Evening Star Newspaper, January 19, 1930, Page 57

In the Motor World BY G. ADAMS HOWARD. ! T 7 o’clock Saturday evening of this week the doors of the Auditorium, 1900 E street northwest, will be thrown open to the public and the 0 products of the automobile dustry will be on view in all their glory. This happening will mark the commencing of the tenth annual show in the Nation- al Capital under auspices of the| Washington Automotive Trade Association. The exhibit of the various makes and models, shop- equip- ment and accessories and auto- mobile club displays will remain n until 10:30 o'clock. Sunday the Auditorium will be closed, but the following day and thereafter the show will be open from 10 o'clock in the morning until 10:30 in the evening until the final cur- tain is rung down Saturday eve- ning, February 1. Same Show Committee. The show committee same as in former years, with the addition of the W. A. T. A. presi- dent, Whitney Leary. The others comprise Rudolph Jose, chairman and director; Raphael Semmes, John M. Dugan and Frank G. Stewart. All arrangements were completed at the meeting of the trade association held last Mon- day. Indications point to one of the finest shows ever held in Wash- ington. Should the interest man- ifest in New York be a criterion, the reception awaiting the mon- arch of transportation will sur- pass anything heretofore. Resi- dents in the District and in the counties of the neighboring States will do well to take advantage of the opportunity to see the show. No one is not interested in the automobile today. More Lights Proposed. A few more traffic lights are scheduled. These new ones will be erected at Fourteenth and K streets, Madison avenue and H street, Fifteenth and H streets and at East and West Executive avenues and Pennsylvania avenue. What is hoped for is that the erection of a traffic light between the White House and the State, War and Navy Building will, at last, cause the gate posts to be taken down. As a traffic menace they are bad enough now, but with the lights ‘cars will dash through on the green and woe to the pedestrian in the path. One reason that there have not been any serious accidents at this place is that both motorists and pedestrians are cognizant of the danger. But with the green light the motorist will increase his speed. believing all to be clear. The lights on Eighteenth street, K street and Connecticut avenue, where they cross, should be in operation now. Work has been started at Thomas Circle, and as soon as completed the lights will be put into operation there. Lit- tle difficulty is anticipated at this circle, because the street car lines run according to regular traffic lanes, and not as on the west side of Dupont Circle. Reviews Traffic Fatalities. In reviewing the traffic fatali- ties of the year, Willlam H. Har- land has found that in the ma- jority of cases the cars in fatal| collisions were driven by youths around 20 years of age. While only a few were held responsible by the coroner’s jury, it is his be- lief that a certain amount of| arelessness and recklessness ex- ~istvd at the time. Checking over other records, he finds that youths of this age have the worse records. It is his belief that revocation of permits of those in this class may greatly affect the fatality record of the year 1930. A short time ago the trend against speed laws was noted. This idea appears to be extending abroad, according to an Asso- ciated Press dispatch from Lon- don. It is as follows: British Traffic Change. Sweeping changes in England's traffic laws are provided fqr in the new road traffic bill introduced in the House of Lords by Earl Rus- sell on behalf of the government. A voluminous document of 85 gages. all aimed at safeguarding uman life on the highways, the bill includes among its 109 clauses such innovations as: Abolition of the speed limit for private cars. Compulsory liability ance for motorists. Drastic penalties for drunk- enness. Stringent “physical fitness” requirements. Strict supervision of motor cycle joy rides. While it does away altogether with speed limits for light auto- mobiles and motor cycles, the government bill increases signifi- cantly the penalties for “careless” and “dangerous” driving. As to drunken driving, no acci- dent is necessary to bring down a penalty on the inebriate’s head. If he is found drunk at the wheel of an automobile he is liable to four months’ imprisonment and a $250 fine. If he has any friends with him they, too, are liable to imorisonment as accessories. Good eyesight and normal con- [ MOTOR DONT'S DON'T USE Your " HORN INSTEAD OF THE BRAKES! insur- THE HORN 1S A GOOD WARNING “SIGNAL, BUT DOESN'T HELP KEEP THE CA.R,UNDER CONTROL ! - e is the| trol of bodily functions are re- quired of all applicants for driv- er’s license, and the concealment or attempted concealment of such handicaps as poor vision or a tendency to faint carries a heavy penalty. Under the compulsory insurance provision of the bill the motorist would be required not only to take out insurance against injury to others, but to carry at all times a “certificate of insurance” issued by the company whose policy he holds. Mr. Harland states that for the open country hé sees no apparent ineed for speed limits. This idea, however, .he does not see applica- ble ta the city at the present time. He admits, though, that on cer- tain outlying streets in the Dis- trict it might be practicable, and on a few wide thoroughfares in the city proper. The idea is spreading. Substi- tution of strict reckless driving regulations would suffice every- where, many experts on traffic opine. A Virginia Bill. A bill recently has been offered in the Virginia Legislature that would require all motorists to have an operator’s permit and pass tests for driving. It is to be hoped that this measure will pass. Not only will it be beneficial to the Old Dominion, but to the City of Washington, where many Vir- ginia residents drive. At present only the registration card is required by Virginia, and any one of almost any age has the right to drive. THE SUNDAY STAR, WASHINGTON, D. C., JANUARY 19, 1930—PART FOUR. DOWN THE ROAD—A Satisfied Owner Driving is not a right, it is a privilege, and a privilege that should not be granted unless the would-be motorist is fit mentally and physically to do so. Yo LOOK , MAMA . RECKON THAT VIBRATIN’ WOULD HELP YOU ? [Copyright Ao v Prank M. Beck. Trade Mark. Reg U.$ Pat OF) CAROLINIAN LAUDS FEDERAL ROAD AID Former Commissioner Tells of State’s Investment in Building Program. BY JAMES W. BROOKS, Director American Highway Educational ‘Bureau. North Carolina, one of the foremost States in road building, has completed the construction of its main highways ard is now extending improvement :o other roads that will fall logically into an enlarged State system as traffic in- creases. This development was brought out by Frank Page, former highway com- missioner of North Carolina, who ap- peared before the House committee on roads as spokesman on highway mat- ters for the United States Chamber of Commerce. ‘What is now taking place in North Carol'na and other States where road building has been carried forward ag- gressively during the past few years is in line with the practical policy adopted by State and Federal highway engineers in reaching out from main routes to sceendary roads, thereby mecting the demand for an extension of road im- provement to rural areas. This, as has been stated repeatedly, is the only log- ical and economic way in which high- way progress can be made, if the true | interests of motorists and taxpayers in general are to be taken into account. Holds Road Aid Is Investment. The fact was also brought out by Mr. | Page that during 1929 “the United | States Government only participated | to the extent of 5 per cent in the ex- | penditure for public roads in the United | States,” and also that there was ex- | pended approximately $1,800,000,000, of | which the Federal Government apprc- | priated only $80,799,000. Calling the Federal aid measure now | before Congress an investment rather | than an appropriation, Mr. Page de- clared that in his opinion “there has been no activity on the part of Con- | | gress that has brought so large return | |to the benefit of the people of the United States as the appropriations for public roads through expenditures by the Bureau of Public Roads.” | ““For two reasons I say that” said Mr. Page. “Onc is that after 10 years' | close affiliation and work with the| | Bureau of Public Roads, I say that it |1s in my opinion one of the most highly | organized and efficient organizations of | the Government functiening in any | capacity. Another reason is that the appropriation of approximately $15,- /000,000 to the State of North Carolina | during the period of 10 years enabled us_to spend wisely an appropriation of $150,000,000 through the supervision and help and standards set by the Burcau of Public Roads.” Two “Ghosts” Laid Low. In connection with the hearings just held, it will be of interest to motorists to note that two ghosts of earlier days in Federal aid legislation appeared momentarily. One was as to whether the United States Chamber of Com- merce was in favor of extending and improving present State highway sys- | tems “rather than the so-called inter- | national or interstate system.” Mr. | Page replied that he knew of no cham- | ber of commerce that had expressed itself in favor of an interstate, Federal- owned and Federal-maintained high- way system. The second ghost was laid {low by Fred R. White, State highway | engineer of Towa, in reply to the sug- gestion that highway engineers were | giving preference to tourist roads. “In these days, who is a tourist!” was Mr. White's “rejoinder, and the question went unanswered. Strictly speaking, | exclusively tourist roads do not exist. | All_roads are used for all purposes— freight, passenger, community traffic and vacation travel. Thus the legislative mills for high- way progress grind on. ACING IN U. S. IN NEW ERA| | Sweeping Reforms in Rules and Regulations Put Into Effect by A. A. A Contest Board. | Sweeping reforms in the rules and regulations governing official racing in the United States were put Into effect at the close of a series of sessions held by the contest board of the American ‘A(ukl:mobue Association, held in New | York. ‘The sessions of the contest board, | during which every phase of racing was | considered, were ~held simultaneously iwilh the semi-annual meeting of the | board of directors of the A. A. A,, which |in turn gave its approval to the pro- gram developed by the contest board to promote bigger and better motor racing in this country. o oLy New York has 452 automobile parts and eccessory firms dennn{“mlely in th> wholesale field, according to the D! of Columbia division of the Insurance Policy For Jay-Walkers Is London Novelty LONDON, (#).—Insuring a pedes- trian against the damage he may do in a traffic accident is the latest wrinkle in policies here. The company ploneering in per- sonal lability insurance for jay- walkers charges $1.25 for a policy paying up to $2,500 toward any judgment against the pedestrian licyholder for an accident due to Bis negtigence. British magistrates already have held careless pedestrians liable for road crashes and ordered them to pay damages. RURAL HIGHWAY SEEN AS PROBLEM Writer Suggests All Income Derived Be Devoted to Serviceable Paving. There is but one way to solve the rural highway problem and that is to formulate a plan whereby every avail- able cent of highway income can be devoted to pavement construction that will best serve the car, according to E. E. Duffy, highway educational writer. What a State can do when it places its mind on the job is well illusts d by Maryland. During the road-building season just ended Maryland construct- ed 225 miles of new roads, and of this total all but 60 miles were of concrete. Maryland Road Building Cited. Although Maryland is among the smaller States, she has a total road mileage of 14,810. Of this 3,062 miles compose the State system. At the be- ginning of 1929 Maryland had some | 1,450 miles of concrete pavement, which, together with the new construc- tion of last season, gives about 1,600 miles. This reflects a real attempt to serve the taxpayer. Further recognition by Maryland that the automobile is a device that de- mands space and freedom is indicated in three other features of the con- struction program. One hundred and forty miles of shoulders were con- structed to widen existing pavements for additional safety and convenience. Included among the 39 bridges com- pleted this year, or nearly so, were seven grade-crossing eliminations. The troubles usually encountered in secur- ing rights-of-way and co-operation in building separated grade crossings pre- vented Maryland from adding 12 more to the 1929 program. Need of Early Planning Stressed. Herein is pointed out the necessity of early planning. Several States have found it expedient to lay their plans for structures even some little time ahcad of the period in which money would become available. It may be said that if work on all the projects held in the paper stage were to proceed, no one need worry over labor surpluses for some time to come, Another forward looking step taken by Maryland was the widening of 11 miles of the Washington-Baltimore Boulevard to 40 feet, completing the work between Baltimore and Laurel. Only through such effect as this will | the States be able to declare that they | are doing all in their power to meet the | motor problem. NEED FOR “EDUCATED” MOTORIST IS CITED Careless Driver Is Responsible for Many Accidents, Maryland Com- missioner Declares. Special Dispatch to The Star. BALTIMORE, January 18.—Educa- tion, much of which must of necessity be of the self-administered type, is badly needed in the opinion of Motor Vehicle Commissioner E. Austin Baugh- man, to improve the type of driving of many motorists who do not feel them- selves elther dangerous operators or regular violators of the law. It is the careless driver, and the driver who, through lack of observa- tion and judgment, is guilty of dan- gerous miscalculations in the operation of a car, who contributes the majority of the accidents occurring daily on the highways of the Nation, according to_Commissioner Baughman. Baughman points out that a recent survey shows that failure to give the right of way leads as a cause of acci- dents. At the same time, this survey showed miscalculation on the part of operators to come next, with inatten- tion as a close third in accident causa- tion. Thirteen per cent of the acci- dents Investigated were due to inat- tentlon, 16 per cent were caused by miscalculation and 16.8 per cent were the result of failing to give the right | lady often has a difficult time of it Am~~'san Automobile Association, of way. Skidding holds fourth place, with 8.6 per ceat. MILADY’S MOTORING BY FREDERICK C. RUSSELL. A second car in the family is the modern woman's way of driving away the biues. Reviewing a coach builder's work of art at a custom body display, a woman writer observed that one of the cars exhibited was the type calculated to cause a police officer to think twice before tagging it. And there's a lot of truth in her story that can be capi- talized to good advantage. Somehow the well cared for car always looks less like a vagrant when it stands at the curb in limited parking areas. Just because the car steers easily these days is no reason not to take it to the service station regularly for a check-up of the mechanism that guides it. Ice and snow on the streets make steering and parking easy. Even the wet floors of the garage may be the reason for thinking the steering gear is better than it is. Having the rear wheels spin around on a slippery spot is no pleasant sen: tion when other motorists are imp tient to get going. The main diffi- culty is that the solution lies in taking easy. First, shift to second gear and en- gage the clutch gently while feeding a moderate amount of gas. If this fails to start the car going forward slowly, try starting in high gear. Since the wheels are spinning there is no risk of injuring engine or clutch. As a matter of fact, much of this sort of trouble today is due to unwise use of the abundance of power under the hood. It is perfectly natural to figure that five gallons of gas are enough to buy when you don't plan on doing more than run about town, but better fill up the tank, or at least buy 10 gallons at cach filling. Short runs around town and traffic delays in Winter great- ly increase gas consumption. When the car has to travel over snow mileage may drop 50 per cent. Some of these cave men who bring the family car in from the directors’ meeting in the small hours of the morn- ing have a quaint way of pulling on the hand brake as if the car is to stay put for the rest of its existence. Mi- unloosing the machine in the morning, but fortunately in some of the newest cars where there is an interconnected braking system a handy solution is of- fered. Just press hard on the foot brake and the hand lever will release easily enough. Whenever the car doesn't ride just right it is natural for the woman at the wheel to figure that the shock ab- sorbers need “tightening.” Since some inexperienced mechanic is apt to take her instructions literally, with results that would make for still more uncom- fortable riding, it might be well to get a general picture of the situation. Springs are the car’s natural shock absorbers. Théy must be able to com- press (flatten out) in order to ease shock. On the rebound, however, they throw the car upward and toss the passengers unless there is somethiing to check this rebound. A shock ab- sorber, more properly called a spring control, must start to operate the in- stant the rebound commences. If the device is adjusted so as to be too tight it preloads the spring. That is, the spring is partly compressed, and the rebound checking is already in ef- fect. Thus if the particular wheel strikes a hole in the road, the spring does not compress further, the effect beln!z] the same as having no spring at all. You will be tossed off the seat with a tight adjustment as well as with one that is too loose. Of course, where there are two-way shock absorbers the situation is a little more complicated, but the same general rule applies. The most important thing in riding comfort today is to avoid the tempta- tion of trying to obtain ease by over- looking the shock absorber adjustment. ‘The same sort of polish that is used to brighten up the lacquer electric refrigerator can be used on the hood and body of the car. One woman who tried this first in the house and then out in the garage was puzzled to know why it worked better ofi the kitchen fixture than on the car. The reason suggests a point in connection with keeping that show room complexon for the car. Electric refrigerators take moisture from the air. This, combined with the cold, makes for dry conditions very favorable in polishing lacquer. Out in the garage there is apt to be dampness. ‘The time to polish the car is when the atmosphere is dry, irrespective of the temperature, Because of the possibility of losing the kay to the car it is a good plan to carry a duplicate somewhere around the machine. A place that is not likely to be suspected is the manufacturer's serial number plate on the engine side of the dash. The extra key can be wedged behind this. It is most important to carry the “spare” key outside the body, since the “lock-out" may occur while the doors are locked and the windows closed. (Copyright by the Russell Service.) Hoover's Business Boost Called Timely To Help Get More Federal Road Money By the Associated Press. President Hoover's call for economic co-operation came at the psychological moment for road building. Increased appropriations for the Fed- eral aid system are seen as an impetus to all highway construction. For many years the appropriations | have been held at a constant figure of $75,000,000 annually, & sum parceled out to the various States to match the amount spent by each in Federal high- way development. Indication that, without an increased appropriation, Pederal profects would not proceed as rapidly as they had in the last few years is carried in the re- pert of the Bureau of Public Roads that the mileage of improvement during the fiscal year was smailer than in previous years. ‘That Federal projects have been able to approach a constant pace is laid to the accumulation of a large balance in the fund because, during earlisr years, annual sums had not been entirely ex- pended. Balance Has Been Spent. ‘The balance has hastened the rate of improvement during past years, but it has now been absorbed and the results of confining the road building program to current inmprllu\ms are reflected in lessened mileage. Governors of many States in re- sponse to President Hoover's call for in- creased building pledged their aid, but the maximum to which the States can push their highway development may depend on Federal help, As a result, eyes of the road building world will be turned to Congress when it fashions what may be the backbone; for road building programs in author- izing Federal aid appropriations. In response Lo the general movement for highway expansion, an increase in the Federal aid appropriation to $125,- 000,000 is being sought by the House committee alone to stimulate building and forestall depression. Means Employment for 525,000, ‘The Federal aid system for the fiscal year included 188,857 miles of inter- state and intercounty highways. Nearly 79,000 miles of the system have been initially improved thus far with Fed- eral aid. With an increase in the Federal aid appropriation, the American Automobile Association estimates, expenditures for highway and street construction and maintenance in nv would exceed £2,- 500,000,000 and furnish employment for 625,000 people. A bill to appropriate $250,000.000 to aid the States in construction of rural post roads has been introduced by Representative Robsion, Republican, of Kentucky. 9,000,000 TO USE BRIDGE TO CANADA Keneipp Estimates That Span Be- tween Detroit and Windsor ‘Will Treble Traffic. Nine million E:rms are expected to use the new Ambassador Bridge between Detroit and Windsor next year, and it will serve to bring this country and Canada closer together, aceording to George E. Kenelpp, manager of the District of Columbia division of the American Automobile Association. Keneipp says the new bridge will prove a n to motor travel between the two countries by giving a direct Ca- nadian outlet to heavily-traveled high- ways and predicts that numerous mo- torists from this section will use this | route. He bases this prediction on customs reports received at A. A. A. national headquarters, which show that in the past six months 135,000 tourist cars and 675,000 cars otherwise classified crossed the border between the United States and Canada at this point. “This means that approximately 3,- 000,000 persons traveled by automobile between the two countries in that time. At the most conservative estimate, number will be trebled next lym through use of the Ambassador Bridge. ‘The new bridge shortens the distance between Detroit and Niagara Falls by 137 miles. It accommodates five lanes of traflic. “Bullt to meet the need created by the rapid growth of highway traffic, the bridge gives outlet to six United States highways—U. 8.-1 12, U. 8.-16, U. S.-24, U. 8.-25_an U. 8.-112, and is on the famous Dixie highway from the South. It is the first | highway traffic artery along the entire border from Buffalo to Minnesota. Mo- torists from th: West and South cai cross over it directly into Canada with- out driving lhrou(l{ Detroit traffic.” , U, 8B.- | —BY FRANK BECK ¥ CAR OWNERS ARE TOLD HOW TO BEST OPERATE MACHINE Method of Starting, How to Start Use of Clutch and Described by - Adviser. BY H. CLIFFORD BROKAW, Automobile Technical Adviser. In the first month of the year, thes2 articles have discussad the procedure recuired by one owning an automobile and wishing to know how tc operate it to the best advantage. The modern au- tomobile is brought into motion through the employment of a gear shift device which usually has three speeds ahead and one for reverse. In the standard | arrangement, first speed ahead is se- cured by shifting the gear lever from neutral backward to the left. Seécond speed is secured by shifting from this position up through neutral and forward to the right: third speed, by shifting from second speed straight back through neutral. Revers: is secured by shifting from neutral forward to the left. Having started the engine, there is still some manipulation needed in order -to get the car under motion. After the engine is running, throttle closed, dis- engage the clutch by pushing down on the clutch pedal with the left foot. Now move the gear shift lever from neu- tral to first speed position. See that the hand brake lever is released as far as possible, allow the clutch to engage gently by gradually lifting the left foot from the clutch pedal. At the same time speed up the engine a little by pushing slightly on the accelerator pedal with the right foot. If this is done properly the car will begin to move forward. The operator should continue to exert pressure on the accelerator pedal until p=a the car i5 well under motion. Throw Clutch Out Twice, It is now time to disengage the clutch as before and at the same time to re- lease the pressure on the accelerator pedal. While the car is thus moving ahead, change the gear shift lever from first to second speed position. Again engage the clutch gradually and step on the gas so that the car gets into little faster speed. Now disengage the clutch again and release the pressure on the accelerator pedal. Change the gear shift Highway Widening In Texas Held Up By Grave of Horse BALLINGER, Tex., (#).—A horse’s grave is delaying the widening of one of Texas’ principal highways. Before automobiles became common, Dr. W. W. Fowler made his calls behind Coley, a standard-bred horse. Pensioned, Coley died and was buried where he used to watch automobiles pass on the highway. Just before Dr. Fowler died he asked his heirs to see that Coley’s grave be not disturbed. State highway depart- ment officlals have been unsuccessful in preliminary efforts to obtain permis- .;u)n to move the grave and its painted ence. MOTORISTS PROFIT BY TAX DECISIONS 4,500,000 in Five States Benefited Under Ruling by U. S. Revenue Bureau. ‘Tax decisions affecting and affording relief to approximately 4,500,000 mo- torists of five States have just been an- | nounced by the United States Bureau of Internal Revenue, according to the legal department of the American Mo- torists’ Association. “The rulings all relate to the ques- tion of gasoline taxes, the bureau hold- ing that the motorists of the States of Pennsylvania, Illinols, Washington, Massachusetts and Rhode Island are entitled to a deduction in their Federal income tax of whatever sum eachshas paid out during the past year on gaso- line taxes. The effect of the decisions means the exemption annually of ap- proximately $50,000,000 from the motor- ists’ Federal taxation in those States, as each motorist last year paid an av- erage of slightly marz than $11 in g line taxes,” Thomas J. Keefe. general { manager of the A. M. A. declares. One Credit Item Banned. Simultancous with the announcement of the five favorable decisions, the bu- reau announced the denial to the 325,- 000 motorists of the State of Georgia the right to take a credit for the 6 cents gasoline tax each must pay on his motor fuel, the department interpreting the gasoline law of Georgia to be a tax against the distributors of motor fuel in that State. To deny the deduction amounts to double taxation, in that the motorist is taxed on his taxes, the A. M. A. statement points out. “Irrespective of the undisputed fact that it is the motorist who eventually fuyn the gasoline tax, the bureau holds hat it can do no more than construe the gasoline tax laws of each State as the State Legislatures have enacted them. In those States where the pro- visions of the motor fuel act require that the tax on motor fuel is to levied against the distributor as an oc- cupational tax, the bureau in each in- stance holds the tax to be paid by the distributor or dealer and not’ by the motorist. Laws in 18 States Interpreted. “Up to the present time the Internal Revenue Bureau has interpreted the gasoline tax laws of 18 States and the District of Columbia. In addition to the five States mentioned above, the bureau has ruled that the motorists of the following States may deduct their gasoline taxes from their Federal in- come tax returns: Wisconsin, Delaware, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, New York, North Carolina and Virginia. “In the States of Ohio. Maryland, Connecticut, Colorado, Georgia and the District of Columbia the bureau holds that the motor vehicle fuel act imposes the taxes upon the gasoline distributor and thqt it is not paid by the motorist. The remedy is simple,” it is pointed out by the A. M. A. legal department. ““Mo- torists in those States could save mil- fons in double taxation by the Almme expedient of writing into the gasoline tax laws of their States a clear intent that the act imposes the tax directly on the motor car owners. This association, through its affliated clubs, is urging this change in the motor fuel laws of each State where the motorist is not now being permitted to deduct his gaso- line tax payments.” Much Copper Used for Autos. The automotive industry uses about 14.6 per cent of all the copper produced in the United States, according to the District of Columbia Division of the American Automobile Association. *Bridge to Serve 9,000,000. DETROIT (#)—The new ambassador bridge between Detroit and Windsor will serve more than 9,000,000 persons next year, it is estimated by the American | Automobile Association. s atmone ‘The average life of a car is six and three-fourths »years, accordi to the American At obile Association. BEAUTY SACRIFICED 10 TRAFFIG NEEDS American Cities Declared to Be Despoiling Trees Unnecessarily. American cities are sacrificing their natural beauty in efforts to provide re- lief for increased traffic, according to Charles H. Cheney, chairman of the committee on city and regional plan- ning of the American Institute of Architects. In many municipalities, Mr. Cheney declared, great avenues of trees are be- ing cut down to adapt streets laid out for a horse-drawn era to the needs of the motorist. These trees, he said, were “the only saving grace to cover up the 90 per cent of bad design and poor architecture with which our towns are 80 carelessly filled. “Everywhere the increased use of the automobile, demand for traffic relief, as well as for airports, parks and new and enlarged business centers are requiring enormous changes, particularly in the widening of streets laid out for a horse- drawn era,” Mr. Cheney continued. “The smaller cities of the country, even the small towns, need major street | plans and other comprehensive plans as badly as the big metropolitan areas. Trees Dispoiled Needlessly. “These plans are everywhere causing the cutting down of great avenues of trees for street widenings and exten- sions. In many cases these tree cut- tings are needless and avoidable. Our cities are becoming yearly uglier and more forbidding as they are gradually being denuded of the fine old trees and shelters of greenery that hid their tawdry appearance. “California now has a law authorizing replanting of trees in the same pro- ceeding that undertakes the widening and improving of highways, and the next few years must see much greater attention on the part of the public and city planners in this respect or our generation will long be known as the despoiling age.” Mr. Cheney said that major traffic street plans are reported completed in 144 cities, according to the civic develop- ment department of the Department of Commerce. Sixty-four more cities, he added, have started trafic planning operations. Major Street Plans Needed. Among the cities where major traffic plans are being carried out, it is stated, are St. Louis, Detroit, Los Angeles and Chicago. In each of these cities - propriations for important new sections were made during 1929. Los Angeles | has nearly $100,000,000 of proceedings completed or under way on the major street plan adopted in 1924, which will finally total more than $200,000,00. In Boston a comprehensive plan has been completed by Robert Whitten, city planner, and will shortly be made public. “The difficulty with major street plans,” Mr. Cheney explained, “is to establish future street lines so that new | structures will not go up in the path of necessary openings and widenings. The splendid New York State law pro- hibits buildings where the official major | street plan has been adopted by the | city council. Schenectady has set the pace for the country by adoption of its complete plan. Several other States, including California. now provide meth- ods for such adoption. St. Louis Leads. “St. Louls continues to develop the most consistent and thorough city plan- ning work of the country under the di- rection of Harland Bartholomew, city planner, and E. J. Russell, chairman of the commission, who have so faithfully carried on the work since its inception in 1916. The fundamental factors of this success in planning are thoroughly complete and well prepared technical plans, widespread public understanding and support and sympathetic official co-operation in the execution of plans.” At Radburn, N. J., according to Mr. | Cheney. the planners of the town have built what they call “The New Town for the Motor Age.” Not satisfled with merely wide streets, the town planners have turned their little city “inside out” with each house facing & restful garden or park. “The houses are all arranged for traffic safety in groups around cul-de- sac_streets,” Mr. Cheney said, “with parks in the centers of the large blocks and sidewalks along the edge of the parks, so that children and pedestrians do not have to walk along the traffic street to school and the business dis- trict. Here several hundred homes have already been completed in good architecture, harmonious in arrange- ment and grouping, and fulfilling the claim of the town of being ‘a city inside out’ with each house facing a restful garden or park.” The group of architects and town planners who collaborated in the achievement of the Radburn plan were Clarence 8. Etein, HmZew".hL Pred- erick L, Ackerman, Andrew J. Thomas, Thomas Adams, Robert D. Kohn and Raymond Unwin. g lever from second to third or high speed | {into second speed. position. Again engage the clutch grad- ually and press the foot on the gas. ‘The automobile is now in & going situation. To back an automobile, disengage the clutch, change the gear shift lever in reverse position, engage the clutch and step on the gas slightly. Be sure that instructions are received, before doing this, as to what positions to shift the gear lever into for accomplishing dif- ferent purposes. When planning to back an automobile up, it is necessary that the process start when the car is standing still, and never should this be undertaken when the car is going for- ward. On the other hand, when an au- tomobile is moving backward the car must be brought to a full stop before shifting into a going-forward speed. Failure strictly to observe this rule may bring undue strain on the transmission gear teeth. The next matter for the new driver to learn has to do with the control of the automobile’s speed. Most operators prefer to use the foot pedal to control the speed of a motor car. After some practice the driver will find his foot adjusting itself almost automatically to different speeds as they are desired. 1t is important to learn to make changes in speed gradually. From a_standpoint of economy, it is preferable to have constant application of power rather than intermittent pressure on the ac- celerator pedal. Such practice is not only wasteful of fuel, but it places a greater strain on both the engine and the running gear than is desirable or necessary. ‘The average new driver has very little difficulty in_traveling on a compara- tively level highway. The situation is somewhat different when it comes to climbing hills. On approaching a_ hill it is desirable to gain some momentum, 50 as to assist in overcoming the grade. Such practice will even up the power required of the engine. Whenever climbing & hill or going through bad country roads where there is heavy mud or deep sand the driver should shift from high speed back into second if the fx’)‘\’x l_slowz! down below 8 or 10 miles per Stopping Requires Practice. Stopping a car at a certain point re- quires a little practice. When one wishes to stop an automobile at a defi- nite point he should prepare some dis- tance before reaching his objective. by closing the throttle and removing his foot from the accelerator pedal. This will allow the engine to act as a par- tial brake. When close to the stop- ping point desired, throw out the clutch and apply the foot brake gradually. When the car has been brought to a standstill, set the emergency brake, shift the gear into neutral position, then remove foot from the clutch pedal. When it comes to driving down a long hill, the engine may be used as a brake by simply closing the throttle and removing the foot from the accelerator pedal. This will do for the hills of slight incline. 1If the hill is particularly steep, it 1s better to reduce the speed of the car at the top of the incline and shift In this way about double the braking effectiveness is se- cured. A practice indulged in by many is to use the engine for braking pur- poses with thé ignition turned off. lis is poor business. Whenever the engine is turning over, gasoline is being drawn into the combusion chamber. Unless this gasoline is ignited, it will find its way past the pistons into the ofl sup- ply and the result will be crank cass lilution. How to start an automobile on a hill is a problem sometimes faced by new drivers, as these machines, being oper- ated by people not yet thoroughly miliar with them, are likely to stall at most_inopportune times. With an au- tomobile ‘standing on a hill with the parking brake set and the gear shift lever in neutral position, one of two methods can be pursued in starting the car. The first method is to shift into first speed position, give the en,lne plenty of gas by means of the foot pedal, gradually release the parking or emergency brake, while at the same time allowing clutch -to engage slowly. Another method is to hold the car with the foot brake, releasing the parking brake, shift into first speed, ac- celerate the engine with the hand throttle control on the dash or wherever it is located and gradually release the pressure on both the clutch and the brake pedal. TWO OUT OF EVERY NINE IN U. S. OWN CAR Net Increase in Registrations Dur- ing Past Year Placed at 1,358,000. ‘The per capita ownership of mobiles in the United States at outset of the present year was approxi- mately 1 to every 4.5 persons. ‘The net increase in automobile regis- trations during the past 12 months was 1,358,000 vehicles. During the same period a total of 38,594 miles was add- ed to the network of Federal and State highway systems. These figures are among the high lights of a survey made by the Ameri- can Motorists’ Association, showing the trend of motordom in the United States during the past 12 months. Comparing the number of cars in use to the number of miles of available highways, the survey shows that there are approximately eight automobiles for each mile of road in the United States, compared with 7.8 automobiles for each mile of highway as of January a year ago. Motor vehicle fatalities, according to the best estimates. last year approxi- mated 27,000 deaths. Of the total killed by automobiles, approximately 9.000 deaths occurred in the 78 largest cities of the country. Reduced to a ratio, the motor vehi- cle death rate the past year was 25.9 per 100,000 population, as compared with 22.5 per 100,000 in 1928, or an increase of 15 per cent during 1929, the A. M. A. survey shows. During the past 12 months 20 States have passed laws providing for higher gasoline taxes. Massachusetts, on Jan- uary 1, 1929, and New York, on May 1, were the last two States to enact gaso- line tax laws. In Illinois, on August 1, a new gasoline tax law became effec- tive, the former law being held un- constitutional in 1927. Motorists paid an average gasoline tax of $17 per mo- tor vehicle. “Standardization of traffic codes and signals, city by-passes for through mo- tor vehicle traffic, gradual elimination of rallway grade crossings and more highways are the outstanding problems of the future which confronts motor- dom,” declares Thomas J. Keefe, gen- 3:1 manager of the motoring associa- n. I AUTOMOTIVE BRIEFS i Leslie Pate of the Barry-Pate Motor Co. announces the formal opei of the recently remodeled used car show room located at 2525 Sherman avenue. It is announced today that the Mid- City Sales Co. of Baltimore, distributors for Willys-Knight and Whippet auto- mobiles in four States, have ap- pointed distributors for these cars in ‘Washingto: rooms and headquarters maintained at 1711 Fourteenth street auto- the Btiter Senivel matagre 06t Vuth: manaj Toaton branch. o O e e F