Evening Star Newspaper, January 27, 1929, Page 111

STEPS T0 END ROAD CONGESTION URGED Total Auto Ownership of 30,000,000 in America Is Forecast. ‘Forecasting a total automobile owner- ship of 30,000,000 automobiles in America and a national highway sys- tem linking up all important points, D. Hastings, chairman of the board of the Hupp Motor Car Corporation, cites two immediately necessary items if this 192915 PREDICTED | Business Excellent, Will Be Better in Most Lines, Says Auto Maker. “The year 1929 should be one of un- precedented prosperity. Good times should be experienced not only by the C.!great majority of our people but by those of almost every other country in the world which is at peace. WAar is the enemy of prosperity. Nations which country is not to further clog up its|turn to the sword and machine gun are two items are the creation of & centralized Government bureau to co- operate with State and local agencies in roadway construction and prepare a uniform traffic survey of coming needs and an increased good roads Appro- priation by the Federal Government. so as not to let up on the efficient work done in this regard to date. i “A tremendous engineering problem, the like of which has never been e: perienced in world history, iS just be- ginning to dawn on America,” declares Mr. Hastings. "I refer to the fact that the enormous congestion now being ex- rienced in our metropolitan centers i’:but the beginning of a similar condi« tion which will shortly extend with vari- ations, to every section of the country. No_other nations are confronted with such tremendous traffic problems of the near future as is our own. While other | countries may be faced with the neces- sity of moving traffic of all kinds through densely populated districts, this | country faces such a problem, inten- sified by the nature of our cities plus an insistent demand that each section be closely linked with every other part. Expends $615,000,000. “The Federal aid highway system, which has been of inestimable value to the motorists and economic interests of this country, was established in 1918. ‘To date its has expended, in joint co- operation with local agencles, approxi- mately $615,000,000 in highway con- struction. And this annual expenditure, ‘which has now grown to about $75,000,~ 000, has become but a drop in the bucket if we are to anticipate the traffic ‘needs of the future. “The reserve funds, created by funds appropriated in advance of their use by the Federal Government, have provided an essential accessory to the annual ex- penses for road construction. That bal- ance is now about used up. And still we are faced with the fact that we have but made a start in the direction of adequately providing for_ future traffic needs. “It is not impractical to plan our street and highways systems for the travel of 30,000,000 motor cars. - It| is likewise not impractical to plan on a | great system of national highways which | will closely link one section of this country with every other district, with paralleling roadways for travel in oppo- | site directions. This past year it was | estimated that approximately 3,000,000 persons visited Government parks, many of whom used motor car or bus lines for such trips. This staggering figure does not include a single mention of the every-day business and pleasure use of automobiles, nor the tremendous mileage rolled up daily by motor trucks in the interest of commerce. And it is not a conjecture to say that the total passen- ger cars in the United States will do annual'v somewhere around 50,000,000,- |lic works and othe 000 miles, not including busses and trucks. Approaching Calamity. “In many sections of the country and | in some of our prideful cities a large | part of this mileage is being daily run | Off on streets and roadways that were constructed of materials and in speci- bound to suffer.” So states Waiter P. Chrysler, president of Chrysier Cor- poration, “The present rate of prosperity, which would have been considered abnormal only a few years ago, is in thorough keeping with the modern speed with which we do thi speed to which the auton.obile has cointributed mighti- ly,” he continued. “‘Generally speaking, business is ex- cellent and will be better in most lines, Manufacturers, wholesalers and retail- ers are not wnduly overextended in credit. Industry is not suffering from the overproduction which has some- times characterized it in the past. I can see nothing but good signs along the road of business for the present year, “1 believe the United States and Canada will export during the year ap- proximately a million auwomobiles, thus realizing an ambition that has domi- nated our manufacturers for some time. $425,000, Exports in 1928, “People all over the world are turn- ing to the automobile. Its economic and utilitarian value has been firmly established. Both foreign and Ameri- can manufacturers are now supplyi comfortable, efficient annd economit machines within the financial reach of increasing numbers of persons in all countries. The fact that we exported $425,000,000 worth of automotive prod- ucts in 1928 has contributed not only to the prosperity and the new produc- tion and sales record just made by the automobile industry, but has had a tre- mendous influence in popularizing all types of motor cars abroad, foreign as well as American. “Other governments are beginning to take intelligent notice of the growth of motoring among their peoples. ‘They are encouraging this factor of pros- perity and civilization by creating new hignhwnys and by many other means as well. “During the next decade vast terri- torfes in South America, Africa, Aus- tralia, Asia and elsewhere will be de- veloped to a higher state of agricultural and industrial activity. I believe 1928 will witness notable progress in this direction largely through the importa- tion of motor cars and the creation of new highways through jungles, plains and deserts. “I believe Mr, Hoover will make & great President. I believe that under his calm and intelligent leadership & new world ‘peue and understanding will be effected; that there will be much forward movement during 1929 in the very necessary construction of good roads in this country, the adoption of uniform and sensible traffic regulations, with much attention to the question of public safety and some progress toward the adoption of efficient remedies, and the intensive development, through pub- Twise, of localities now held back by lack of good roads, deep waterways and other facilities. 1929 Auto Is Hailed. “The 1929 automobile is the best that has ever been built. For remarkably low prices the American public is secur- ing cars which, in their engineering construction and luxurious equipment, fication purely for horse-drawn vehicles. | Simply did not exist a few years ago at In many of our larger cities this con- dition is rapidly approaching a calam- ity. It is but a matter of months, and already certain sections have noted its approach, that the rural districts will be faced by a similar problem. “I believe there are certain things any price. “Aviation will attain greater strides in"1929. Innumerable new uses will be found for the airplane, and possibly the dirigible, and a more intensive de- velopment of the uses already adapted to the aerial vehicle, including new toward which we can work which will | scores of landing fields, new mail, pas- help to relieve the situation and per- haps bring some measure of relief to posterity. “First, and I believe most important, the Federal government should devise means for doubling and then tripling the amount of money it can spend in developing: our highways. Second, I believe further co-operation and swifter | progress could be attained if a separate | bureau or department were to be creat- ed by the Federal government whose first job would be to intensively study | the coming traffic needs of every sec- tion of the country. Another sizable task would immediately confront this govern- ment organization—that of mapping out a comprehensive national highway sys- tem, not only to cross the United States from east to west and north and south, but to recross the continent in these four directions and then cross again. Such a plan should include several fmportant features, namely: “Wider roadways paralleling each other for travel in opposite directions, of heavier and deeper material; adop- | tion of universal traffic signal codes, signs and ordinances; separation or elimination of all grade and rail cross- ings on main traffic arteries; separation of motor car and bus traffic from truck traffic wherever possible, and a distri- bution of increased roadway funds to those sections and cities where traffic | relief is immediately necessary, The Parking Problem. “Obviously, municipalities, particular- ly those larger centers, must contribute their own salvation by improving local conditions. While many of the above features are applicable to metropolitan centers, there are certain problems in- herent 1n large centers, which must be | provided with solutions. | “Of paramount importance in this | connection is the parking problem. | Paris is constructing the first under- | ground garage. Doubtlessly this is the first step in onc of the two directions in which it is possible for parking to go. The other is up. It will not be long until our larger centers of population will drive conveniently near to their | business or shopping, park their auto- obile in a subway garage or an over- | ead parking lot, or perhaps on the very ¥oof of (he building in which they will transact their business or pleasure. In some of our cities this has already | been accomplished, and tenants and customers may now park their cars on the same floor on which they transact their business, This is another step for- ward. Ramp garages have pointed the way in this count It is not too much to expect that parking engineers of the future will be trained to provide space for ears where only. thin air or solid earth was before. Elevated street park- | ing could be accomplished by side ways | { Off the elevated through roads that are | bound to come. there will be installed in future years a dip system for cross streets. Such ele- vated superhighways across a city will be approached by ramps and motor cars ‘will travel at speeds prohibited and im- possible on surface roadways, “A reputable traffic engineer has es- timated that this country loses $1,00¢ 000,000 each year because of traffic ti ups, while the annual traffic list of fa- talities has mounted until it nearly 0,000 persons. Another statis- tician has_estimated economic losses due to traffic accidents costs this coun- try about $2.000.000 each day. If only half of these two amounts could be saved by an improved highway and transportation system, much of its cost would thus be defreyed with the addi-| tion of improved economic conditions and more work accomplished. “Then there is the purely safety fac- tor to consider. Government agents claim that a year ago 32 per cent of pedestrian fatalities in traffic accidents ‘were caused by children playing in the streets or disobeying traffic regulations. - And it & computed 20.500 persons were killed and 57,700 seriously injured in | greatest mass consumption any country | ship and ability have fired the imagina- In outlying districts | fdence in the future and are already PROSPEROUS YEAR PLEASING VARIETY DISPLAYED {ROAD FACILITIES FIX REGISTRATION OF AUTOS Best Paved Area Has More Cars of Any Similar Population Center, Figures Show. Road facilities govern oar registra- tion, according to recently announced figures, which reveal the best paved area in the world as having more auto- mobilies than any other similar.popu- lation center. ‘Wayne County, Mich., which in- cludes Detroit, has the equivalent of 766 miles of 18-foot rigid rural pavements, according to the anhual Wayne count.g road report. This i the equal of 34! senger and freight lines and a vast in- crease in social and sport flying. “Motor boating, too, seems destined to continue the great progress it has made during the last four or five years. Peo- ple are beginning to wake up to the recreational and utilitarian value of water travel afforded by our countless rivers, lakes, bays and harbors. I pre- dict an unprecedented degree of pros- perity for the motor boat industry and an unprecedented increase in ownership of outboard motor boats, runabouts, cruisers and motor yachts. This is a natural, inevitable development of our desire for automotive travel. It will not take the place of the automobile, but rather will supplement it.” o ERSKINE FORESEES GREAT GAINS IN 1929 Studebaker President Cites Condi- tion of Industry to Back View. “For a number of reasons I believe that the United States is about to enter upon the greatest business development of its history, in both its domestic and foreign trade. The capacity of our in- dustries was never greater; their prod- ucts were never better, more diversified, more attractive, or general lower priced; they were never better financed, and their sales departments were never more extensive or efficient.” Albert R. Erskine, president of the Studebaker Corporation, continues: ‘The United States is primarily an industrial country and our prosperity depends chiefly upon big production, with its resulting low costs. High wages established by American industries dur- ing the past decade have given us the has ever enjoyed, and consequently the home market of the United States is the biggest, richest and most coveted of any national market. The retention of this market by American industries is essen- tial to our national prosperity. “Political appreciation of the import- ance of industry and governmental co- operation with business s about to de- velop on a broader, more aggressive and more effective basis under the leadership of President-elect Hoover than ever be- fore. His w business experience, in- ternational contacts, resourceful leader- tion of the American people, who, re- rardless of party, believe in his ability to get results. People of every section of the United States are filled with con- investing their money and engagin; activities which beget prosperity. Thus we have a combination between govern- ment and citizens working enthusiasti- cally for the development of business and prosperity. Confidence, enthusiasm and aggressiveness must be the founda- tion for every forward movement, and consequently I believe that 1929 and the immediate succeeding years hold greater possibilities for prosperity and happiness than any previous period in our history. The automobile industry will naturally participate and it will not surprise me \‘i( it breaks all records next year.' | highway grade crossings of railroads. The value of saving one life is fnesti- mable. The value of saving one-half or | two-thirds of that number would be a | blessing to every one. There is the picture of what we are facing now and some idea of what we face in two, three, five and ten years from now. And the picture is not im- proved by the fact that these monetary and life losses are decreasing. Without futher study it is evident that actiog must be taken, apd without delay,” ~. | miles of 40-foot there are 422,00 every four ‘The effect of good bile purchases may be judged by & com- parison of Wayne County's registration vement. In this area cars, or one car for persons. roads on automo- DoDnGE BROTHERS Six typifies that genius in engineering and eraftsmanship which character= izes all Chrysler-built cars. The most remarkable value in Dodge Brothers history, it intro= duces more than a score of ime portant betterments. In captivating beauty, in sparkling performance, in supe- rior comfort, in safety, and in luxury of detail, the new Dodge Brothers Six is supreme. The long-time prestige of Dodge Brothers takes on a new luster from this remarkable Six. And, a8 befits a car of such pre- eminent quality, value, styleand performance, the new Dodge Brothers Six bears on its radiator that same emblem of integrity, of quality and of good-will which first distinguished the extraor- dinary products of Dodge Brothers manufacture. Ask to be shown these new and advanced features when you visit the Automobile Shows NEW and exclusive Mono- piece Body—a sensational type of body comstruction which banishes all squeaks and rattles; insuresgreaterriding-steadiness, andincreases comfortandsafety. NEW narrow-profile radiator; new one-piece fenders; new Chrysler steel channel running boards with moulded rubber coverings. NEW chromium-plated, tarnish proof exterior metalling; new Butler-finished interior fit- SEE NEW H. C. FLEMING MOTOR CO. Hyattsville, Md. FRYE MOTOR CO. Leesburg, Va. LEONARDTOWN MOTOR & HARDWARE CO. Leonardtown, Md. LUSBY MOTOR CO. Prince Frederick, Md, Upper left: Oldsmobile Landau Sedan. pper right: Gardner Sedan. Lower: Windsor White Prince Roadster. PRESENTS 1 for every 8.2 AT with ether population centers: New elhso. 1 for each 9.4 persons; Philadel- York, 1 ear for every 13 persons: Chi-|phis, residents. THE SUNDAY STAR, WASHINGTON, D. €. JANUARY 27, 1929—PART 8. SHOW - AUTOISTS FUME AT J. P. Speed-Trap Artists and Roadside Courts Assailed. “I could learn more about law in & week through a correspondence course than that J. P. could learn in a cen- tury. Why, he could not even read the clauses of the motor vehicle act intel- ligently!” This 1s typical of outbursts the A. A. A, receives from motorists who have run foul of speed-trap artists and roadside courts. One motorist produced a voucher attesting to the fact that he had paid $10.25 for violating ‘“pages 17 and 18 of the motor vehicle laws.” P Leaves Auto Racing. Jerry Wonderlick, for years & familiar figure on every board track in the country, is associated with the Maddux irways, a commercial aviation comse pany at Los Angeles. T NEW ments; new comfort accessories and refinements; new charme- ingly tailored upholstery. NEW and uniquely beautiful instrument groupings a dash button to start the motor; new finger-thin steering wheel; new turn-at-a-touch roller-bearing steering gear; new Chrysler weatherproof hydraulic 4-wheel brakes; Lovejoy hydraulic shock absorbers all around. DODGE B R STATE S BUILDING SUPERAUTO ROAD New Jersey Constructing Highway to Carry Five Lanes of Traffic. New Jersey's superhighway, leading from New York's HollandVehicular Tun- nel to Trenton, and accounted the most extensive accommodation for motorists 11;2;}": world, will be completed early in It s estimated that this roadway will carry more than 20,000,000 automobiles in a single year, or nearly as many as the entire registration of the United tates. Starting with a gigantic concrete via- duct, suspended over a maze of railroad tracks at the New Jersey entrance of the Holland Tunnel, five lanes of ex- press traffic sweep away to Elizabeth, narrowing there to 29 feet and leading to a 32-mile straight-away to Trenton. The entire route is protected from cross- traffic, with a number of ramps pro- viding for local connections. Double- decked through most of Jersey City and portions of Newark and Elizabeth, this superhighway is expected to accelerate considerably the heavy week end traffic hound for New Jersey resorts. But a few moments out from the Holland Tunnel the through motorist shoots down a ramp onto the lower level, while the upper deck, flush with Jersey City streets, carries local traffic. ‘The two level thoroughfare merges into a single roadway just prior to crossing the Hackensack River at the western outskirts of Jersey City. The modern thought behind the project is strikingly illustrated by the construction of a huge tunnel, through which the road- 'way passes, midway between the Passaic and Hackensack Rivers. The highway H E 2T then proceeds practically at street level until Newark and Elizabeth are reached, where street and railroad crossings are avoided by means of elevated struc- tures, Designed not only for the existing traffic, but also for the traffic of the future, highway authorities point out that this superhighway will soon pay for itself through the saving of time and the reducing of car operating costs for the motorist. The roadway is of 9-inch concrete. To speed construction, the concrete mixers worked in pairs from several points along the highway. After the base course was placed by the first mixer of the pair, the steel reinforcing crew, following closely, laid the steel and were in turn followed by the second mixer placing the concrete wearing surface. PEIRRE End of Charlotte Speedway. Charlotte speedway soon will join the ranks of the many board tracks which have had to bow to the sickle of Father Time. Bids are now being taken from salvage concerns to dismantle and re- store it to the peaceful southern farm which stood there before the “roaring road” took a hand in it. Still “conveniently located on 14th street” and the same set slogan of “Satisfaction Plus” from smiling sales and service men. 1529 14th St N.W, [ Decatur 3320 "DODGE BROTHERS ©1929—Dodge Brothers Corporation NEW wide channel frame flanges for greater strength; new simplicity and accessibility of engine assemblies; new live- rubber rear engine mountings; ‘new front-end exhaust manifold to keep engine heat from the driving compartment. NEW transmission with wider-faced gears; new double thrust-absorbingroller-bearings in the rugged rear axle; new-type OTHERS CARS wheels with extra-strong ellipti= cal spokes and mushroom hub caps; new larger (5.50) oversize tires for excess mileage economy. NEWNESS throughout the car newness that means bigger value; newnesa that gives greater dependability even for Dodge. Study the new Dodge Brothers Six carefully. Note its many new and original features. It deserves yourmost thorough examination. AT SEMMES MOTOR COMPANY, Inc. 8 Dupont Circle RAPHAEL SEMMES, President 613 G Street NW. Main 6660—Night Phone Main 1943 Open Sunday and Nights AUTO THE NEW DODGE SENIOR The new Chrysler inspired Dodge Senior—also on display=— combines the finest custom style with big-car roominess and road-ease. Its mechanical qual- ity reflects the soundness and surety traditional with Dodge Brothers craftsmanship. It is the largest, handsomest, and finest of all Dodge Brothers cars. SHOVW MITCHELL MOTOR CO. La Plata, M, PRINCE GEORGE MOTOR CO. Forestville, Md. E. B. SEMMES, Inc. Alexandria, Va. WARRENTON SALES, Inc. Was on, Va.