Evening Star Newspaper, February 2, 1930, Page 61

In the Motor World BY G. ADAMS HOWARD. automotive history the an- nual automobile show this year will be held over for two more days. Interest in the exhibit itself and the inclement weather, which has kept many away, are the reasons advanced by Rudolph Jose, director of the show, for continuing the show to- _day and tomorrow. The show will reopen this aft- ernoon at 2 o'clock and remain open until 10:30 tonight. Tomor- row the Auditorium will be open from 10 a.m. until the final cur- tain at 10:30 p.m. The entire committee, headed by the veteran Rudolph Jose, is to be congratulated for the exhibit, portrayed in true Washington style. Every comfort for the visitor was arranged, and all decorations were made most pleasing to the eye. Many who were in attendance at the New York show stated that the artis- tic bacl und of the cars, far sul here what was pre- pared in the great Metropolis. Records Believed Broken. Attendance figures are not yet complete, but it is assured now that records of previous years have been broken, and deservedly so because of the nature of the ex- hibit. Unquestionably the show this year excelled any exhibit in the auditorium or in the days of the old Convention Hall. While the show is almost over for this year, the interest in the automobile will in no way dimin- ish. The product of engineering is too important in the lives of every one. New models will continue to be brought forth from time to time with new improvements and new prices. Those who can not af- ford a new car at the present time, will be able to do so later on. Parking space will be more hard to find, but they can not be much more 50 than now. One automo- bilist gives the definition of a parking space as “a space already occupied by a car.” Parking Difficulties. Speaking of parking spaces a new idea was brought out the other day. A motorist finding the curbings lined as usual by parked cars, saw a vacant spot on a lot bordering an alley. Driving up the alley he turned into the lot and left his car. Nothing was blocked, no sign disregarded, so he felt quite elated over his seem- ingly good fortune until he came back to his car. There a ticket was attached to his windshield wiper. Wondering as to what it could be about he glanced through the list of possible violations on the back. Not one was checked, " but at the bottom was written, “parked more than six inches from the curb.” Now this was perfectly true, but would it not be equaily true if his car had been parked in his garage. Perusing the pages of traffic ordinances later, he found that parking meant on a street, highway or roadway. That defi- nition allowed him to escape ar- rest 365 days a year for using a garage. That in itself was a re- lief for fines there would eventu- ally prove costly, and might cause all garages to be abandoned. Last week a wish was expressed for relief from picayune arrests during the year 1930. Making up a_ violation that does not exist when the policeman does not find the suitable one listed on his ticket is not in answer to this wish. Many motorists while waiting at the head of a long line of traf- fic that has been temporarily halted by a traffic policeman, have mistaken a signal to go. Especially at some intersections beckonings may be taken by drivers at more than one angle. ‘The result generally is that the motorist is yelled at and treated as if he were turning in a false fire alarm. Operation of the new lights for traffic crossing Connecticut ave- nue was delayed by bad weather, but are now scheduled to be on. FOB the first time in local The automobile show will be open this afternoon and all day tomorrow, according to an announcement by Rudolph Jose, director of the show. The hours will be from 2 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. today, and from 10 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. tomor- row. It is the opinion of the traffic di- rector that it is better to await good weather before turning on new lights as the necessary con- | fusion at first is not to be cou- | pled with icy streets to advantage. The following trade paper brings up some good points: Junk Car Menace. “Some years ago The Automo- tive Daily News carried on a cam- paign to get motor vehicles me- chanically and structurally un- safe off the public highways. We received considerable support from the trade in the movement al the campaign undoubtedly caused the destruction of a good many ancient “crocks” which had no business running about the public thoroughfares. “However, important as the subject was at that time, its sig- nificance was nothing as com- pared with its present -critical character. The passing years lift us into periods when the produc- tion records of six or seven years back were running far higher than in the years before. Every year now three or four million motor vehicles built six or seven years ago become ready for the scrap heap. These ancient crocks no longer are safe to be permitted to use the public roads. They en- danger the lives of other users as well as those of their operators. It is perfectly evident that some- thing must be done on a large scale to get these old relics on the junk pile. “Such old vehicles still have a remnant of transportation left in them and for that reason have a certain market value. This value runs under the $100 mark. Itis a favorite trick of sharp buyers to acquire one of these things and turn it in to a dealer in exchange for a new purchase. Under re- cent conditions dealers had to take these battered ancients in trade and allow more money on them than they were worth. To get back some of this, the mer- chant has had to put these dan- gerous vehicles into circulation. “To ask a hard-pressed dealer to bear the entire cost of scrap- ping these obsolete cars is a little too much. Certain manufactur- ers now allow a sum of money on each car over a set age limit, which is sent to the junk heap. The engine is smashed beyond re- pair and the vehicle is perma- nently removed from the high- ways. “While the extinction of the loss of value, so to speak, in these old crocks involves a certain amount of loss, it is not net loss, because every wornout car scrap- ped opens the way for the sale of a better unit. The man who would like to buy a $100 car, if he finds he cannot get one, will muster up enough money to get a $150 or a $200 vehicle.” To this end Fred Haller, local dealer, has gone far. To prevent scraps from being bought up at a song and traded in on a new car purchase, he has had mem- bers of the Washington Automo- tive Trade Association, of which he is a prominent member, to go around to the various auction sales and stamp a little star over the serial number of the machine. Later such a car readily can be identified. The streets of today are no places for junk that barely can move for a short duration. What has become of the junk yard idea that is in vogue in other cities where such antiquities can be |scrapped and a profit made out 'of some good parts? Sidewalks for Rural Roads Are Urged To Cut Pedestrian Accident Toll Most of the breaks that pedestrians have been getting in this motor :! have ~ had to do with bones, according to E. E. Dufty, highway educational writer. But when the plans of many communi- ties are carried to completion the pedes- trian will fare better. Accident records show that an all too large portion is due directly or in- directly to pedestrians walking on high- ways. thickly populated areas and in districts where children are forced to walk slong the road to school. ‘The cbvious solution to this problem is the construction of sidewalks along' paved roads. Communities such as Allegheny County, Pa., and Wayne County, Mich., have constructed rural sidewalks with a noteworthy success that points the way for the country 25 a whole. Naturally the first objection to the building of rural sidewalks is in regard to the practicability of spending funds for such construction when so many miles of fonds need paving. That, of course, is a question for the community itself to answer. Accident prevention is a moral obligation. should be protected at all costs. So far rural sidewalk building has been a Jocal affair, and if money can be made available where pedestrian protection is needed there should be no hesitancy as § to the course of action. MOTOR DON'TS DoN‘T DRIVE FAST ON SLOWER DRIVING OVER THE BAD SPOTS SAVES WEAR AND TEAR ON THE CAR - MAKE UP THE TIME ON THE GOOD STRETCHES . —— . This is particularly true in| Certainly children | Unfortunately most State highway departments are not authorized to build | rural sidewalks, so the burden falls | squarely on the shoulders of the local | community. Time may, of course, | change that, particularly if the demand | for pedestrian ways is strong enough. | Wholesale construction of this foot - | senger facility is npt urged, but wg:fit | the need exists they should be built, The community should not wait for accident figures to prove the need. Unsung Hero. From the Wheel. A complicated traffic tangle was caused recently by a lady motorist who sig- naled that she was about to furn to the right and did so. | | AUTOMOTIVE BRIEFS Mott Motors, Inc., announces that A. R. “Bob” Greenlaw, formerly service manager of Sterrett & Fleming, Inc., | for many years, is now associated with |it in a sales capacity. Ed Neumeyer, president of Neumeyer Motor Co., has announced the appoint- ment of Jjames H. Nolan to his sales force. He was formerly associated with | the Hough Motor Co. and was general manager of Norwood Bros., Inc. THE SUNDAY STAR, WASHINGTON. D. O 2 FEBRUARY DOWN THE ROAD—A Shipwrecked Sailor Arrives Home. TRAFFGPROBLENS SILVEDBY OURTS Four Recent Decisions Bear on Rights of Auto Drivers and Pedestrians. Four court decisions of general inter- est to motorists in Washington were rendered during January, wm;f 3 the legal department of the American Motorists’ Association. Three decisions, in effect, support the motorist’s contention that he is not always in the wrong, while the fourth emphasizes the previous position of practically all courts that the rights of & pedestrian at a cross are para- mount, the A. M. A. resume points out. Of the three decisions upholding the rights of motorists, the most important, it is pointed out by the A. M. A, is that of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, holding that while pedestrians may not be guilty of negligence, as a matter of law, in crossing a street between s lar crossings, nevertheless a pedestrian under such circumstances must be charged with a high duty of care to observe approaching traffic on the street. The court followed an earlier Pennsyl- vania decision holding that “where one attempts to cross the street, between crossings, when vehicles are rapidly ap- ‘hing close by, and injury results, must be charged with such careless- ness as to prevent a recovery. The higher court reversed a lower court’s decision and instructed a verdict for the motorist. Motorists’ Rights at Crossing. ‘The second decision, rendered by the United States Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, is to the effect that a motorist has a right to rely on the silence of a warning gong at a railway crossing, and drives upon the track, after having stopped, looked and listened, and is then struck by a train. Failure of the gong to ring was sufficient assurance of safety to the motorist, the court de- clared in reversing the decision, ‘The lower court, in finding for the railway, had followed the so-called Goodman (Ohio) case in the United States Supreme Court, which in effect places the entire burden of safely cross- ing a rallroad track on the motorist, “even,” said the Supreme Court, “to the extent, if necessary, if getting out of his automobile and walking onto the track to see if a train is approach- ing, if he cannot see otherwise.” The Fifth Circuit Court, however, declared the facts different because in the Good- man case there was no gong or warning of any kind, while in the case before it, the court pointed out, there was & warning gong, but it was out of nrlr. thus in effect shifting the responsibility, under such circumstances, from the motorist to the railroad. Involves Woman Auto Driver. ‘The third decision involved a motor- ist, his mother-in-law and an accident, the Wisconsin Supreme Court holding that a wife's entertainment of a mother- in-law is not the business of a husband. The husband’s automobile was being driven by the wife, who was showing her mother the sights around Madi- son, Wis. They smashed into the plain tiff's automobile, whereupon the hus: band was sued, the court ruling, how- ever, that “it cannot be said that upon the trip the wife was prosecuting the husband’s : ‘The Wisconsin decision, it is pointed out by the A, M. A., is in opposition to the District of Columbia so-called family-car doctrine, established in the Stephens case, hold- ing in effect that the head of a house, furnishing his family with an automo- bile, is liable for damage done by his machine when driven by a member of his immediate family. In the case of Newman vs. Protection Motor Co., the Pennsylvania State Su- preme Cotrt holds that a pedestrian is entitled to rely on traffic signals at crossings and that the pedestrian s not bound to anticipate that motorists are going to disregard traffic signals and run him down. “Care at street crossings is the highest duty of motor- ists,” the court declared. OPEN 7 AM. HZmImMAZCOoZ2Z> ANNOUNCEMENT! we are now doing business in our newly en- larged quarters and are inaugurating a new service. Including Sundays and Holidays CENTRAL AUTO WORKS to MIDNIGHT HZMIMAZCO0Z2Z> 443-451 Eye St. NW. ANriOUNCEMENT 1930—PART FOUR. -BY FRANK BECK | |of American export trade for the first | nine months of 1929, followed in order Small Automobiles May Take Place Of Roller Skates and Tamdem Bicycles And still they come. If present inventions keep up the small auto- mobile may take the place of roller skates and bicycles built for two. Many suggestions have been offered in efforts to solve the f"“"' problems of great cities, but it remained for Berlin to garage the car in the kitchen, along with the family cat and other domestic arrangements. Of course, the auto is quite a bit under the regulation size, but it will carry two passengers and has plenty of speed and power. (2R} ‘The main features of this newly cre- ated machine, still the property of the inventor, is that it can be taken apart, like a Chinese puzzle or a jointed fish- ing pole. The parts, including the motor, are extremely light. The body is constructed of canvas and may serve as a knapsack when not in duty as a carrier, if one so desires. ‘When the occupants of this machine draw up in front of the house they get out, stretch a bit, then prepare for the garaging process. First, the body is detached and folded into a neat, thin bundle, then the chassis is dismounted. Each piece that makes up the frame is numbered and fitted. Steering wheel and post, wheels, motor and body rods each are separate units. The vehicle, which is a three-wheel affair, can be assembled in a few min- utes. Of course, it has no top, and the cloth body somewhat resembles a canoe. The inventor is Engelbert Zaschka of Berlin, who glides merrily about the streets of the German city in his unique conveyance. st Delaware, with only 208 miles of road, has less mileage of highways than any other State, according to the District of Columbia division of the American Automobile Association. CHRYSLER K AUTOS LEAD U. §S. 5 EXPORT TRADE FOR FIRST NINE MONTHS OF YEAR Five Main Commodities Account for More Than Third of Foreign Commerce During Period. ‘The automobile continued at the head per cent below that for the first nine | by unmanufactured cotton, gasoline, re- | | fined copper nd agricultural machin- |ery and implements, as shown in a re- | port, “Our World Trade,” just made | public by the foreign commerce depart- | the United States. | “'These five leading export commodi- | ties, the “Big Five,” accounted for more than one-third of all exports, which |ed to $3,844,000,000, or slightly more than 8 per cent greater than for the | same period a year ago. | “This present analysis of our nine | months’ foreign commerce,” says the | chamber, “comes at a time when the !minds of business men are centered |upon the stabilization and promotion of America’s industry and trade. “For years export trade has been the key to business stability in many indus- tries. It has provided a permanent out- let abroad for American production during good times and dull. When do- mestic trade has been in recession it |has often kept in motion what would ;uzherw‘u have been an idle plant. It has taken up seasonal slack. Many Lines Progressing. “At this moment in our national eco- |nomic history,” says the chamber’s re- | view. “it is heartening to find so many export lines making rapid progress in | overseas markets and to note that ex- port trade as a whole during the first |nine months is well above both 1928 |trade and the average of the trade of | the Iast five years. | “As in all recent quarters, the pre- | dominant feature of our export trade in the first three quarters of 1929 was the increased sales abroad of American manufactured products. Finished man- ufactured products, now comprising more than half of our exports, showed a gain over the record figures of 1928 of nearly 18 per cent, Semi-finished manufactures increased nearly 4 per cent and manufactured foodstuffs were nearly 9 per cent larger than a year ago. Heavy shipments abroad of auto- motive products, machinery, steel man- ufactures, copper, refined petroleum, chemicals, lumber, cotton manufactures, flour, canned fruits. and meat and meat products all contributed to these gains. “Exports of automobiles, parts and accessories amounted to $455,383,000, or 22.1 per cent larger than for the corresponding period of 1928 and 73.5 per cent greater than the average value for the same period of the five years from 1924 to 1928. During the first nine months of 1929 we exported 202,- 000 passenger cars and 162,451 motor trucks and busses. “Exports of unmanufactured cotton, slightly lower in price, amounted to $444,501,000, a decline in value of 14.9 MOTOR ment of the Chamber of Commerce of | during the nine months’ period amount- | months of 1928 and 16.7 per cent lower than the five-year average. The quan- tity exported was 2,273,532,000 pounds, 12.1 per cent below that last year and 110.2 per cent lower than the five-year erage shipments. “Shipments abroad of gasoline for the first nine months of this year to- | tal:d $197701,000, or 14.3 per cent Jarger than a vear ago. The quantity exported amounted to 44,133,000 barrels, or 11.7 per cent greater than last year. “The foreign demand for refined cop- | per. with an average increase in price | of 4 cents a pound, declined sharply in | quantity. The total value of our ex- ports of refined copper was $117,044,000, 10.8 per cent larger than in 1928. The quantity, amounting to 649,502,000 pounds, was 11 per cent below the ex- ports for the first nine months of 1928. “‘Although the exports of agricultural machinery and implements showed some slowing up, yet a substantial increase was registered in the total value of this group for the first three-quarters of 1929. Their total value, $109,721,000, was 216 per cent above the 1928 record. “Electrical machinery and apparatus exports amounted to $86,211,000, 33.3 | per cent larger than a year ago. Tobacco Demand Off Slightly. “The foreign demand for leaf tobacco declined slightly, the total value of our exports amounting to $84,747,000, 2.8 | per cent below last year's figure. The quantity exported, 340,873,000 pounds, was one-half of 1 per cent lower than a year ago. “With a brisk demand for wheat at | lower prices from Canada, United Kingdom, Belgium, Greece and Panama, exports of that commodity, totaling $78,604,000 for the three-quarters of 1929, incressed 7.5 per cent above last | year's value, but were 35.1 per cent | below the average export value of the | 1924-1928 period. 'The quantity shipped | abroad, 64,236.000 bushels, was 14.6 per cent greater than a year ago, although 22.3 per cent below the five-year aver- | age quantity exported. “Exports of boards, planks and scant- lings, even at higher average prices, were larger than a year ago. ‘The total value 'of this group was $70,401,000, 7.2 per cent greater than last year. The quantity exported, 1,834,280,000 feet, was 4.5 per cent greater than a year ago. Our Douglas fir went to the Far East—to China, Hongkong, Japan and Australia. Southern pine was taken chiefly by Argentina, Canada, the United Kingdom, Spain, the Nether- lands and Germany. Our oak found markets in the United Kingdom and Canada. “Other striking increases in our ex- ports for the first nine months of 1920 over 1928 included cotton cloth, duck and tire fabric, 18.1 per cent in quantity (Continued on Sixth Page.) s PRODUCT ' It may be stated without qualifi . cation that the new Chrysler-built De Soto Straight Eight is easily the greatest achievement in basic, inbuilt, overwhelming value ever to appear in the eight-cylinder car field. Priced under $1000, this new Straight Eight fulfills an ideal to which Chrysler Motors engineers have given three years of unremitting effort. It carries into the eight-cylinder field every Chrysler tradition of quality, beauty, comfort, safety, economy and performance. It is destined for a @ecyob success as sensational as that of its predecessor and companion car — the now famous De Soto Six, which during its first twelve months, outsold any other first-year motor car ever produced. THE NEW DE SOTO STRAIGHT EIGHT IS NOW ON DISPLAY AT OUR SHOWROOMS DISTRICT MOTOR COMPANY 1337 14th St. N.W. RONEY MOTOR CO. Frederick, Md. ) New Car Sales Potomac 1000 L. W. WHITE Norbeck, Md. (INCORPORATED) W. E. MONCURE Quantico, Va. Used Car Sales Potomac 1000 g 1324 14th St. N.W., MORELAND MOTOR CO. . Waldorf, Md. .