammer. Tips on Winter Repairs., Do not have valves ground in or cyl- inders rebored in Winter. There is a t!me for everything, and Winter is an opportunity to have done the sort of work that cannot be marred by sudden cold spells. Replace the universals, re- huild the carburetor, replace broken ing leaves and order other work that nvolves parts not so greatly affected by seasonable changes, Pay What You Will STUDEBAKER You Can Buy no Finer Car As EBONITE “Strings™ fa a Stick, MR. MOTORIST Watch: and Know what is | being put in yeur rear axle as a lubricant. The rear axles carry the whole driv- ing load of your car. EBONITE was purposely made for this purpose, and has been generally indorsed {how the by Automotive Engineers as the best and most satisfac- tory gear lubricant. Buy with your mind made up. Demand EBONITE. Take no substitute, At dealers in five-pound oans, and at service stations from the EBONITE checkerboard pump only. (ITS SHREDDED QiL FOR TRANSMISSIONS AND REAR AXLES IN QILWORKS - (0 nein Yohn Smith is a character whom No. 88—Psychology of Hill Climbing. When Smith returned from a recent trip he was greatly perturbed over the poor performande which the car had displaved on hills. “She didn't climb more than 50 per cent of the hills in high” he com- plained. “T tried to apply some of those rules of psychology which you once suggested, but they didn't seem to work. If I had only been able to| find a first class mechanic along the way I'd have had the engine looked | over. You told me that the trouble | with my hill climbing was that 1 was afrald of a lot of the big hills I en- counntered, and that if 1 would sim- ply have faith in the engine's ability to tackle anvthing I would never have to resort to ‘second.” Well, I wish you coula have been along| vith me. My faith in the motor| didn’t count for much.” It looked as if I was in for a show- down, so to prove my theory that hill climbing is largely a matter of psy- chology—assuming that the car is in reasonably good condition. 1 sug- gested that we take & spin over the | pike. Hoping that the information | gained might save him the expense and annoyance of a repair bill, Smith readily agreed. Approaching Real Hill Fifteen minutes later we were roll- ing along toward a hilly part of the country. Shortly we were approach- ing the first real hill. “Now," said | Smith, “there’s not the slightest doubt in my mind but that this engine will eat up this hill. I'm not going to choke the engine with gas in my anxiety to make the top in high nor starve it through hesitation and doubt. But watch it.” The car went three-quarters of the way up the hill and then sent out an | SOS for “second.” Smith made the shift to second and smiled ironically, as much as to say’that he had proved my theory to be hot air. But when We reached the top and the noise of grinding gears had ceased he was to learn the other side of the story. “So you' call that psychology?’ 1 said. “Well, when I went to school we'd call it trusting to luck. Without a doubt this is the most impractical thing I have ever seen you try to do If you have been trying to climb hills simply by adhering to the bellef that the car can do it, I don’'t wonder that vou have been having trouble.” “But you said that the mental atti- tude of the driver often determined car would perform,” he argued. “You expounded your theory about mind over motor, and now that I have tried it and found it doesn't work you accuse me of being imprac- tical. “What's the matter? Does this car need two minds to.make it per- form well? Perhaps you didn't have faith enough in the motor this time.” Must Drive Intelligently. “All the confidence in the world wouldn’t send this motor over the hill in high with you lying down on the job of driving it intelligently,” I re- torted. “Do you realize that you are overlooking the fact that hill climb- ing depends upon confidence in your ability to make the car do as you please. That's a far cry from having blind faith in the motor and then do- ing nothing to help it along. The link between mind and motor is your knowledge of how to operate the car properly.” “For instance, this hill kills a motor because it is long and encourages over heating. A hill of this type calls for more speed at the bottom in order. to keep plenty of draft over the cylin- ders. It calls for an advanced spark until the point where the motor be- gins to knock. You encouraged over- heating from the very start by ap- wot selfish; rather he is a motoring martyr, a chap willing and glad to have exploited, in an interesting way, his experiences for the benefit of the other 10,000,000 or more members of the motor clan. proaching the hill too slowly, by THE SUNDAY John Smith and His Car BY FREDERICK C. RUSSELL. every motorist should welcome. He leaving the spark only thres-quarters advanced and by retarding it too much and too suddenly when the mo- tor knocked. Mental Attitude Wrong. “Another mistake you made was in operating the hand throttle. You opened this fairly wide long before the engine could comfortably consume the amount of gas offered it. Then, while you were busy telling vourself that the car would surely climb in high, the lever gradually slid back to a half-way position. When the motor’s speed was such that it could digest all the gas you originally gave it the throttle had closed somewhat, and the necessiry amount of gas wasn't available. You thought the motor was falling because your men- tal attitude wasn't right, whereas it lost speed because you were not at- tending to' the job of giving it all the gas it needed. “When you found it was slowing down you directed all your attention to choking it with gas, not for fear the car wouldn't do as you wanted it to; but because you didn’t know that choking the cylinder is as bad as ap- plylng the brakes. You should have pald more attention to steering away from the holes in the road and you should have aimed to keep the car on the crown of the roadway. Bouncing rear wheels are a source of power loss. And when you keep the car too far to the side of the road vou in- crease the grade when you later try to bring it back to the crown. “The upshot of it is you didn't ap- ply your psychology sensibly to the job' of hill climbing. Yau merely tried to be optimistic, whereas, if you would try to know more about han- dling the car skillfully on a hill, your confidence in the motor would be natural, not artificial.” Smith was waving his handkerchief when I concluded. He is just wise enough to know that admitting de- feat often means learning some point that will help one win out in the long run. Next Week—The Daily Dogen. (Copyright, 1925.) SOFT TIRE GAS WASTER. An excessively soft tire not only wastes gas because it occasions a drag on the engine, but because it actually decreases the circumference of the wheel, tire included. The true diameter of the tire is lessened through being flatter, and this natur- ally lessens the circumference. The wheel and tire must revolve more times per mil STAR, WASHINGTON, D. €. MARCH 8, TENBIG CITIES CUT MOTOR ACCIDENTS First Definite Results of Pre- vention Drive Are Shown in Safer Streets. Trafic accidents in January, 1925, in-the 10 largest cities in the United States were 34 per cent lower than the total for the correspondirg pe- riod a year ago, indicating the first definite results of the agitation for safer streets and highways inaugu- rated here with the mational safety | conference ~ called by Secretary Hoover. “That 7 of our 10 have registered marked reductions in their trafic toll records is the most encouraging news in highway history,” said George M. Graham, chalrman of the safety committée of the National Automoblile Chamber of Commerce. “For the first time in the history of the safety movement traf- fic accidents are being lowered. Here is proof that constant effort toward safety eventually gets results. Signs of Hope Noted. “There are many slgns of hope in the totals for the complete year 1924, Fatalities were held to a 8% per cent increase over 1923, compared with the 171 per cent growth In ve hicle registrations. There might be small comfort in this alone, but for the fact that many citles showed an actual numerical decrease for the entire year. Twenty-nine out of the sixty-eight cities having more than 100,00 population achieved reduc- tions in 1924.” Fatalities in Washington last year numbered 99, as compared with 87 for 1923, The total fatalities in 1924 for the Nation were 17,345, compared with 16,452 in 1923. “This terrible toll is a call for con- tinued action,” Mr. Graham sald. “It gives no room for relaxing or col gratulation. But the start of 192 |and many other factors in the past year, give a mnote of courage and hope. While the total of trafic ca- tastrophes remains a cause for unre- mitting effort, it is important to note that relative to the problem the situation is coming under better con- trol every year. Smaller Towns Laggiag. An analysis of the occurrence of ac- cidents indicates that the big cities are handling their trafic problem more effectively than the smaller communities. The rate of increase in trafic accldents in cities of more largest - cities than 100,000 population was 3 per cent, while the rate in cities under ,000 was 18 per cent. Mr., Graham cites the chief angles of approach to the traffic problem as AUTO LACQUER Lacquer is hard, durable and wear-resisting. It will not scratch, mar or scuff easily and will not chip or peel off. Lacquer retains its luster no matter how often it may be cleaned—the harder it's rubbed the more it shines. Heat that would blister an ordinary finish has no effect upon Lacquer. Lacquer will not rain spot. Oil, grease, gasoline or alk: the fini ; Wiping mud from it dry wi to polish it. “Dust, grit and grime won’t sional cleaning always restores Work Guarante: Battery acid will not hurt it. ali have no harmful effect upon Il not scratch the finish—it helps hurt a Lacquer finish—an occa- its beauty and luster. ed for One Year ; Gardiner & St. Jolm 1217 23RD ST. NORTHWEST PHONE WEST 2808 e B ————— FORTEN YEARS -[JEPENDABLE Exceptional dependability has been a char- i acteristic of Dodge Brothers Motor Car since the day the first of these sturdy cars was marketed. Not once in a decade has it failed to uphold and enhance its reputation for faithful per- formance. The reason for its consistent goodness and continued betterment points directly back to the ideals of the founders. Instead of fluctuating between an endless series of annual models, they determined to concentrate on the perfection of a single chassis. Dodge Brothers Motor Car today is the embodiment of that ideal—an ideal that will endure as long as the institution itself. AND 1707 14th ST. N.W. MINUTE MESSAGES (Prepared by the public information Automiotive Trade use has reached the point where car them. People who ride in your caf are wear out their cars at an unnecessaril. ample. : the floor and mud is tracked in as tho the proper receptacle for it. sion. In the latter he acts in such Every one, who has anything to is usually the one other drivers bump follows: Adequate traffic police force, through boulevards, education in schools, severe punishment of reckless drivers, study of facts of local traffc. For the decrease in accidents, Mr. Graham says “credit is due the 300 and more newspapers which are mak- ing this fssue. their special interest, and are keeping records of trafiic fa- talities and thelr causes, Nor should one forget. the splendid work of our police departments, the State high- to th transmission. needlessly, just because you forget that you added engine oil to those parts for Winter use. 1925—PART 3. FOR MOTORISTS “Set m Good Example” committee of the Washington Assoclation.) The problem of keeping a car looking its best despite constant owners should no longer over- look the assistance which their friends and acquaintances can give imitators. I you flick the ashes from your cigar carelessly you can rest assured that they will not look for the ash recelver. Many car owners do not realize that their friends are helping them y excessive rate. “'hat is because they do not realize that they themselves are setting the wrong ex- In some cars guests will be careful to fold up the robes and scrap their feet upon entering. In otherS the robe is kicked around ugh the tonneau of the car wero In the former case the owner constantly reveals pride in his pos- a way as to invite misuse of his do with your car can help you take care of it, and unless you make use of the power of imitation you will be overlooking an excellent opportunity. Haven't you noticed that the automobile that Is carelessly parked into? NO NEED TO WORRY. This is the season of the year when you find drops of lubricant on the garage floor at points which suggest leaks in vital spots. Looking under investigate, you find oll afound e differential case, or perhaps the You worry a lot, way officlals, the safety councils, the | ™ automobfle clubs, health departments and other local and national bodles which are working for better opera- tion of trafic.” - | SAFETY RULE RECOMMENDED. Better make it a practice to turn on the lights in Summer before you really need to. Otherwise you are very likely to forget to—until halted by an officer. Your battery will be Westinghouse Air Springs Sales aud Service Sheehan’s Garage L St. Near 19th obliged for the early lighting of the headlights. ST P o NSy Getting Smoother Start. A smoother start can be had with less possibility of stalling if the en- gine is accelerated moment before the clutch is engaged. The momen- tum of the flywheel helps smooth the start, Huyndreds of th advantages made 1311 E Street S.E. AKRON AUTO SUPPL 509 7th Strect S.W. FENDER CO. 215 Pennsylvania Avenue SEMMES MOTOR COMPANY 8 DUPONT CIRCLE MAIN 6660 1801 14th Street N. sands of Firestone Balloon - equipped cars arerolling off mil- lions of miles of splen- did performance. Car owners, every- where, are praising the safe, skidless, driv- ing—the wonderful control—the luxu- rious comfort—the high mileage records —the lower cost of motoring— ABSHER’S GARAGE BENNING SERVICE STATION 3300 Benning Road N.E. Benning and Anacostia Roads BROOKLAND GARAGE 1000 Michigan Avenue N.E. , CAPITAL RADIATOR & CORD TIRE SALES COMPANY 14th and V Streets N.W, CROSSTOWN AUTO SUPPLY CO. Sheehan’s Quick Service AUTO LAUNDRY L St. Near 19th N.W. Franklin 5617 CADILLAC SERVICE ou- possible by the exclusive process of Gum-Dipping—the very foundation of balloon tire success. S5 i : ‘47’3 ; Dipped Ballo Keeping the Car Clean. After driving through slush it is a good plan to hit the fenders with your fist. This will loosen all of the slush .that has accumulated, and will often disiodge much of the dirt under This B the fenders. Clean hub caps whils they are wet and rub off the running boards at the same time. If the top of the car is clean before you start out in the rain the body will show fewer streaks. attery Saves You Money —because it’s brand new when you get it It's a Willard. It’s Charged Bone-Dry. It’s insulated with Threaded Rubber. Ready the minute you want life until you can use it. it. Doesn’t start its “Ever see a battery start its life? Seems like performing a miracle. Come in and see my boss o it,” says Little Ampere. Washington-Battery Company 1621-23 L Street N.W. Main 180 Willard RADIO Bateries Willard AUTOMOBILE Batteries Willard FARM LIGHTING Batteries wit = Ins Be Sure You Get Gum-Dipped BALLOONS For Gum - Dipping insulates every fibre h rubber—and adds great strength to each cord. Real balloon tires must have light, strong, flexible walls—Gum- Dipping-gives this extra strength and flexibility. ist upon Gum- ons—full-size! Let us make your changeover—we’ll do it quickly—at low cost. MOST MILES PER DOLLAR Y CO. N.w. HARRY KATZ 514 Four-and-a-half Street S.W. M’CURDY & LIPPHARD 600 New York Avenue N.W. 4203 Ga. Ave. MIKE’S SERVICE 2203 Nichols Avenue S.E. MOBILE AUTO SUPPLY CO. 1012 H Street N.E. MODERN AUTO SUPPLY 917 H Street N.E. MUTUAL TIRE CO. 908 Pennsylvania Avenue N.W. NORTHWEST GARAGE Rear 1213 13th Strect N.W. O’DONOGHUE BROS. 14th and Irving Sts. N.W. STAR 121 N.W. SERVICE STATION % th and C Sts. N.W. 5 SMITH’S SERVICE GARAGE * 216 Warren'Street N.E. SOUTHEAST AUTO SUPPLY CO. 629 Pennsylvania Avenue S.E. SPEEDWAY AUTO SUPPLY 332 14¢h Street S.W. TRUCK TIRE SERVICE CO. 1324 14th Street N.W. UNITED TIRE STORES 2601 Pennsylvania Avenue N.W. BOYER’S ECONOMY AUTO SUPPLY CO. Capitol Heights, Md. z . COURTHOUSE SERVICE DUKE’S TIRE SHOP PLAZA AUTO SUPPLY STATION 1207 9th Street N.W. 401 Massachusetts Avenue N.W. Clarendon, Va. DUPONT TIRE SHOP Cotee s ST SHEPHERD & BRO. 2002 M Strect N.W. 14th and P Strects N.W. Clacendon Ve, EDWARDS MOTOR SERVICE CO. POTOMAC TIKE CO." LAY SERVACE 105 indo Jud Armem N5, 231 M Stroet N.W. MONTGOMERY GARAGE HERBERT'S TIRE REPAIR SHOP REESE TIRE HOUSE Rockville, Md. 1239 Pennsylvania Avenue N.W. 702 R. I. Ave. N.W. MAKELY MOTOR CO. NORTHEAST AUTO EXCHANGE SCHULTZ GARAGE Falls Church, Va. o gARAGl;EJ i 1496 H Street N.E. STAFFORD & GRANT : i o SEATON GARAGE ST el e HIGHWAY AUTO SUPPLY CO. S Seaton Place N.E. MINUTE SERVICE STATIONS 2106 Riode Istand Avenue N.E. 306 Rhode Island Avenue N.W. Georgia Avenue and Upshur Streets JOHNSON’S AUTO SUPPLY SECURITY AUTO SERVICE, Inc. e S W 2101 K Street N.W, 11th Street and New York Avenue N.W. Pennsylvania Avenue and Zlst Street N.W. HUNDLEY’S AUTO SUPPLY FRED D. SHEPHERD e TS W 3436 14th Street N.W. 3220 M Street N.W. MERICANS SHOULD PRODUCE THEIR OWN RUBBER Florida Avenue and 3d Street N. |