Evening Star Newspaper, March 29, 1925, Page 63

" WITNESSES URGED T0BARE ACCIDENTS Automotive Trade Body Says Co-Operation Will Curb Lawless Drivers. Pledging full co-operation and sup- port to Director of Trafc Kldridge and his staff, the Washington Auto- motive Trade Association, In a state- ment fssued yesterday, called on the general public to assist in every way possible making Washington an ideal trafiic city. Closer co-operation between the public and the author- sed o arly in the ¥ “hit-and-run’" violation, sociation, 18 serious menace to life and the Capital tion suggests as a of co-operation that ether motorists or pe- destrians Mc accidents of a more or less serious nature should report nse numbers of the car or Ived to the police, so as to uthorities rid 'the streets and unscrupulous drivers. Ald to Detection. | In some of the recent cases of “hit- and-run” accidents, the police have been hard pressed to locate the of- fender. A little co-operation on the part of the public, it is pointed out, would help the authorities in such s to traffic accldents character are declared shirk- ing a civic duty unless they assume d attitude and real- nce to themselves and ens of reporting flagrant ninal violations of the traffic “It would be a simple matter for motorists and pedestrians ta interest themsolves more in some of the things that happen on our streets” sald Taul B. Lum, president of the asso- clation. “They would merely be in- suring their own lives and property against similar treatment. No one knows nowadays when a reckless, perhaps drunken, driver is going to plow through a group of innocent people and kill one or more of them. Too Big for Police. “The police, of course, are charged ‘with the task of preserving order and protecting the public against lawless persons, but the job has become too big for the number of men assigned to duty. The ordinary citizen could assist materfally in this work If he would take it upon himself, when witnessing an accident in which the driver speeds away without making bis identity known, to jot down the number and to report that number to the nearest police precinct station, stating the facts as he witnessed them. “This {s not a case of 'Am I my brother's keeper?” No one, whether pedestrian or motorist, is immune from the death-dealing crashes of the Teckless driver.” Warns of “Buck Passing.” Mr. Lum said there would be a ten- dency on the part of the public to fall into an attitude of “Let George do it," now that a director of traffic has been appointed. Such an attitude, he sald, is inimical to the best interests of the community, and would result, if car- ried to the extreme, In an increase rather than a decrease In traffic ac- cidents. “Making our streets safe is not a one-man job. tor, hundreds of traffic policemen and thousands and tens of thousands of public-spirited citizens who can ap- It takes a traffic direc-' John Smith THE SUNDAY STAR, WASHINGTON, and His Car BY FREDERICK C. RUSSELL. John Smith is a character whom every motorist should welcome. He is not selfish: rather he is a motoring martyr, a chap willing and g have exploited, in an interesting w: d tq his experiences for the benefit of the other 10,000.000 or more members of the motor clan. No. 91—Explaining Torque. It was one of those rainy Saturday afternoons when plans for an elabo- rate week end with the car seemed to go running down the gutter to oblivion. Smith was getting to a point, however, whers he welcomed these occasional annoyances because they gave him an opportunity to con- sider some motor problems he usually hadn’'t time for. This explains why I found him looking quite puzzled over something about the springs. “Broken leaf " I asked. Smith replied by pointing to the leaves of the right rear spring, call- ing my attention to the fact that the top one had siid over slightly to the left of the one beneath it In fact, instead of being directly above each other, the spri aves appear- ed to be graduated, though some giant hand had tried to separate them Looking found the there, T the left rear spring, we e condition prevalled were not directly evident that some twisting force had tended to spread preclate the importance and efvic value of a minimum traffic toll. “Many of the other large oitles of the country are beglnning to show marked improvement In their traffic situation, and Washington can come up to the best of them if the general run of citizens would not be so afraid of ‘getting into trouble’ by merely reporting an accident as they see jt. This would help to correct the regk- less-driving evil more than a stacute book of laws which are not enfoyved.” them out—a force that afrected both springs in the same¢ way. This was the feature of the trouble that in- terested Smith. Why should both springs spread out in the same way Explanation of Torque. “You're touching on a subject that fs understood by about one motorist In a thousand,” 1 started to explain “This mysterious force that |is spreading your spring leaves is what the engineers speak of as torque In plain English it s the twisting force exerted on the car by the rota- ting motion of the engine. This sort of force is absorbed in various ways. but in your type of rear-end drive— usually” called Hotchkiss drive—the springs are required to take care of it. In order to keep the leaves from sliding out of position the clips must be kept tight.” “But they are tight” he replied proving it by trying to turn the nuts with a wrench. “They're tight now,” I agreed, “but you have not been keeping them tight regularly. And now that the spread- ing of the springs has gained a foot- hold, you are trying to use the spring olips to force the leaves back into position again. The spring clips can't be expected to do this. You should jack up the wheels 0 as to take the weight off the springs, pound the leaves back into position again with a wooden block and then tight- en the clips.” “But is that necessary? he asked. “Hasn't this torque action—or what- ever you call it—just about done all he damage it is going to?” he damage has only just started. More tion, reduced vibration, longer life fo:d the car, higher average spe: on trips— these are a few of the man advantages of Diamond Bal- loon are equipment. And there irty years of quality manufacturing experience Diamond Balloons back of which is assurance of their - high value and final econ- omy. See us about Balloon tires. Balloons you stop the slipping of the now /they will continue to slide out of line until the spring as a unit is weakened. Some day when you go over a rough road a leat will break.” “Why don't they use some rigid member in the construction of cars 10 that the springs can be relleved of the job of'conveying the driving orce to the frame?” Smith suggested. “They do,” I explained. “In one lesign a torque tube encases the sropeller shaft from the front univer- al joint to the rear axle. In another esign a torque arm runs parallel to che propeller shaft from a cross-mem- ser of the frame just back of the front iniversal to the rear axle. Both of -hese torque members not only take -he drive, but absorb the twisting motlon as well. They relleve th prings from the drive and torq strains well enough, but as wear d elops where their ends are attached hey soon become noisy if not at- ended to. Because ofling the springs nd tightening the shackle bolts are \asler for the average man to attend o, and because this distortion of the spring leaves does not ocour until ifter the car has been in use for quite »me time, and then only when the 1.ipa have not been properly tighten- 1, the Hotchkiss design has grown to be most popular.” “But I stiil don’t quite see how the D. C, MARCH 29, motor can exert such a strain on the rear of the car,” Smith said. Oause of Motor Strain. ‘Unless you gather that idea, the torque reaction will remain a mys- tery to you,” I replied. “Here's the explanation in a nutshell: “The engine shaft rotates to the right In clockwise direction. Through the gears and the universal joint it drives a long propeller shaft, which runs parallel with the car, but per- pendicular to the rear axle. A pin- fon gear at the end of this shaft meshes with the ring gear of the rear axle. Isn't it evident that as tI propeller shaft turns to the rigkt t! pinion gear tends to ride the ring gear and that because it {s prevented from doing so there s a tendency to raise the front end of the car? The whole car tends to wind itself around the rear axle when you ‘give her the sae “hore 1s also lesser tendency for the car to turn around instead of the shaft. These varying strains are all held in check by the driving force and the welght of the car, but they eventually find outlets by wear- ing the chassis at points whers the torsional forces get congested. In most makes of cara the torque reacts in the springs. Watch them.” (Copzright, 1925.) THE unsatisfying. Cadillac car. 1138-1140 Conn. Ave. CADI PHAETON It is human to want that which is recognized to be the best of its kind. Nothing less can possibly afford the same deep and lasting satisfaction. Nothing less pays so well in joy of possession or as an investment. Nothing less is worthy of him who has the means to maintain his per- sonal standards—and who finds the thought of the second or third choice The human desire for that which is best is back of every purchase of a New Cadillacs may be purchased on the time poyment plam The Washington Cadillac Company RUDOLPH JOSE, President Frank. 3900, 3901, 3902 LLAC 1925—-PART 8. “Straight-Eight” May Be Split. ‘With the advent of many straight- eight motors, inventors are sald to be turning their attention to a type of straight-eight that can be split {nto Independent fours and used as such when speed and power are not re- quired. It {s simple enough to split the engines, but the problem lies in harmonizing the motors 8o as to pre- vent vibration when they work in unison. Car Polishing Suggestion. Satisfaction In polishing the car is largely a matter of willingness to try again when the first treatment falls to produce results. When a motorist gets around to trying a new polish for his car it usually means that he has long passed the day when the car should have been polished. He has got to give it several applications be- fore he can cateh up. = Landslides in Peru have practically tied up the rallway connecting the mining district with the coast. A New Cleveland Six~ Only *895! L o b Clovaland Spirited, flashing, dashing performance— that's why the new Cleveland Standard Six is duplicating the success of its famous com- panion—the Special Six. Lighter, more compact—of finest quality throughout, offering full balloon tires, four- wheel brakes, the “One-Shot” chassis Lubri- cation Systern—handsome, roomy—it ranks as one of the outstanding developments in auto- motive history. Drive it—enjoy a revelation in power, agility and smoothness! Cleveland builds quality Sixes rang- ing in price from *895 to *1725 Fourashod brahes ate tion System is wader extra cost. The “One-Shot” Labricos Preducts Company patents. WARRINGTON MOTOR CAR CO. 1727 Connecticut Ave. CLEVELAND AUTOMOBILE COMPANY CLEVELAN Established 1912 North 9860 D CLEVELAND SIX - A Four Letter Word Meaning Stamina 117 N. Fairfax Street, Alexandria, Va. It’s the only word that tells the story of Paige-Jewett ability and durability. Think of that word and it will say what you want in your car—what you get in the New Paige and the New Jewett. Here are two cars that possess the ability to live long and work strenuously. They do this for reasons any man can understand. Yes—and any woman who ever tried 10-cent aluminum ware. Stout machinery—or kitchenware— is the only kind that endures. That means weight. And you can bet your bottom dollar on the stamina of a husky car. Run a Jewett on the coal-scale— or weigh a Paige. Then any car you would compare with either. It may amaze you. For Jewett and Paige will show from 200 to 500 pounds heavier than other cars similarly priced. This means more cost to build, but more strength. It's the only real guar- antee of years of service, comfort on any road. It means plenty of fine material at every point— axles, frames, shafts, bearings, gears, brakes, bodies. But Paige and Jewett will do more than just last long. They will perform amaz- ingly—thrillingly everyday. This, too, for areason any man or woman can under- portant. A powerful man can juggle a cake of ice that a weak man can't lift. When you press your toe on a Paige- Jewett accelerator —your wish is the car’s act. That’s power to spare. And the iceman keeps cheerily at his task for years because he has power to spare. What's 100 pounds to him? stand. It takes power to make a car go. More power, more go. Jewett have more power. More power than other cars offer at similar prices. More power compared to weight than any other car. This is im- And Paige and Stamina! - Same with these cars. Their power en- dures because it is never taxed. Hence their sprightly performance at an age that cripples most cars. - -l We offer it in two luxurious, marvelous looking and acting cars—the 131-inch wheelbase, 70 h. p, WASHINGTON-VIRGINIA MOTORS, Inc. 16th and You Streets—Potomac 772 DEALERS Athey & Harrison Laurel, Md. Rhode Island Ave. Garage 900 R. I. Ave. N.E. Alexandria Motor Company Ricl tts Garage Rockville, Md. Wash.-Westcott Co. 2114 14th St. N.W. E. B. Frazier Motor Company 518 10th St. N.E. Paige Brougham at $2395—the mod- erate size, 55 h. p. Jewett Brougham at $1415. Both f. 0. b. Detroit, tax ex(&a.)