Evening Star Newspaper, April 21, 1929, Page 58

REGISTRATIONFEES §5080646 NEARBY Amcunt Paid for 772,412 Autos in District, Mary- land and Virginia. ' _ Motor vehicle trations in the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia on January 1, 1929, reached a total of 772,412. Motorists of these two States and the District of Colum- bia last year paid a total of $9,080,- 648 in registration fees. This is an increase in registrations over January 1, 1928, for the District of Columbia and its two neighboring States of 52, 190 motor vehicles and an increase of $325,730 in registration fees, according to computations of the American Motor- ists Association, based on the official figures of the United States Census Bureau. ‘The motor vehicle registrations in Maryland, according to the census fig- ures, as of January 1, 1929, were 285, 311; Virginia, 360,545, and the District of Columbia, 126,556. Total for United States. ‘The total registration of motor vehicles in the United States, as of January 1 this year, was 24,403,124, a gain of 5.9 per cent over the number registered on January 1, 1928, according to the census figures. Based upon the latest population figures, the registered automotive vehicles at the present time is one automcbile for each five persons in the country. ‘While the gain in registrations was approximately 6 per cent for the year, the amount of fees collected from the motorists of the country increased 7 g;a’ otégnl, reaching the total of $322,- Growth Over Six Years. ‘The growing popularity of the auto- mobile is reflected in a comparison of the figures for the past six years, which show an increase of over 100 per cent, the registration on January 1, 1923, being 12,238,375 motor vehicles. The steady, but rapid, increase is shown by the following ccmparative figures for the past seven years, being as of Jan- uary 1 each year: Year. Registration, 1023 12,2 5 1924 15,04 1925 ... 17,593,677 19,954,347 1926 . 22,001,393 23,127,315 24,493,124 Fifty-six per cent of our cars are on farms and in towns with less than 10,000 people. Where to Motor and Dine Drive out to BEAUTIFUL SINGING PINES TEA HOUSE for an Old Virginia Ham or Chicken Dinner Fairfax Court House, Va. Black Lantern Inn Fork of Lee Highway and Winehaster Road, one mile west of Fairfax, Va. 15_Miles from Washington Chicken and Old Viry ail Strictly H Cooked Sunday Dinners, $1.00; Chis en. Dinners, $1.50. ‘'Just asant drive.' BROOKE MANOR 0Old Colonial Inn—Built 1773 Beautiful Lawns and Old Shade LUNCHEON™ 58> ™ DINNER Ashton, Md. Telehone Ashten 141. The Tarry Tavern Two Miles From Mt. Vernon On the Richmond to Washinston Highway Famous for Fried Chicken and Waffle Dinners, $1.25 Mrs. M. E. Brown. Hostess. Phone Lort RED FOX TAVERN Middleburg, Virginia FAMOUS FOR ITS GOOD FOOD AND SOUTHERN ATMOSPHERE Rooms with and without private dath | Catering to all kinds of parties, || luncheons and dinners Movies in the new RED FOX THEATER on Monday, We y and Saturday || e s The hall is also 1 or gatherings A Unique Selection of Gifts in the Tavern For Reservations Phone Middleburg 39 or 41 danein neing Woodward’s Dixie Tavern Famous for Its c%lfnl::"!l‘ Country Ham $1.00 and $1.50 Opposite Court House ille, Md. ROOMS Hotel Snyder Cedar Grove, Md. Specializing in the old-fashioned Snyder Chicken and Country Ham Dinners Phone Damascus 17-F-3 Olney = Farm 2 Miles North o&'nh'mglm out Ga. v llY\C{IZGI\ Tea 5¢ - $2.00 Open Bvary Duy I Ths Taas Asfiton133 Olney Md. MEALEY’S ™ == On Old Frederick Pike Country Dinners served to please you on short notice. The Mecca for tourists on Sundays and holidays. ROSE HILL MANOR North Market St., Frederick, Md. Is Now Open for the Season Good Old Maryland Cooking WAYSIDE INN FREDERICK, MD. All Rooms With Bath $2.50 to $3.50 Double $1.50 to $2.00 Single DINNERS vt 12 to 8:30 75¢ to $1.50 THE HILL TOP HOUSE Among the Mountains Harpers Ferry, W. Va. || | sticky stem, and when the stem and the || | piston ring loose in slot or broken, cam Cafeteria-Type Oil Station Innovation Will Be Tried Soon coins by ‘motorisf CALSES OF ENINE KNOCKS EXPLANED So Many Kinds of Trouble Only Expert Can Diag- nose Them. BY H. CLIFFORD BROKAW, Automobile Technical Adviser. ot man le are complaining nb§ut the ’nn&”%f automobiles lhn! are being produced these days. They are beauties and efficient. There is no cause to knock any of them. And they do less knocking themselves than has any generation of cars. But no automobile should have any kind of a knock in its engine. If the driver has some idea of the varlous causes of knocking in the engine he or she will have no difficulty in avoiding such an annoying trouble, for the ef- fective service of a motor vehicle can be lenxg;ecml it there is any knocking going on. ‘The motorist is apt to conclude that any knock which es comes from too great co:rn‘yreuinn. ‘There are numerous other varieties of knocks, however. A knock does not necessarily mean that the cylinders are filled up with carbon, nor can it be concluded that the main bearings are loose. There are so many different kinds of knocks that it really takes an expert to dlagnose a lot of them, and even an expert may have to practically disas- semble the engine in order to come to a real conclusion. Some knocks which can be heard are doing no mechanical harm and simply represent an incon- venience from the standpoint of noise. Other knocks, of course, require im- mediate attention to prevent serious damage and trouble. Some knocks are cat from loose connecting rod or crank shaft bearings, or a lack of lubri- cation, or a broken revolving or recipro- cating member, which might cause seri- ous damage if allowed to run. A spark too far advanced puts an excessive strain on a crank shaft and so does a short circuit in the ignition. No Danger in Slap. ‘There is no immediate danger if there is a piston slap, although it may be noisy. The motorist should go on the principle that when there is a knock its cause should be found out at the earliest ible moment and expert advice should be secured if the owner has any doubt as to the trouble. Sometimes knocks are difficult to lo- cate. Such a car came to my attention recently, which evidently needed a new cam-shaft gear to replace a worn one which produced a knock. This matter ‘was attended to, but when the engine was started again it was found that there was a bigger knock than before the work was done. Finally, it became evident that the knock was the result of the new gear. It fitted very tightly in the shaft and so-had to be forced on. Without being mnoticeable, the forcing had cracked the hub, the crack extend- ing through the rim, so that two of the teeth were out of true and had spread enough to pound when that portion of the gear came into mesh. Sticking exhaust valves are sometimes the cause of a knock hard to locate. One of the valve stems may have been olled and allowed to burn to a nice sticky paste. When the push rod opens the valve and starts down the valve does not follow closely. The spring bflnfl it down, of course, but more slowly than it should, because of the push rod meet there is & thump. Causes of Knocking. Some of the things which may cause knocking include loose connecting rod, bearing, crank pin bearing out of round, main bearings of crankshaft loose. wrist pin loose in piston or in end of connecting rod, wrist pin not in line with crank shaft, causing side slap; follower guide worn, worn cams (flat spot), worn or broken timing gear teeth, piston too small for cylinder, causing side slap, poor push-rod adjustment ( t00 great), exhaust or inlet valve l{l‘c in guide, fan blades striking something and worn cylinder, causing side slap. Faulty ignition—spark advanced too far, spark too late, causing overheating; e rvegulas Spark. whong Hming of spark, wrong of ignition system, dirt in distributor, mis- directing current. Faulty carburetion— pre-ignition, due to excessive carbon de- ts; rich mixture, causing overheat- g; lean mixture in conjunction with worn parts. Faulty lubrication—lack of ofl, lul nts of poor quality, excessive oil, causing carbon deposit. Overheating of engine—fan not work- ing, pump parts not revolving, radiator clogged, pipe lines clogged, rubber hose defective inside, blocking flow of water; ignition timed too late. Faulty com- pression—too high, causing pre-ignition ‘when throttle is opened too wide at low engine speed. The new high compres- sion or anti-knock gasoline, which may now be obtained at most filling stations, is a good antidote for high compres- sion knocks, which are caused by an accumulation of carbon, etc. It will be seen that there are plenty of possibilities of knocking. The re- markable situation is that there is so Ittle trouble of this kind experienced by the average motorist. This is due to the high engineering skill which has been applied to automobile construction by various manufacturers, To them ! ! n given of automotive construction. e B Y RAD0 TO PLAY PART IN HALTING CAR THEFTS Sending of Fingerprints by Broad- casting Expected to Re- duce. Losses. lp;‘k;‘ Dispatch to The Star. TIMORE, April 20.—That radio is destined to deal a powerful blow at automobile theft in the future is the op- inion of H. M. Lucius, secretary of the Automobile Club of Maryland. He said: "By radio, & network of information may be thrown out for the capture of criminals within & few minutes. This has already been proved effective in flll“n’ cases. by | drastic treatmen broadcasting of fingerprints means of code is the laf e itest function of Baltimore is £ rprints taken from police bureat flwfl‘:l:lml b:pfln" l:d with the sme su name and d'lflrlh{ion otwme thett.” —_— Vacuum-fitted freight trains iG] STAR, WASHINGTON, D. O, APRIL 21, 1920—PART % | NATCHING YOUR BEST FRIENDS' | WIFE - TRYING . TO BACK UP YOUR | DRIVEWAY, BORDERED WITH A BRAND NEW HEDGE. LIABILITY TESTED FOR WIFE'S DRIVING Question Raised in Court as to Husband’s Responsibil ity in Negligence. BY HARVEY L. COBB. (General Counsel, American Motorists' Association.) A husband's responsibility for his wife’s negligent action in operating a car has_recently been raised in_the District Supreme Court, where the hus- band was made a defendant in a $10,- 000 suit. The question specifically to be decided at the trial is whether a husband is liable for his wife's negligent operation of his car. Under the Moody vs. Stephens case, decided on a demurrer, February 5, 1927, the District Supreme Court, under the family-car doctrine, held that a father is responsible for the acts of his son in the operation of the family car. The plaintiff in the present case relles largely on the Stephens case to sustain the husband’s liability. Law of Agency Clear. While the authorities are not uni- form, the law of agency is clear that the marital relationship alone is not a suf- ficient ground for recovery against a husband because of the negligence of his wife in operating his automobile. ‘To establish such liability it must be proved that the negligent act of the wife was committed in the furtherance of her husband’s business or in the execution of his orders. Stated in another way, to bind a husband for his wife's torts the rela- tionship of principal and agent, or master and servant, between them must be shown. This is primarily a question of fact for the jury to decide under proper instructions of the trial judge expounding the law of agency. Head of Family. Under the so-called “dangerous in- strument act,” there is a growing tend- ency on the part of the courts to hold a husband or father responsible where members of his family operate a car for pleasure of the family. This is on the theory that an automobile is a dangerous instrument and that head of a family must be responsible when he purchases an automobile for the use of his family. In such cases, however, the courts still hold to the theory of agency and require a showing that the wife was acting as the agent of the husband, or at least was on some mission for the joint benefit of the couple at the time the accident ned. For the District of Columbia, at the present time, however, the law is well established that a father can be held responsible when he provides a car to be used by his family, when Mni used on business or pleasure of the family. et FINE AUTOS REQUIRE CARE NOW AS OF OLD Owners Lose Heavily by Assuming Perfection Has Been Reached in Cars. The old story of an ounce of preven- tion being worth a pound of cure holds true in relationship to today's fine au- tomobiles . quite as much as it did in connection with the less refined motor cars of yesterday, which were far more susceptible to manner of irritating troubles. As pointed out by Rudolph Jose, local automobile dealer, in former years the motorist realized that unless he gave his car the benefit of that ounce of prevention, and gave it frequently and effectively, there just wouldn't be any motoring. Nowadays, with such re« liable machines available in all price classes, the owner neglects even essen- tial attention. “It is true that today’s automobile doesn’t need the pampering that its ancestors demanded. It is true that one can mishandle and misuse & mod- ern automobile, and it will still keep on Tu . But it won't do it forever, and the-owner who fails to give the less frequent, but just as necessary, ounce of prevention is simply storing up trouble and expense for %.lmull. “The maintenance departments see the truth of these statements every day. ‘There isn't & shop in Was] that right now isn’t servicing its quota of cars that might not have needed such t had - their owners seen the wisdom of avoiding the ulti- mate pound of cure by well timed pré- ventive measures. “These things, the motorist will say, are patent. That is true enough. But they are overlooked so often that the lx'fimut repc:x‘-xgm. whlchhu a m sult of negligence, reaches s proportions, proving a distinct economic ‘waste. “The thoughtful automobile owner will remember the truth of the proverb and see to it that he is not the victim of his own » (Co gt 190 by Prosh H ek Trade Mark Rog & § Pt O8) East African Automobile Association, the Norges Automobil-Forbund, Nor- way, and the Kungl, Automobile Klub- ben, Sweden. Club, Germany; the Touring Club Italiano, Italy; Touring Club of Hun- gary, the A. N. W. B. Toeristenbond voor Nederland, Holland; the Touring Tourist Befriended in Old World. ‘The A. A. A. foreign travel division says the motorist touring in the Old World also will secure excellent serv- | Club Suisse, Switzerland, and the Tour- ices from the Touring Club de France, | ing Club de Belgique, Belgium. Other the Aligemeiner Deutscher Automobil | important g units are the Club, any; Deutscher . Touring Oesterreichishcher, Austria; the Royal Floods recently caused damage in New South s, Australl o Desert FRANKLIN Shatters Fam tDerby R HEARSE TOLL IS PUZZLE. Finally Put in Truck Class by Turkish Collectors. STAMBOUL, Turkey (#).—The ad- vent of Turkey's first motor hearse threw toll collectors of the famed Galata Bridge into s quandry. ‘The hearse was held up for hours during its fin% attempt to cross the . While collectors debated as to toll it should pay. Five cents is charged for small passenger cars and 10 cents for large cars, but the hoarse seemed to fit neither classification. It was put in the truck class finaly and let pass for 15 cents. ——— NEW BOULEVARD LAW REQUIRES MARKERS Maryland Statute Not Enforceable Until Signs Are Displayed, Is Ruling. Special Dispatch to The Star. BALTIMORE, April 20.—The “boule- vard” law requiring vehicles to come to & stop before crossing or entering main highways of the State is now in effect, but it cannot be enforced until warning markers have been installed, according to ruling of Herbert Levy, assistant at- torney general. According to Mr. Levy, the section of the law which requires all vehicles entering a paved or improved highway way and from unimproved roads to ment of the governor’s signature to tl bill last week, although warning signs have not been placed at these intersec- tions by the State Roads Commission. Another clause of the bill which is row in effect requires all motorists to keep to the right of the center of the road at all times, with the exception of when they are passing another ve- hicle traveling in the same direction. ‘The law which prohibits motorists | from following fire IpFlntus has been changed by the new law to the effect | that motorists shall not follow closer | than 600 feet behind fire and police | | apparatus or ambulances and shall not | | park nearer than 600 feet to such ap- | | paratus while standing on official busi- | | ness. This portion of the law is now in effect, Mr. Levy said. ‘The boulevard law requires the State Roads Commission to place the des- ating markers on the State high- ys and the police to perform the e task within city limits. O / from lateral roads, private rights cf| stop went into effect with the attach- | PARKING LACK SEEN STREET CARS’ LOSS Economist Says Too Many Restric- tions on Antos Works Against Trolleys. Special Dispatch to The Star. BALTIMORE, April 20.—Too much prohibition of automobile king in the crowded citles today works as much against the street car companies back- ing the no-parking ordinances as it does against the luckless motorist who is told to abandon his usual parking place without being given any sugges- tion as to where he can e his car, Leslie Vickers, economist of the American Electric Railway Association, 50 stated In an address recently before the transportation group of the Mary- land Utilitles Association in convention at_the Emerson Hotel. | Mr. Vickers stressed the problems now besetting the street transportation man and discussed the planning and building problems that will come be- fore the utilities men ofsthe future. The lack of space to widen the streets of the present-day metropolis would eventually lead to the building of multi- level streets, Mr. Leslie predicted. In these streets the car tracks would be placed close to the sidewalks to give easy access to the cars by riders who could uss them without being “given a glimpse of heaven” by careless mo- torists. The additional levels would be turned over to other traffic and large buildings would be erected for car-park- ing space only. A new era of co-opera- tion between the motorist, the pedes- trian and the street-car operator would be achieved, he added. “Researches in Gas Purification” was discussed by Prof. Wiibert J. Huff of the Johns Hopkins University and Sew- ard Abbott spoke on “Gas Refrigera- tion.” H. L. Leonard of the Washing- ton Suburban Geas Co. presided at these talks, which were part of the program of the gas group. GAS 50 CENTS A GALLON. (#).—The French government collect- ed spproximately $26,800,000 in auto- mobile taxes last year, an increase of 10 per cent more than 1927, the De- partment of Commerce has learend. Unlike meney collected from automo- bile taxes in the United States, the French revenues are turned into a gen- eral treasury and are not used for a spe- cific purpose. France collected a sum almost equal to that received from motor taxes through a special tax on gasoline. Gasoline sells for approximately 350 cents a gallon in France. e ecord ... Air-cooled car flashes from Los Angeles to Phoenix and return—892 miles through torrid deserts and across rocky mountains ...in 17 hours, 47 minutes . .. averaged more than 50 miles an hour. The 17 hours and 47 minutes required by the Franklin stock sedan was more than 4%4 hours better than the time it Fighting hisway through the terrific heat of sun-baked deserts and over more than 500 miles of rough, choppy, unimproved roads, Cannon Ball Baker again dramatically proved the remarkable road speed, the unvarying cooling ability and the enduring stamina of the air-cooled Franklin. In the long trip across the hot sandy waste, where water-cooled cars find it imperative fo carry exira water bags to replenish boiling radiators, the air-cooled Franklin engine mever once exceeded 190° operating temperature— 22° cooler than the boiling point of water. - In this 892 miles of desert and mountains from Los Angeles to Phoenix and return, Franklin smashed . the previous record by 1 hour and 11 minutes and NEW LOW PRICES With the performance and quality offered by Franklin, the new low prices estab- lish sensational new motor- car valves. The One-Thirty, $2180 —The One-Thirty- Five, $2485—The One- Thirty-Seven, $2775— Sedan prices f.0.b. factory. takes the fastest limited train. Such amazing motor- car performance has never been approached in the long history of road records. It is this performance that h as made possible the thrilling Airplane Feel—and enabled Franklin to con- quer America's major road records. Franklin is the world's most modern motor car. To realize why Franklin is the conqueror—to experience the air- plane feel, drive the car. Call us to have a car placed at your disposal. FRANKLIN FRANKLIN MOTOR CAR CO. HARRY W. BURR SALESROOM—1517 CONN. AVE. N.W. SERVICE—1909 M ST. N.W.