Evening Star Newspaper, June 16, 1929, Page 65

In the Motor World BY G. ADAMS HOWARD. CCORDING to present indi- cations the time is rapidly approaching when all- night parking will be pro- hibited on the streets of Wash- ington. The National Capital is one of |or in certain residential areas be- | 1ing possibilities today. We find, | first of all, that many cities have |on their books old-fashiorfed zon- |ing rules which will not permit a ;garage in certain business areas | because of the supposed fire risk the few cities of similar size that cause of the theoretical hazard still allows its thoroughfares to|to property values. be used as public garages. Such practice is banned in the Hoover traffic code and agitation has been raised here for a regulation that would clear the streets at night. Would Relieve Congestion. The effect of such a regulation ‘would be far reaching in its bene- fits. First of all it would relieve congestion, thus being more or less of a safety measure. Secondly the regulation would give mem- bers of the Fire greater facility in fighting fires at night, especially around apartment houses. Lastly the regulation would aid materially in the beautifying of the city. It is understood that the traffic officials are in favor of such a re- striction. They are of the opinion, however, that sufficient time be given before the regulation be made effective, because of the present garage shortage. Because of the free use of the streets in Washington a garage shortage does exist, it being estimated that there are only half the number of garages needed. Rezoning will be necessary to allow the building or more garages. National Review Is Cited. Along this line comes an inter- esting review of the situation from the National Automobile Chamber of Commerce of New York, which is as fcllows: Attacking present-day garae- and zoning laws as obsolete a.i looking to motor terminals as the solution of the parking problem, Paul G. Hoffman outlines in the current Street Traffic Bulletin of the National Automobile Chamber of Commerce a program for muni- cipal action. Mr. Hoffman is a member of the street traffic com- mittee of the automobile organi- zation. “Every one talks of the parking problem as though it were perma- nent and insurmountable,” says Mr. Hofiman. “The problem is far from insuperable. It can be met by intelligent action, first in reg- ulating parking so that the maxi- mum use can be secured from curb parking; second, through the con- struction of parking lots or garages. Intelligent Curb Falls Short. “The unintelligent prohibition of parking merely results in de- priving the public of what ap- pears to them a necessity and a| right. Reduced -to its ultimate absurdity, a thorough nc-parking policy would compel a man to stay continuously in his motor until the end of time, once he had otten started. That, to be sure, s just what happens in the busi- ness centers of the eity under | present circumstances. “Regulaticn should, of course, ave s its objective the maxi- mum use of the existing curb space for the benefit of the citi- zens of the city as a whole and the merchants of the territory under regulation in particular. But even the most intelligent parking regulation falls far short of meeting the problem of term- inal facilities for the motor car. “From now on more thought must be given to supplying a stop- ping place for motor cars in shop- ping areas, In spite of all the statistics which have been com- glled. the merchants rightly main- ain that they want motor trade and they want their stcres ac- cessible to the motoring public. This fact has given rise to much of the opposition of merchants against any and all forms of park- ing prohibitions. Needs Are Listed. “Parking regulations will never be genuinely effective until ade- ?ulte and economical terminal acilities are available. “Several changes are necessary in the present scheme of affairs to bring about a satisfactory condi- tion. These may be listed as: “1. Revise zoning laws to per- mit garages where needed. “2. Revise garage bullding laws to remove unnecessary restric- tions. “38. Have the city plan commis- slon designate reglons where garages are needed. “‘4, Have merchants agree on municipal or community support for provision of enough garages at proper terms. “In cities of less than 100,000 population there is usually little need for drastic action, but I would suggest that the small cities will find it commercjally valuable to provide parking lots for visitors if there is a shortage of garage e, “Let us examine these four fundamentals which affect park- Department | ‘The under- |lying reason for these require- ments is that they were put on | the statute books at a time when | the garage was usually a made- over stable, unattractive in ap- | pearance and poorly designed. | “Real estate men are finding these laws a nuisance with respect to residential sections because it is difficult to rent apartments in regions where there is no nearby garage accommodation. zoning laws could properly be re- modeled to permit modern park- ing hotels to be erected under | proper specifications. Old-Fashioned Specifications. “The specifications which are on | the statute books in many cities | with respect to garages are of a | nuisance nature and not practical. | standards with respect | tractiveness of architecture. | proper to have fireproof construc- tion, but the requirements for |arbitrary standards are not es- sential. I would suggest that a building industries draw up a set of standards which could be con- sidered reasonable, reaching an agreement with the engineers of the larger cities. Where Garages Are Needed. | “We have reached the point of { American city progress, however, where it is not enough to rely upon chance enterprise for the | building of motor terminals. We do not think of tolerating a con- | dition where toll roads would be | privately operated and laid out | according to the whim of an in- dividual builder. Our streets in every city are laid out with re- spect to some kind of a plan, however meager, and usually ac- cording to some plan which has been developed at a great deal of thought and expense. These streets are built fcr the use of | transportdtion, and yet we are | leaving to chance the entire ques- tion of where vehicles may stop when they are not in movement. It is possible for the merchants and other public-spirited citizens in every community to get to- gether with the Department of public works and the city plan commission to lay out those garage accommodation. Financing Discussed. “The public has always resented | the restriction of the parking use of the street, even for a limited period of time, in order that private garage operators might prosper. It is probably more econ- omical for every one concerned to have cars stored in designated l)arklng arnfi, except when mak- ing short ops, than to have them using street space. As soon as we see the problem as a com- parison between street space and | storage space we begin to recog- nize that the storage problem is an entirely public one and one in which the municipality is in- evitably concerned. “If the all-day parker were compelled to go to a municipal }arage, even if he paid a small ee, he would not have a ground for complaint because the revenue ‘would come back to him indirectly in his function as taxpayer. J. G. McKay, director of traffic in Cleveland, said at the .recent meeting ‘of the United States Chamber of Commerce that park- ing space in back-lot areas at municipal cost may come to be recognized as much a municipal jcb as the building of four-lane streets. Life of Car Is Aided. “It may be that municipal ownership and operation of park- |ing garages would not be the | ideal method in many situations. It might be preferable to have these enterprises operated by con- cessionaires with profits return- able to the city. Under such .cir- cumstances the business ability of the concessionaire often makes that type of management more profitable for all concerned than municipal management. The es- sential point in the situation is that retail trade, industry and the general public have a definite stake in seeing that there are parking accommodations avail- able at minimum cost.” The subject should be investi- gated thoroughly. No one should be made to suffer because he or she cannot find a garage. The cost of keeping a car in a garage might be more than offset by the added life of the automobile then under protection from the ele- ments. Points on Which Maryland Vehicles Will Be Tested in Safety Drive Bared Special Dispateh to The Sta BALTIMORE, June 15.—Detalls of the inspection tests to which Maryland motor vehicles will be asked to submit in connection with the 30-day Save-a- Life campaign, starting today, were an- nounced by E. Austin Baughman, com- | missoner of motor vehicles. The tests are authorized by a law passed at the last session of the Gen- eral Assembly authorizing the commis- sioner to require an inspection of safety factors on all motor vehicles in the State. These factors include brakes, horns, lights, steering mechanism, wind- shield wipers, mirrors and license plates. Inspections will be made at various ga- rages throughout the State. There will be no charge for service. As each car is approved, & small sticker will be afixed to the windshield, indi- cAting 1t has successfully passed the ‘The official inspection, according to Jaw, will be as foliows: Every auto and truck in the State to be inspected by a competent me- «hanic in a reliable service station to be designated and appointed with ap- proval of the motor vehicle department, | and if the car or truck is found unsa or to have mechanical defect it must be put into safe condition before an official inspection tag will be issued the owner. Official inspection stickers will issued to all cars and trucks examined and found to be in good condition or that have been put into good condition after being examined and found to need adjustment. Brakes, horns, lights, steering mech- anism and mirrors will be the chief be | €lve clear vision at all tim Two-wheel brakes, car going 20 miles an hour must stop in 50 feet; four- | wheel brakes, car going 20 miles an | hour must stop in 35 feet: emergency brakes, car going 20 miles per hour must stop in 75 feet. Trucks over three tons going 20 miles per hour must stop in 75 feet by foot brake. In case a brake-testing machine is used, the equivalent of above is required. Horns shall be tested by pressing the horn button and determining whether the signal is prompt and gives sufi- clent warning. Lights will be tested as follows: Bulbs with headlights shall be checked for conformity to State law. Bulbs showing signs of blackening or a whitish discoloration inside the glass are insufficient and should be carded. All bulbs which are burned out or missing must- be replaced. Lights must have proper lens and the reflector must be bright. All tail lamps must have a red lens. Steering mechanisms must be ex- amined in all their wearing parts. These wearing parts must appear to be sufficiently strong to avold any possi- bility of breaking under ordinary con- ditions, thus causing an accident. | Windshield wipers (if automatic or electric) must operate sufficiently to if manual, the rubber “si " shall be in such condition as to clear the glass properly. Truck mirrors are to be inspected to make sure they are in such condition .g'llbfl!l‘: placed as to give good rear v | of surfaced These | double-thickness walls and other | committee of engineers of the| points in the city which need T GAS N. OYLE PEDESTRIAN EMUL, THE MOTORISTS | i | l | ;’ 25\ ] el =] It is | HE SUNDAY STAR, WAS WE CONFESS THIS |S RATHER FOOLISH BUT JUSYT SUPPOSE THE ATED HINGTON, - D, a, JUNE 16, 1929—PART- 4. By Thornton Fisher 'GAPS IN MAJOR U. S. HIGHWAY The 1929 motor tourist caravan, 45,000,000 strong, will encounter better touring conditions this year than ever before, according to the annual pre- season survey issued today by the Na- tional Touring Bureau of the American | Automobile Association. | ‘The highlights of the survey of the | national motoring body are: | First, the trunk line highways over | which the motorists will travel toward the principal Summer vacation areas are on the whole in better condition this | year than they have been in any pre- | vious season. New Mileage Added. Second, a considerable amount of new mileage has been added and new im- portant gaps filled in since the close of the last touring season, thus offering a greater diversity of routes and, in some instances, more direct connections be- | tween the centers of population and the vacation objectives. Third, motoring services available along practically all main trunk high- ways have reached a higher standard of perfection. Fourth, the agencies catering to motor commodations and recreational facili- ties. Fifth, the movement toward uniform motor vehicle regulations has made some progress and the motorist s likely to encounter less annoyance at the hands of petty officials than hereto- fore. Good Roads All Ways. The A. A. A. survey is based on re- | ports from more than 1.000 affillated A. A. A motor clubs in the United States and Canada, as well as on re- ports from State highway officials throughout the country. “Almost without exception,” says the survey, “the car owner will find good roads leading to his chosen vacation | spot, whether it be East, West, North | or South, or in nearby Canada. | " “This is true of North and South | highways leading into New England, | tourist travel have improved their ac- | LINKS CLOSED. AIDING TOURISTS Better Conditions to Be Found. Due to Many Improvements, A. A. A. National Survey Reveals. the national motoring body is the im- portance of paying sttention to the de- tours on the main highways. Latest information available from reports of all A. A. A. agencles place the total number of detours in the East and Middle West at 1,388. “As these detours undergo daily change, motorists are advised to checic in at the touring bureaus of A. A. A. clubs at frequent intervals. Up-to-the- minute detour maps are on display at |the touring counters of all A. A. A | offices and every motorist can save time and money by taking advantage of this service.” By way of further advice to the mo- torist, the A. A. A. says: “Prepare your car well before you start and don't overcrowd it. Obtain | road information in advance of actual departure. Remember that road condi- | tions change from day to day. Hence. the necessity of checking up_on your routing from point to point. Don't de- pend on roadside information, but go to your motor club, which is the only agency capable of maintaining up-to- the-minute information. Particularly is this true at the present time, when highway building agencies are pushed to keep apace with the increase in the number of cars. To meet this condi- tion, detour maps are issued at regular intervals to A. A. A. motor clubs in dif- ferent sections. Start your touring day early. Avoid congested areas—A. A. A. maps show how—if you are traveling on a schedule. If you are unable to reach a hotel at which you have reservations, notify them as some other wayfarer may desire the room. Finally, don’t try to cover too much territory for the | time at your disposal or for the allotted budget. Remember that physical ex- haustion mars the pleasure of the tour | and makes for accidents.” | Improvements of Routes. Here are some of the major road im- | provements listed in the A. A. A. survey: “On U. S. Route No. 1. an important New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, Eastern Tennessee and MAYNOTORQUTR HELD AT HH AR Figures Equal to April Rec- ord, Despite Seasonal Decline in Demand. ditions during the last half of the month, induced by thb advent of sea- sonal decline and slackening demand, the motor output for May held up to the total figures of the previous month, according to B. H. Cram, president of Cram’s Automotive Reports, Inc. Lat- est reports indicate that they will be in excess of those for April, setting an- other new high mark for the industry. Good_schedules have been announced for June, considering. the allowances made for seasonal decline, and the present outlook is that production this month will not show a large decrease. It will, however, undoubtedly reveal a | more marked continuation of the sea- sonal downward trend. The schedules are somewhat spotty, some concerns showing marked de- i crease, others planning for gains and the remainder virtually duplicating their previous month's output. New car stocks also continue to show a spotty condition, the largest stocks be- ing reported in those sections of the counry where adverse weather has been most: prevalent. Low Priced Models Cited. Manufacturers of the lower-priced models give all indications of holding to their previous volume and the declines should take place largely in the high and medium priced fields. Production for the current week has maintained a stead; | the ine i trend, vielding reluctantly to | able declines. | Necessity of dealers exerting unu: | sales efforts in order to reduce the u | car stocks which have accumulated as | the result of new car sales is now ap- | parent to a marked degree. At present | used cars are selling satisfactorily, al- | though stocks remain heavy. Volume of new car sales has entered a more marked decline during the current week. Two more trade centers have re- ported conditions as being slower than were stated a fortnight ago. rent trend is upward in 16 centers, down in 9 and even in 7. Two weeks ago sales had a downward trend in only 7 centers, 14 reported increased activity changed. An analysis of price distri- priced models are selling well localities, slow in 1 and fair in 8. The trend is upward in 20 areas, down in 7 and unchanged in 4. One Area Shows Decline. One more area was reported as re- vealing a slower condition of medium- | priced car sales than was the case two weeks ago, but elsewhere the situation in this field continued virtually un- changed. The most startling current change has taken place in the high- priced field. This class of cars is sell- ing well in only 12 areas, as compared with 24 two weeks ago. Sales are fair in 16 centers, comparing with the pre vious mark of 3. Conditions are slow in 4 centers, whereas a fortnight ago 2 localities stated sales were slow. This is explained largely by the fact that these manufacturers are preparing for the introduction of new models. | MACAULEY RE-ELECTED. of motor transportation promotion throughout the world which has been a major policy of the National Auto- mobile Chamber of Commerce, the Alvan Macauley as president for the ensuing year. Other “officers elected were: Alfred H. Swayne, first vice president; A. R. Erskine, vice president passenger car division, A. J. Brosseau, vice president commercial car division; John N. Willys, secretary; H. H. Rice, treasurer; Alfred Reeves, general manager. l Maryland Detours | 1. Anne Arundel County—Spe road. 2. Baltimore County—York road to Freeland. ‘arroll County—Westminster-Tay- 3. lorsvill 4. Cecll County—Rising Sun to Bay lew. 5. Dorchester County—East New Market-Secretary. 8. Frederick County—Liberty to Cen- tral schoolhouse. Broad Run to Mid- dletown-Burkittsville road. Jefferson to Middletown. 7. Garrett County — Northwestern turnpike. 8. Harford County—Norris Corner to Van Bibber. 9. Kent County—Lynch to Butler- town. 10. Prince Georges County—Cha) road from Central avenue to the W., & A. Electric Ratlroad. 11. Talbot County—Easton to Trappe pel B. | Despite the handicap of spotty con- | ‘The cur- | and 8 stated that conditions were un- | Unanimously indorsing the program | members of that body have re-elected | |American Color Treatment for Autos _ Now Finding Favor in Central Europe Le | P. H. Chase, manager in the paint | industry, who recently visited the Vienna Automobile Show, reports that | the color treatments of the motor cars | originating in America are now finding | their way into Central Europe. “The Western countries of Europe, and more especially France, adopted these ideas | more than a year ago, but it is only | now that they are receiving their first application in Germany and Austria and this in a somewhat timid manner,” said Mr. Chase. “The leading body makers of Vienna Ferdinand Keibl Kommanditgeseil- schaft, generally known as Keibl. had on view at the Vienna show a number of cars, all of which were marked by interesting color schemes. A Steyr was finished in beige and beige-gray. An Austro-Daimler was in biack with a brown fabric on top and with a belt effect in red. A Mercedes-Benz was done in garnet with a black belt. “In addition to the cars displayed by | Keibl, there were automobiles made by | the firm of Graft Und Stift. One of the interesting color designs here was | | & violet purple with a black top and | | with the wheels in maroon. A Steyr | | car was done in olive green with a | | light beige belt. Another type of thls[ | car was done in royal blue with a red | | filet forming a belt. Some of the cars of this make were done in conservative black. An attractive Daimler car had the lower part of the body, the hood and the wheels in a creamy gray while the upper part of the car, the mud- guards and the balance of the chassis were in grayish blue. The color schemes of the Austro-Fiat cars were quite sim- ple. An example of their method of treatment was shown in a machine in | which the lower part was finished in| maroon red and the upper part, the' top and the mudguards in a light beige.{ “The American ! with Duco h 1v_all the impo: | | UTO B0 | co.lNc | bution of car sales shows that low- | in 23| in the Art of Refinishing — U ery. Seat Covers — Tops, Metal Work, Body Building & Blacksmithing 21st St. & Va. Ave. N.W. WEST 2222 Quick and Expert Service Repainting :;d Touch-up Work Seat Covers, Sport Tops Upholstering & Repairing DISTRICT AUTO BODY CO. | Rear 1120 18th St. N.W. North 3112 DON'T HAVE YOUR CAR PAINTED Unt’] You See Us Our work is the finest obtainable ROWE AUTO BODY CO. 57 N Street N.W. Decatyr 4438 !U. S. Auto Sales ad in Hungary tral Europe, including the important | As Ttal body makers. Colors as a rule tend to| be conservative. There is not much|py the Associated Press. contrast, while in quite & few cases| they do mot use color as a means of prolonging the belt the whole length of the hood or to accentuate the length or hood of the car.” | tual Plans Welcome for Tourists. boys attired in Western regalia will unite with high Government officials in | $3,500 were exported, welcoming tourists to Yellowstone Na- e nearly a quarter milllon people each | 9f 1f fifty-eighth season on June 20. total. tor car sales to Hungary have vir- | In 1926 Italian cars were the most | tional Park, the pleasure grounds of [ numerous in Hungary, but by the end of 1928 American cars had taken the The sales of American cars therc vear, when it opens its portals for the | jn 1928 constituted 49 per cent of the | Rentucky, Michigan, Wisconsin and | Minnesota. | Congestion Predicted. “It also holds good as regards the | great transcontinental trunk lines from the Atlantic to the Pacific, to the recre- | ational areas of the National Parks and | Forests, to the Ozark resorts in Mis- | souri, to the Black Hills of South Da- | kota, to Colorado and the Inter-Moun- | tain section. to the great play areas of the Northwest, including Wasl n, | year and American cars now lead in | Oregon and adjacent British Colum- numbers there, William A. Hodgman, commercial attache at Blrxdnpe:t. re- | to the Department of Commerce. | P’The imports from the United States | thousands of miles of paved highwey last year were 79, valued at $634,410. afford a diversity of routes to the main Indians in tribal costume and cow- | The first direct shipments of American cars to Hungary were made in 1920 | when two passenger cars valued at bia and to other playgrounds of the Pacific slope.” | | Despite the fact that hundreds of vacation areas, the A. A. A. warns that every indication points to congestion and, for this reason, the suggestion is made that the motorist who wants to well to travel in the early morning and get the major part of his day's distence behind him while the roads are carrying their minimum load. | Another suggestion.put forward by "B he tast word in smart color for yowr car IMPLY take your car to the Authorized Duco Station and choose your new color scheme. The Duco Refin- isher will show you the very latest combinations used by the leading car manufacturers. Whether your car needs just recoloring (the new idea), complete refinishing, or only touch-upservice, thedu Pont Process, followed by every Authorized Duco Refinisher, assures you of lasting beauty. Your car can be made modern in this easy way. Sce the Duco Refinisher now. Only at these shops can you be sure of having THIS SIGN IS YOUR PROTECTION wour refinish work done by the du FPont Process Call Carl, Inc. 614 H St. N.W. Main 2775 Central Auto Works & Garage 449 Eye St. N.W. Franklin 6805 District Auto Body Co. Rear 1120 18th St. N.W. North 3112 Haley Auto Body Co., Inc. 21st St. & Va. Ave. NW. West 2222 H. B. Leary, Jr., & Bros. 1612 You St. N.W. North 4296 Dick Murphy, Inc. 1728 Kalorama Rd. N.W. Adams 9700 National Auto Top Co. 2114 14th St. N.W. Dec. 2348 1701 Packard Washington Motor Car Co. Kalorama Rd. N.W. Adams 6130 Rowe Auto Body Co. 57N St. N.W. Decatur 4438 Service Auto Body Co., Inc. 600 Newton PL. N.W. Col. 667 R. L. Taylor Motor Co., Inc. 14th & T Sts. N.W. North 9600 The Washington-Cadillac Co. 1222 22nd St. N.W. Decatur 3900 Alexandria, Va. H. W. Stone 127 South Payne St. Alex. 103 Authorized puco Refinishers e the mountains of Western| make “fast time” this year would do | highway from Florida to Canada, the stretch across Georgia from Augusta | to Wayeross has been completed and is | of great importance to Summer travel. “Another important stretch in Georgia, on U. S. No. 41, which is a main artery of travel from Florida into the Middle West, has been completed south of | Cordele. This gives for the first time |a paved highway from Florida into | Atlanta, Ga., and is used by travel en | route to Chicago, Detroit and surround- | ing territofy. “Motorists from the Southeast en | route to the famed Shenandoah Valley | of Virginia will find two much-needed stretches completed on U. S. No. 311. These are from Roanoke to Rocky Mount and from the latter point to Martinsville. “Car owners traveling along the At- lantic seaboard will find & new bridge across the James River at Newport News, making for a quick route between that point and Portsmouth, avoiding Norfolk. Shenandoah Road Opened. “The stretches between Lexington and Clifton Forge and between Covington and the West Virginia line have also (Continued on Sixth Page Let us furnish you a prompt estimate on yoar car 614 H Street NW. Phone District 2775 Al i THATaT DUC am G NATIONAL AUTO TOP COMPANY 2114 14th St. N.W. Dec. 2348 Beautiful Duco Refinish- ing and Retouching Body and Fender Work Upholstery Tops 10 80 cO.INc. D asters in Art phoisier>. Seat Covers, jork, Body Building & 21st St. & Va. Ave. N.W WEST 2222 the of JRefinishing SERVICE AUTO BODY CO., Inc. ity refinishing, and al 2 of motor car coach work—including Uphol- Mol 600 Newton P1. N.W. (Just East of Georgla Ave)