Evening Star Newspaper, March 31, 1929, Page 53

In the Motor World BY Q. ADAMS HOWARD. RAFFIC conditions at Du- pont Circle are gradually clearing up. . A week’s ac- quaintanceship with tne new lights have proven their worth, At first the flow of traf- fic was badly congested and motox- ists abvlolded the circle as much as e. The new system of the lights was camplexing and drivers ag- gravated the situation by edging up ‘and blocking all pathways of the pedestrians during the rush hours. - The designation of the crosswalks has aided materially and all drivers are cautioned not to block them. Two Supi Needed. Two additional steps, however, are needed to make the circle safe and allow the most efficient flow of traffic. One is to have the Washington Railway & Electric Co. to reroute its northbound tracks to the east side of the cir- cle. The present method of allow- ing the street cars to go the wrong way around the circle should be changed. Also the tracks should be moved in toward the inner rim of the circle, as is the case around Thomas Circle. ‘The second step is for the Com- missioners to give the city pedes- trian control. -Each installation of additional lights makes this or- der more imperative, The motor- ists have to come to frequent halts on account of the lights and the pedestrians should likewise conform to such a procedure. It is understood that the offi- cials of the Traffic Bureau are heartily in favor of both plans. It is up to the Commissioners. New York Lights. New York is not backward in its light planning. The program for the extension of its traffic light system during 1929 will, by the end of the year, provide this modern method of control at no less than 4,500 in- tersections in the five boroughs. Two thousand and sixty-one of these intersections will be light- controlled on the Island of Man- hattan alone, according to infor- mation issued recently by Deputy Police Commissioner Philip D. Hoyt. More than an equal num- ber will be placed in the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens and on Staten Island, where, in addition to the stems already 'in operation there, many extensions are al present under construction or already in the form of definite plans. The change over of control to the central station on West Thirtieth street recently, giving centralized automaticregulationon six avenues, is only a beginning of the automatic system which even- tually will be in operation through- out the osreater city. Automatic control the planned 4,500 in- tersections will save the city $20,- 000,000 yearly in the salaries of 8,000 traffic officers who will not be required for duty at 4,000 of the points. At only about 500 in- tersections will the posting of of- ficers be necessary in dddition to the lights, and these will be the most difficult traffic posts through- out the city, where supplemental direction' is absolutely necessary. Junk Car Worries. One of the banes of the auto- mobile dealer’s life, editorially states the Automotive Daily News, is the junk car, the vehicle sell- ing for $50 or $100, which ought really be removed from the roads in the Interests of public safety. In spite of their unwillingness to handle these cars, dealers often | have to take them in trade, and many merchants make a practice of getting a number of them and then sending for the junk man and giving him a lot at a set fig- ure in order to clear up the whole transaction. Obviously, the intention in selling to the “junker is to have the ancient vehicles broken up and retired from service. But all too frequently the junk man finds that some of his purchases still will wheeze along under their own power, and instead of breaking them up, he sells them again as “going concerns,” and behold! the walking jjunk heap is back on the road after a brief interval. Furthermore, sooner or later, the ragged veterans appear again in the used car department of the harassed automobile dealer, where they are offered in trade on the price of a new car. Some time ago a suggestion for the handling of these ancient cars was made by the Pennsylvania Automotive Association. Thisplan involves the amendment of the automobile law to make it obliga- tory on the buyer of junk cars to apply for a “certificate of junk.” This certificate would- end - the- service career of the.car. The vehicle could not be, registered again, its official status having be- come that of junk. The buyer would have no choice but to break up the vehicle and reclaim what- ever of its anatomy he might be able to utilize. This would at any rate end the constant resurrection of junkers. 9 v It is no question to the advisa- bility of preventing cars of -this class from the use of the public highway. But if such a law were adopted as referred to in the trade journal, it would be difficult for to determine when a enough. put_on the market the same day could present a different age in 80 far as its use is concerned. The plan adonted by the deal- ers in several Western cities in ¥ ey ‘heap! - having-a en:‘mumw !flntie;trg ;- down m'&e‘g nsable parts seems : & better method. ARG to the } c in w that ‘n!:a which upon the highways for their whole business should be the worst offenders in erecting and maintaining - thou- sands of glaring, disfiguring signs along our streets and roadways.” He also pointed out that many of the producers of the best products do not advertise in this way, and that certain oil companies have withdrawn from this practice. b signs,” says Mr. Mac- Donald, “are concentrated on the main traveled highways and arc habituzlly placed at turns in the road where the motorists shouid be giving most careful attention to driving. In many instances they cut off the view of approach- ing cars at curves and at road in- tersections. Some even cut off the sight of approaching trains at unprotected grade crossings. Those which carry the word ‘stop’ and other words ordinarily employed on the legitimate warning signs weaken the force of the properly placed cautionary signals.” The regular meeting of the ‘Washington Automotive Trade As- sociation will be held tomorrow night at 8 o'clock at the City Club. C. A. Vane, manager of the National Automobile Dealers’ Association, will be the principal speaker. The report and recom- mendation of the used car com- ;z{mfiee will be submitted by Fred aller. HIGHWAY POLICE LACKING INTALY Autostrade Wonderful “Rib- bons of Concrete,” With “Sky the Limit.” MILAN, March 30 (F).—Highway patrolmen, nemesis of American motor- ists in their ‘own country, are absent from Italy’s new super-highways or “autostrade.” Signs tell the drivers that the “sky is the limit” on speed, but the uninitiated American, who may not be up on his Italian, often takes the placard as a warning to hold down his pace. But whether he knows Italian or not, he soon learns that the fine ribbon of wide concrete highway which unfolds beneath the wheels of his car knows no speed limit, Big Iialian, German or French cars thunder past like rubber-tired cannon bals. Ninety or 100 miles an hour is not an uncommon s for the bigger cars capable of holding that Ppace. Like Ancient Roads. The “autostrade” are the modern cousins of the famous roads of the Roman empire. But these new triumphs of highway engineering are even more remarkable than those Romans built before the Christian era. m;l;h;ey are sarug!}t. *l‘!llt},' l{minmucted , reserved exclusively for passen, automobile traffic. More than 200 mfi:: of these super-highways have already been opened and & half dozen branches from the main arteries are under con- struction or projected. new highways are not character- istic of general road conditions in Italy; they are the exception. Italy’s regular system of roads is rapidly improving under government control and super- vision, but the super-highways are toll roads built by private enterprisé under governmental authorization. Highways Tolls to End. In 50 years the toll highways will become the property of the government wlt.hngl:' epxgens': to it. In the meflll": e vate company organizes build and operate the super-highways will keep them in repair. A toll of about $1 is charged for use of a stretch 100 miles long. The highway from Milan to Lake Como, the first one opened, has proved itself sufficiently successful to encourage the building of other routes. On_the super-highways cross ' roads are separated by bridges and viaducts. Strong fences along the right-of-way keep out pedestrian intruders. There are no angular turns. The roads val from 24 to 40 feet in width. A tele- phone service at frequent points make it possible for the unfortunate motorist to call for service. FORESEES HIGHWAY RUSH German Commission Here. to Study Gas Tax Problems. Preparing for a rush of highway and motor transportation development in Germany during the next five years, Dr. Werner Feilchenfeld arrived in ‘the United States this week on the Deutschland to prepare the way for a commission of German government offi- cials who are to study gasoline taxation and other problems related to motor transport in the United States. ‘The commission, which is compesed of representatives from four ministries, is mnkmgvthls trip at the invitation of John N. Willys, chairman of the Export Committee of the National Automobile Chamber of Commerce. The group will arrive in New York on April 22 for an ;};tended tour of from three to five weeks. MARYLAND PLANNING HIGHWAY BUILDING Bids t‘or' Construction to Be Open- ed April 2 Six Weeks Earlier Than Usual. Special Dispatch to The Star. o BALTIMORE, March 30.—Rosd building in Maryland this year is start- ing about six weeks in advance, ac- cording to Harry D. Williar, chief engineer of the commission, in an- nouncing that bids for six road con- sAtmfiu;n projects will be opened on pril 2. Several grade crossings and bridge construction contracts have already been awarded and preliminary work e commisi expects o la; e commission y about 100 miles of shoulders during the com- ing year, but the routes which will be widened are yet to be determined. Mr. Williar added that when the de- cision is made it will take in different g:’:?: in practically every section of the The four new roadbed construction Jobs will include a stretch of road in Frederick County, on the Middletown Jefferson pike; in Montgomery County, on the road from Forest Glen to Seventh street; in Harford County, a stretch of n%:vxlmnely two miles on the level to Darlington road, and two miles of gravel on the Plum Point road in Calvert County. NOW’S//Ielime 1o decide your Boating Needs | We invite you to inspect the now 1929 Chris-Craft, open and closed models. ' Here you will see Chris-Craft boats capable of speed up to 45 miles per hour .with the same comfort you en- joy in' the highest priced motor car. Also we have on: display the new Richardson double cabin cruiser; sleeps - 5.and also capable of a speed of 18 miles per hour. 7 ‘We'just received this week a new shipment of Penn Yan outboard boats, which is positively the 'safest, Afinest apd fastest line of outboard: boats on the market: See the Penn Yan #0-Mile Outboard Boat s to our show room any day from 11 am. to . and see the finest n ... ever show : display of boats and engines Increase in U. S. Exports of Gas Shown; British Continue One of Largest Buyers Anierica’s exports of gasoline are in- creasing, according to an analysis by [Otto Wilson, local statistican in “In- dustrial and Engineering Chemistry.” In the trade in gasoline, naphtha, and the lighter refined oils, one of the larg- est puyers continues to be the United Kingdom, which took 15,641,000 bar- rels valued at $60,814,000 in 1928, France was the second largest buyer, with 7,726,000 batrels valued at $31,- 777,000, a substantial increase over 1927. Argentina, Brazil and Australia are the largest buyers outside of Europe. Canada is a heavy buyer of crude petroleum. In 1928 it increased its purchase to 15,431,000 barrels valued at $22,235,000, as compared with 13,036,000 barrels valved at $21,579,999 the pre- vious year. Most " of the expérts of the other mineral olls go to Europe, Cuba, Japan and China. In 1928 China almost dou- bled her purchases of kerosene, of which she took 4,769,000 barrels. The United Kingdom took only 2,945,000 barrels. Our entire export trade in petroleum and its products in 1928 amounted to $525,537,000. These exports impose such a heavy drain upon our supply that we are obliged to offset it by large petroleum imports, Mr. Wilson points out. Our 1928 purchases of petroleum and petroleum products had a value of $132,782,000 as against $113,434,000 in 1927. The trade included 79,767,000 barrels of crude petroleum, of which 24,980,000 barrels came from the Dutch West Indies, and 21,987,000 barrels from Venezuela, the latter country being no doubt the source of all these ship- ments. Mexico supplied us with 17.584,- 000 barrels of crude petroleum and Co- lombia with 11,838,000 barrels. Imports of refined ofls were valued :;2;40,934,000 as against $33,638,000 in North Carolina Motor Lines. Motor bus and truck lines in North Carolina cover 6,000 miles of State highway, giving daily and.sometimes hourly service. Michigan Has Most Auto Engineers in National Society How the major activities of the automotive and allied industries are concentrated in the States east of the Mississippi and north of the Ohio Rivers and in California is indicated by the distribution of the member- ship of the Soclety of Automotive Engineers, now numbering more than 7,000. Of the total, 5243 are located in 11 States, as follows: Michigan, 1.271; New York, 1,100; Ohio, 624; Illinois, 447; Pennsyl- vania, 405; California, 308; New Jersey, 289; Indiana, 281; Massa- chusetts, 200; Wisconsin, 182, and Connecticut, 136. Several hundred other members reside in 40 other States and in the United States possessions. In ad- dition, the rolls include 183 affiliate member representatives and 517 en- rolled engineering students. Mem- bers having their places of business outside of this country and its pos- sessions number 411. Ty P Fo m T A A N ‘There are 600 motor vehicles in Ice- land. Algeria uses as many automobiles as Nevada. 2 g You can put the New HUPM OBILE Eight through its gears like an H. V. shell . . . Because its new domed combusfiqn chgmbers get a faster response from any fuel. You can roll up momentum’ like a comet . . . Because rocker- tappet valves, of exclusive HUPMOBILE design, create more power and lose nothing in accuracy of timing at high speeds. Because it has an exira heavy, balanced crankshaft. Because roller and ball bearings in ifs transmission assembly save energy. ) . MOTT M . 1518-20 Fourteen BUILDER OF SPEED CAR EKS Designer of Golden Arrow, of 231-Mile- ’an-Hour Record, Hopes to Reach 300-Mile Mark. b sEE i : sk E8Be il sisl fict High Future Speed Foreseen. “It will take a 300-mile-an-hour car to break the next speed record,” Capt. Irving sald. And Capt. Irving let it be known with emphasis that he and Maj- Segrave, with the backers of the Gol- den Arrow, two of whom are anony- mous, and the third, Sir Charles Wake- fleld, intend to keep the automobile speed record for the British Empire. . Segrave during his stay in hington _reiterated that he was through with automobile speed tests, but admitted on further questioning that if another car of another nation came along and lifted his mark he probably would be back if his record is surpassed. Capt. Irving iS more em- phatic about Maj. Segrave’s re-entering the lists when he says: “Oh, ve always says he’s through. But let some- one come along and send his record up to about 238 miles an hour and hell be right back in the fight.” But that tire question is the great problem to Capt. Irving. When the builder of the Golden Arrow went to the tire makers of Great Britain for rubber for the Golden Arrow, they set 245 miles an hour as the absolute limit they could guarantee any measure of safety from tires. As it was, the manu- facturer of the tires on which the Golden Arrow rode to the record, and the spares that were carried, cost more than $50,000. Skill Invoked in Manufacture. Into them was put every bit of the tire-making skill that could be found in Great Britain. Every inch of the cotton fabric that went into them was triple-tested, and many of the 7-mile- long skeins were thrown out before the building of the tires was startéd. The fact that the Golden Arrow'’s tires were in perfect shape, not even greatly heated, after Maj. Segrave set his record, is a great compliment to the builders of those tires. If one of those tires had blown out, Maj. Se- grave says, he could never have known anything about it. His body would have been a mangled mass and the Golden Arrow twisted wreckage ready for the junk-heap. ‘With- the manufacture of the tires used by the Golden Arrow, tire men of England and this country believe the peak of tire-making, as it is known to- day, was reached. ) pt. Irving it, everything about another super-speed attempt harks back to that eternal tire question. Leave for England Saturday. Capt. Irving and Maj. Segra rived in the Capital Monday for a short stay before going on to New York. 3{”’ return to England next &lh;;dgyk ‘ednesday they were presen Esme Ho"lrd, British Ambassador, to President Hoover, and on the east steps of the Capitol Maj. Segrave was pre- sented with the cup awarded by the G st o 5| record. presen was made by Vice President Curtis. ROAD OLD BUFFALO TRAIL. Texas Legislature to Maintain Pen- dleton to Presidio Route. AUSTIN, Tex. (#).—Texas’ first high- way, originating from a buffalo trail and later traveled by Spanish missionaries, is 1o be preserved in iis original route. ‘The State Legislature has decreed that the “Old San Antonio road” shall be maintained along its first route from Pendleton in Eastern Texas to Presidio on the Mexican border. ‘The highway is marked by granite boulders erected by Daughters of the American Revolution. -— 106 Races Listed in Europe. No less than 106 events have been scheduled for the 1929 season by racing authorities in Europe. While many of these are run on the open highways and hill climbs, where high speed is not the deciding factor, more than 40 are strictly racing and speed events over specially constructed speedways like that at Brooklands, England, or well established road courses like that at Targo Florio in Sicily. And when you get the New HUPMOBILE to peak speed you can keep it there for as long as the road unrolls before you - - « Because the famous Lanchester dampener fakes vibrafion out of the engine. A special shock absorbing device keeps the steering column solid and steady. Side-sway and shimmy have gone the way of the crank, let the speedometer point where it will. Agile in traffic? Yes... .Valiant on the hills? Yes - . - Quick with its steeldraulicbrakes?Yes. .. Asmart car! Askthewomanwhowantsonel THE CENTURY SIX 4 v o s o o s o s s s s « $1345 10 $1645 THE CENTURY EIGHT . 4 o o o & o a's o « « « $1825 10 $2625 Al prices f. 0. b. factory « o o Standerd and custom + . Equipment, otfer than standard . . exira v R UPDMOBILE TR DISTRIBUTORS th Street N.W.—Decatu ASSOCIATE DEALERS 150 H Street NE. CENTURY /IX O EIGHT OTORS, Incorporated - r 4341-42:43