Evening Star Newspaper, March 22, 1925, Page 60

S $380,732 GAS TAX SPENT ON STREETS District Motorists .Paid Im- post on 19,039,600 Gallons of Gasoline Last Year. All the funds collected from Wash- ington motorists last year on accol of the gasoline tax were made avail- able for street con8truction and u~} pair work under the supervision of | the Engineer Commission, to figures co iled by the Public Roads. A total of $380. collected, representing a consumption of 18,039,600 gallons of gasolin The entire sum collected was applied to road work, it is stated Thirty-five of the 48 States and the District of Columbia, the compilation shows, imposed a gasoline tax, rang- ng from 1 to 3 cents a gallon, with the exception of Arkansas, which im- posed & 4-ce the count as a whole the amount collecte 734,490, which $4 avail or road constructic maintel work under t supervision ¢ e State highway partments Mest Spent for Roads. A large share of the remainder turned over to county and local road ds. In a few of the States a por- was turned over to general school funds and for miscel- anepus purposes.’ Although States and the Dis- ot impose a gasoline tax, it affects y about half of the motc ve- les, since several of the ates which do not impose a tax have |Al’n' registrations. Since the beginning of the vear, however, Kansas, Michiganh Tenness: Wyoming and North Car lina have imposed the asoline tax. the last mentioned State evving maximum of 4 cents a gal The average amount bail annually by motorists where the tax was col- lected was $10.30 per vehicle Tates Vary Widely. The following compilutiol the rate in each State, g and the amount applie work. accord Bureau of. 2 was for road nt ap. rax rate to road Supervish State Hi Conneeticut (1).. Delaware .. Florida m»; atd L chusetis Afenrgan Minnesota . Missinsippl Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampsbire. .. New New 2 New York . North Carolin North I Ohio .. Oklshoma . Oregon .. 1) Tennesses Texas .. Utah (1 Vermont (1) Yirginia W SKID CHAIN TRQUBLE. Habit of Slamming on Brakes One Serious Cause. When you find your skid wearing through do you assum the links have got -to break ev often, or do You speculate as whether the breaking of the cross chains has something to do with the way you treat the chains? A iittle investigation would show ¥ou that the habit of slamming on the brakes is the most serious cause of chain trouble, and that the habit of letting the chains ride loose comes next. The first cause of chain wear is ob- vious, but the second needs a word of explanation. When the cross chains are loose they slap the hard paving in addition to being wedged between the tirc and the pavement as the wheel passes the roadway con- | tact point. chains that €0 to LEARN TO USE CHOKER. With the idea of allowing the engine to “get its bearings” many drivers use the starter a few seconds before pulling out the choker. This | 1y uses current and wastes time. engine wouldn't start, when cold, | without using the choker if you | cranked it all day. The air should bo choked off with the very first turn of the shaft so that gas-vapor spray ts drawn into the cylinders at once. WHY FAN BELTS FAIL Most car owners appreciate the fac that a tight fan belt is under a con- stant and destructive strain, but they often forget that a slipping belt is onstantly subjected to wear through friction caused by rubbing of the slipping pulleys. right ‘adjustment for long belt lies somewhere between the two ex- tremes. The belt must be examined occasionally in order to maintain this economical adjustment the | lite | i 1108 Vermont Ave. Main 4340 Jfast%rinfhe%fld | structed by | beautified; !Model Road Built InIndiana Attracts Interest of World Highivay Engineers Study Construction—Lighted For Night Travel. con- the Lincoln Highway As- sociation as a model and represent- ing the ideas of America’s foremost highway engineers and traffic experts, is 7.162 feet in length, located be- tween Dyer and Schererville, two lit- tle towns in Lake County, Ind. This section of road, completed last year. has bec i mous. Its spe broadcast to the four ®arth and studied with highway engineers and foreign lands Following is an outline of the spec- ifications: Right-of-way is 100 feet wide; options are held for feet more; paving is 40 feet wide with no center obstructions; paving material Is concrete; 10 inches thick, reinforc- ed with steel: there are no ditches and the road is drained with tile; roadsides have been landscaped and there a pathway for pedestrians; the highway is lighted for night travel; the section contains one bridge and one culvert, both con- crete and cut-stone construction; paving cost $64.000 & mile; the e project cost $193 of ‘which the Lincoln Highw Assoclation paid $130,000, the balance being paid by the - Federal Government, the State of Indlana and Lake County. SAFETY IS SOUGHT FOR NIGHT DRIVING A. A A Asks Motorists What Warnings First Attract Notice in Darkness. The ideal section of highway have been rners of the interest by bullders in tire Local motorists are being asked to co-operate with the American Auto- mobile Association in a psychology test in the interest of greater safety in night driving, according to Ernest N. Smith, general manager of the or- ganization There is said to be urgent need for some means of marking barriers across closed roads so that night drivers will be spared the many acei- dents and .near accidents which are being reported to the A. A. A. na- tional headquarters. It is believed that the automobile driver is in\the best position to decide upon some method that could be standardized. “What method of marking road construction barriers' engages your attention quickest when you are pro- ceeding along what you believe to be an unobstructed road at night?” Mr. Smith asking the local mo- torists. “Whatever warning engages your attention first is the safest. ar in mind that red light lan- terns.are barred from the list of pos- sibilities, since they are very readily stolen and depend for their proper operation upon a human element. Somebody must attend to them if they are to be effective as a safety measure, and it is just this human element that opens up possibilities of trouble. “Some highway departments being urged to repaint their barriers across roads under construction, angd to place white markings on the road- way itself as an extra precaution Markings similar to that used by many localities to designate dan- gerous crossings also are being sug- gested. Many of the devices used to reflect the auto’s headlight ravs, it is believed, should be used in ad- dition to other warnings.” are THE SUNDA GARE AT GROSSINGS URGED FOR SAFETY Best Means of Averting Fa- talities Suggested to Mo- torists and Pedestrians. Greater care at part of motorists and pedestrians is urged by the National Safety Coun- cil as a means of reducing the num- ber of traffic ities. Surveys com nleted by that organization in several large cities indicate that motor ve- hicle fatalities are largely confined to main traveled streets radiating from central business districts, and are most prevalent in the congested resident districts. “There must be a new relationship between the motor vehicle operator and the pedestrian,” states a report just issued by the council. “The lat- ter must cross the streets and the former must move .along the streets with some uniformity if the make any headway. Each has a re- sponsibility to the other. Duty Outlined. “If the pedestrian attempts to cross at the street inters ion, the motor- ist should let him cross without un- reasonable delay If the motorist ex- ercises proper precautions at inter- sections, the pedestrian should re- spect them by crossing at intersec- tions only and bject to reasonable regulations, “This solution Involves two things, Y STAR, with enforcement for those who will not submit. The public must be taught to recognize their obligations both as pedestrians and as drivers. Vehicular traffio on busy streets o should be stopped at regular inter- vals to let pedestrians cross in safety at properly des ted cross-walks. Each class of traffic should be al- lowéd to cross in its turn, Permanent Markings Urged. “Cross-walks should be designated plainly by pavement markings for the benofit of both motorists and pedes- trians. Proper means of traflic con- trol should be located at frequent in- tervals along heavy trafic streets, particularly at ‘peak’ hours. “In.many cases the attitude of traf- fic policemen needs correction. They ‘must function primarily as regulators and instructors of traffic. They have vastly different jobs from the patrol- men yho deal with criminals. The trafiic policemen control the move- ments of those who welcome their direc- tions and gladly abide by them with no other thought than full submis- sion. Dealing with these people in the same manner as with criminals is un-American, but dealing with them in the sense of public service receives wholesome response in the form of a safer community NOT ALWAYS A WAB.N’ING Not all-of the things you hear when driving the car are tips or warnings of serious trouble ahead. A lot of these “queer things” are to be for- gotten. A valve or its tappet will often start clicking, only to operate perfectly later. Sometimes the engine is running a little too hot or too cold for best results. A brake band may have a little dirt in it and may be scraping. Certain accessories may be brating, only to cease their clatter at a slightly different car speed. PERHAPS —you fill your own battery Taking out floor-boards to get at the bat- tery is a mussy job at best. Why not let us do it for you? We test the battery and clean and the same time. Corroded terminals mean grease the terminals at less starting Washington-Battery Company 1621-23 L Street N.W. Main 180 Willard RADIO Batteries + Willard AUTOMOBILE Bazterie: Willard FARM LIGHTING Batteries Donse BROTHERS COMMERCIAL CAR Its economy of maintenance could have no better proof than this: It is operated in fleets by a long list of business houses whose selection of equipment is based strictly on comparative records. Screem Commercial Car 5910, f. $960 delivered b. Detroit SEMMES MOTQOR COMPANY 613 G ST. N.W. MAIN 6660 WASHINGTON, namely, education and regulati$h, - grounds, and when approaching per- 929 D. .C, MARCH Children Under 15 3 Comprise Third of Traffic Fatalities National Sefety Council Urges Care in Driving Near Youngsters. Thirty-two per cent of the 20,000 persons killed in automobile acci- dents last year were children under 15 vears of age, according to figures compiled by the National Safety Coun- cil. As part of a nation-wide cam- paign to lower the death toll of such aecidents during 1925, the council is urging motorists to exercise greater care In‘residential sections and near schools. Many drivers are careful on con- gested business streets, but careless in residential and other districts where children are to be found in numbers,” says a statement issued by the council. “In spite of the danger, many children make the street their playground, or in chasing each other, or a ball, they may suddenly dash into the street in front of & moving vehicle. “Drivers should assume that child on or near the street is going to dash suddenly in front of their cars. Drivers should have absolute control of their car not only when children are playing in the street, but also when they are playing near the curb or on the sidewalk; they should drive slowly passing schools or play- every 1925—PART 3. sons on bicycles, roller skates, kiddie cars, etc. “Drivers should caution their own and other people’s children about the dangers of the street. Positive in- formation as to how to conduct them- selves on the street will be more effective with children than mere ‘don’ts,’ “If you expect avoid " injuring your should take care not to children of others.” to you the other persons children injure FORD MINES ACTIVE. Nearly Two Million Tons of Coal Produced Last Year. rd_coal mines in West Virginia' last year produced 1,862,963 tonis of coal, of which 1,444,- 536 tons were used at the Ford mo tor plants. The 418,427 surplus tc over the company’s requirements were 80ld to the public. More than half the output Ford coal mines was shippe River Rouge plant at Detroit, virtually all the coal went into coke Kentucky and of the ovens, vielding many thousands tons of coke, in adaition to such products as gas, tar, benzol and s monium sulphate of GREASE BEST FOR GASKETS Do not shellac gasket when replacing the head grinding in the valves hard oft or grease. Shellac burns. So 1 the grease, but the latter sort of crust that se exceptionally well for water gaskets and tions. the cylinder head Use als the gas white hose con USE 320 ACRES OF GLASS. Year’'s Output of Ford Cars Takes More Than 16,660,000 Square Feet The Ford Motor Co. last year used more than 16,660,000 square feet of plate glass in the production of Ford passenger cars. This was enough glass to form a covering for a 380- scre farm. Closed cars took by far the larger percentage of the glass .Only slightly more than 4,650,000 square feet went to make wind- shields for the touring cars and run- abouts. Ford glass plants are now maxing all the plate glass required for ¥ord ’\produu“on. —_— ONE CAUSE OF MOTOR PEP. The so-called pep in lots of motors is nothing but a too-limber acceler- ator. When an nccelerator s too sensitive, as is the case when no pro- vision is made for steadying the foot, 1t's a very simple matter to make the engine jump. You could do t with any motor by suddenly p the hand control all the v down. ANOTHER NASH DEALER ANOTHER SHIPMENT OF THE NASH 5-p. SEDAN -JUST ARRIVED. Keeping pace with the demaud for this popular car is some job—better order YOUR Nash Sedan NOW. We'll be glad to send one arou for a demonstration, or arrange to let you make a t in yourself. 5 he OUTSTANDING AUTO VALU $1,350 Delivered R. McReynolds & Son Sixty Years' Satisfactory Service in Washington 142325-27 L. St~ .0, 14th & Park Rd. of the season dF you, Mr. Motorist, are interested in greater tire mileage, this report is for you. It has to do with one of the most important tire tests ever made. The tested tires represented at least 75% of all the %, tiresusedin the United States. They were mounted \I . on the rear wheels of a number of taxi-cabs—a Michelin on one side and another make on the other side. Half of the Michelins were mounted on the left and half on the right side of the car. They were taken from stock at random, and the other tires were purchased from the regular stock of reputable dealers. Over 410,000 miles were covered. Here are the results: The Michelin Tires averaged 36% more mileage than the other makes We have often said “The Michelin Cord is SOME > Tire.” The results of this test bear out that state- ‘ment. But we do not ask you to accept them as conclusive. We simply ask you to look into the matter further. Mount a Michelin Cord opposite ,the make you think *as been giving you the best service; we are confioznt the result will check up 'the accuracy of the larger test and show that you, too, can save money by using Michelins. See your Michelin dealer. MICHELIN TIRE COMPANY, Milltown, New Jersey Michelin Tire Company Factory Warehouse 1417 Irving St. NNW. Washington, D. C. TFelephone us for the name of the nearest Michelin Dealer Calumbia 898 About9,000,000balloon tires are now running, and 3,000,000 of them are Michelins. The balloon era is here, and ‘Michelin its leader.