Evening Star Newspaper, February 16, 1930, Page 60

COASTAL HIGHWAY PAVED 2,400 MILES {Thoroughfare Links Calais, Me., to Southernmost American City. BY HAMILTON M. WRIGHT. ‘The most marvelous coastal route in 4he world, the great Atlantic Coastal Highway, is now open for all its 2,400 mi between Calais, Me, and Key ‘West, Fla., as an all-paved thoroughfare along the Atlantic seaboard. This prodigious accomplishment has been made possible by more than eight years of consistent effort upon the part of hundreds of widely separated com- munities and the expenditure of mil- lions of dollars. It is expected to develop new travel to the South in Winter and to the North in Summer. It not only spans the ocean between the Florida mainland and Key West, a distance of 141 miles over rushing tides | and palm-clad coral keys. but will be extended by auto ferries between Key West and Havana to join up with the Cuban Central Highway. This connec- tion will give the Atlantic Coastal High- ‘way a total length of 3,100 miles. It 18 doubtful if any highway in the ‘world has ever aroused such tremendous enthusiasm in the cities through which it passes. The picturesque city of Key ‘West, America's southernmost city and the Gibralter of America, spent $3.500,- 000 through bonds issued by Monroe County. of which the city is the capital, to bring the highway there. Miami, the Magic City of Florida, spent $8,000,000 on Biscayne Boulevard clearing away 33 blocks of stores and buildings to give a fine entrance for the Atlantic Coastal Highway to Miami, along the bay in front of the city. Wilmington, N. C.. a few months ago opened its great double bridges across two branches of the Cape Fear River, costing $1.250,000 to open the route of the Atlantic Coastal High- ‘way. The historical old city of Norfolk, combined with Portmouth and South Norfolk. a community of nearly 300,000, hes spent over $10.000,000 on new bridges and ferry systems for an open sescme for the Atlantic Coastal High- way. The highway now leads into the Norfolk-Portemouth area by fine bridges and connecting asphalt roads. Maps Distributed. Maps by tens of thousands are dis- tributed to popularize the new route. New accommodations for motorists have up all along the way. It is now s t Toute between the North and South along the Atlantic Coast. T et i e o opre: an e influe l“m ) ¢ nce of the ving Calais, Me., the Atlantic Coastal Highway follows the rock-bound New England coast along U. S. Route No. 1. Here are many views of the Ocean, bays and fishing industries, pine- <clad heights and old Maine homes with houses and built together. On it oes through Portland, past the old d of the Pilgrims at Plymouth Rock, Boston, Providence, and a score of other cities being here identified with the old Boston Post Road, to New York, swings inland a little via the Lincoln Hlfihwly to Philadelphia, and on to Baltimore and Washington with all their myriad points of historie, mili- tary and naval interest. From Washington across the Potomac 2nd near the base of the George Wash- ington National Masonic Memorial at Alexandria, on it goes, 3;?:2:%3 througtlz l%le m;ine forests of s ichmond, 10 e oo m Richmond you can drive down the north side of the James g?ver through old Williamsburg, now being Testored to its Colonial aspect by John D. Rockefeller, jr., to Norfolk. Or you can drive to ‘Norfolk by the King's Highway, south of the James River. The King's Highway (U. S. No. 1, to Petersburg, and Virginia 10 the Temainder of the way) follows the route the royal post once traveled through Petersburg, past the bloody battlefleld of the Crater and Smithfield, famous for its hams and its delicious food, passing on its way Bacon’s Castle, one of the most interesting of early Colonial houses, and old St. Luke's Church, built in 1632, the oldest Protestant Church in America. Motorists using the King'’ highway enter Norfolk through Ports- mouth and either over the Norfolk- Portsmouth Bridge or the Norfolk- Portsmouth ferry. Or you can go from Richmond down the Old Cavalier trail (U. 8. 60), a fine, smooth highway, leading through the historic Virgini Peninsula, 90 miles to Newport News, Many traverse the distance in two hours. But that is too fast to see the country. The long hills, the lovely forests, the streams over which Lafay- ette, Cornwallis, McClellan and Lee and other famed leaders of our Revolution- ary and Civil Wars led their troops are too intriguing to be passed like a. flash. It traverses a region sure to interest motorists. Williamsburg, seat of Wil liam and Mary College and home of the first _ Constitutional Assembly in the American colonies. This city, filled with quaint old mansions, is awakening after a sleep of centuries to find itself again in the era of silk stocks, curled Wigs and stately courtiers, thanks to Mr. Rockefeller. Workmen are already busy Testoring the city to its original Colonial splendor. A half an hour or less from Williamsburg is Jamestown, founded in 1607, and in the i oty e opposite direction is Alternative Routes. At Newport News, famous for its huge shipbuilding plant and drydock, a_series of great bridges and a ferry offer alternative routes into Norfolk. The largest of the bridges is the James | River Bridge, a vast steel and concrete structure, one of the sights of the coun- try. and fts main span rising 50 feet above the water, and 5 miles long. It | spans the river between the Virginia | Peninsula and the mainland about a | mile from Newport News. Other bridges | necten) bvcnne Soncrete roads carry ic Coastal iHghw el ghway right into From Newport News, also, a ferry operates to Norfolk on a 45-minute | schedule, crossing Hampton Roads and giving a panorama of the ships from the seven ports of the world anchored ! there. Another ferry runs from OId Point Cemfort to Norfolk on an hourly Lt};;‘dul; storic, yet modern, Norfolk offers points of interest for every taste. The | huge coal plers and the magnificent harbor that make it a great world and naval base: old St. Paul's Church, with its Revolutionary cannon ball in its fvy- clad walls: the adjacent beaches with their boating, fishing and swimming, and the beautiful new Shore Drive, which links Ocean View, third largest | amusement resort in the country, with | the vast sand dunes and picturesque | lighthouses of Cape Henry, and the so- | cial gavety of Virginia Beach offer a wide choice to the visitor From Norfolk you go south by U. § Toute 17, skirting the famous Dismal Swamp, which George Washington sur- veyed, and lovely Lake Drummond, with its beautiful bottle cypress trees grow- ing right out of the water. Near Elizabeth City and on through Edenton, the first capital of North Ca 2lina, you cross probably a dozen differ- ent arms of Albemarle Sound. At Edenton the new Chowan Bridge spans the Chowan River, one and a half milcs in length. At Washinston, N. C., which the oldest residents claim as the origi- nal Washington and chould be the Cap- ital of the Nation, and at New Bern. where you cross an arm of the Neuse River, you are right in contact with the beauties of the tidewater region. You follew south to Wilm ngton. From Wilmington you continue on Federal Highway No. 17 inland by way of Flor- ence to Charleston. From Charleston you go south on the { Coastal Highway to Savannah, Bruns- wick and Jacksonville, gateway to Flor- broad paved| demand. THE SUNDAY STAR, WASHINGTON, D. , AMERICAN HISTORY BY MOTOR— TFrom Ages Past Around Tucson ] Utah | Col. is one sign U mototist wil tead. Tt is a"Pictu day cannot fathom. © American Fighuay Edcations] Bress, Washington BUYING PORTENDS AUTOMOBILE SALE Business Peak and Money Conditions to Favor Dealer in 1930. ‘The Nation's 1930 business activity will aid the automobile dealer by pur- suing very much the same path which car sales are expected to follow, accord- ing to B. H. Cram, president of Cram's Automotive Reports, Inc. While an analysis of the current national business situation offers little from which the dealer can obtain en- couragement, the prospect for the future trend indicates that by the time automobile buying and production at- tain their peak conditions will have reached a he ght sufficient to act as & favorable influence. forming of this prospect takes into consideration the principal busi- ness factors which affect the trend of automobile buying, analyzes their pres- ent status and determines as far as possible what will be their reaction to various influences which may be en- countered during the year. It is con- ceded that the trend of automobile production and consumption in 1930 may be outlined fairly accurately. An understanding of the business condi- tions which will exist during their peak period, therefore, may be arrived at. Division of Domestic Market. Obviously, for this purpose the do- mestic market for automobiles may be divided into two main sections—the industral demand and the agricultural . As regards industrial de- mand, there is to be considered the immediate fleld and outlook for the products manufactured, whiie the agri- cultural market also is subject to the fluctuations of its various activities. Considering the trend of the indus- trial market, the automobile dealer probably will find less to aid him than he will in the buying by the agricul- tural field—that is, the market will not attain the levels which it reached in 1929. At present steel output, auto- mobile production and freight car load- ing have an upward trend, but this movement is very gradual when com- pared with the same period last year. Determining the prospect for the agricultural market is more difficult, depending, as it does, upon the de- velopment of conditions which are more or less problematical. Current 's | agricultural conditions are spotty, the result principally of seasonal influences. Citrus crops in the extreme South and others which are flourishing at this season have been satisfactory. Pros- pects for 1930 are at least average, but no unusual expansion of trade can be expected. Operations in 1929 were not as extensive as in the previous year, but the current year's production should be close to the 1929 volume. In 1929 farm products gained some by their own strength, but more by the increase of the purchasing power of farm products over other products. Also the tendency of production costs has been downward, induced by the more general use of improved ma- chinery. On the whole, a better re- lationship between agriculture and in- dustries is being achieved by uatural adjustments. Business Trend Favorable. For the past three months, taking the country as a whole, money has been slightly stringent. In a few sec- others have maintained about normal conditions. The current trend is toward greater easiness in the majority of sections, however, and by the time automobile buying attains its peak there should be adequate funds avail- able to stimulate purchases. * ‘With the general business recovery be seen, therefore, how the princip: factors affecting automobile buying w; be most favorable at the time mo: desired by the dealers, Industrial and agticultural activity will be close to their year's peak in June and July, expected to be of greatest volume. To this extent, then, business will help the dealer in 193 ida, where paved roads branch awa; all directions: Some go to the flourish- ing citles of the west coast, others to the orange groves of the midland sec- tion and still others down the east coast of Florida. One Day's Drive. From Jacksonville you can drive the 366 miles to Miami in a day over a broad, level, paved highway, with re- markably few intersections outside of the towns. Seven miles before reaching Miami turn to the left and come down in front of the city and along the bay by Biscayne Boulevard. Those who wish to keep as close to the sea as possible can turn at St. Au- gustine, 41 miles south of Jacksonville, across the Matanzas Bridge, and follow the Ocean Boulevard past St. Augustine Beach and Ormond-Daytona Beach, famed speed course, into Daytona and thence south past West Palm Beach. You can even drive on the famous rac- ing beach for 27 miles. The boulevard i3 somewhat shorter than the Staie Highway No. 4 leading south from St. Augustine, which is also a splendid road. From Miami you can go across the Florida keys and ocean passes to Key West, a spectacular 176-mile journey, including an automobile ride of 40 miles. I have seen leaping tarpon right from the bridges of this road Within a year or two it will bs pos- sible to continue the journey on into Cuba and all the way to Santiago, 50 miles from Havana. In fact, you can make the journey now. Automobiles can be taken on the steamers betwe:n Key West and Havana for $30 round trip, and there is no duty on tourist cars into Cuba. The Great Cuban Cen- tral Highway, 700 miles long, is now open for 70 per cent of its length and will be open for 450 miles by next Summer. tions it has been severely so, while | almost certain to be gradual, it may | s the period when automobile sales are | |London Motorists | Employ Hot Air To Eliminate Fog Hot air sprayed in front of an automobile by an attachment on the | eghgtuin 01:1 lh]e car has been tgund | effective clearing away London's | fog. the American Automobile As- | sociation reports. The rising current of heated air | created by the device, a recent inven- tion, literally lifts the f ibout 10 feet before the front wi , and does it quickly enough to permit a | forward speed of about 15 miles an | hour in the densest fog. ‘The fog lifter can be attached to | any car’s exhaust, and is much more simple than the average windshield | wiper. It has been tried out in | London and is being adopted by mo- torists there. CROSSING MENACE REMOVAL IS URGED | Increase in Numbers Brings Appeal From Motorists’ Body for Abolition. ‘There is an average of unprotect- ed grade crossing to every 14 miles of highway of all types in the United States, and despite the advances in other | fields of safety, the number is being in- | creased at the rate of more than 1,000 a year. This statement was issued by the safety department of the American Au- tomobile Association in the form of an appeal to road-building agencies to give added consideration to the grade cross- ing evil and its threat to life and prop- erty, in locating new highways as well as changing existing routes. 51,046 Accidents in Year. ‘The national mull)flnf body bases its statement on a total of 210,874 unpro- tected grade crossings and approximately 3,000,000 miles of highways of all types throughout the countr; “‘During the year 1928,” it says, “there were 5,046 grade crossing accidents in- volving automobiles, with a death toll of 2,165 and 6,218 persons injured. There is hardly a day passes without newspa- per headlines telling of death and suf- fering caused by some grade crossing accident. 390 Grades Eliminated. “One of the most hopeful signs is the ings from the Federal aid system, coj prising the major interstate highwa There were a total of 390 eliminated on this system in 1928, 107 by use of an underpass in separating grades, and 283 by relocation of highways. “Nevertheless, the problem of high- ways crossing railroads is one of serious proportions. Figures just made public by the Interstate Commerce Commission reveal that there was a net increase of 11,697 grade crossings in 1928, on the | heels of a gain of 952 in 1927, and 1457 in 1926. Although a similar gain is an- ticipated for 1929, it will be several n}n?tém before complete figures are tal ulated.” BALTIMORE I;OLICEifiET | 90-MILE-AN-HOUR ‘BIKES’ Machines Are 15 to 20 Miles Faster | Than Old Ones Used by Squad. Special Distpatch to The Star. BALTIMORE, February 15.—From now on the speed squad of the Police Department will be able to chase reck- |less, drunken and hit-and-run drivers |at the rate of 90 miles per hour. It | was formerly able to pursue them at the rate of only 70 or, at the most, 75 miles r hour. However, the squad has just closed a | trade-in deal through which it got 30 newer and faster motor cycles for its old mounts. The new machines are capable of a 90-mile speed. | Capt. Hamilton R. Atkinson, in an- nouncing, that the uad had been | mounted on faster hines, said the | | cause of the speedier automobiles now being sold. speedier motor cycles are needed be- | Tire Care Important. Roads are likely to be rough in Winter and you may be tem to ride with your tires low to make the going easier, but don't forget that low wears out the tires. Use the tire gauge regularly to keep the pressure exactly right and you'll ride comfortably enough—and save rubber. WHERE TO MOTOR AND DINE “The Place to Eat MILLER BROS. 119 West Fayette St. Baltimore. Maryland Sea Food a Specialty EPENNDAW] | | On Richmond Road %ean Aerandria '] Home CéoKin | Luncheon or '~S,\;Pp.er~ 3 -8 85 _?{Ef Dinnier $128 #3150 re Rockone of mang ear Tucson, and its meaning the wise men of to- intensive drive to eliminate grade cross- | | department came to the conclusion that || pressure makes steering harder and || : H be able to tha sin f ! spirit of sacritice shown in the stfll’i:euuflfixl mifssim. Tt was the Declaration. of nc STATE AGGIDENT LHBILTY UPHELD California Supreme Court Upsets “King-Can-Do- No-Wrong” Theory. The validity of a law making a State liable for injuries received by pedestrians and motorists, when-caused by the neg- ligent operation of State owned motor vehicles, has just been sustained by the Supreme Court of the State of Cali- fornia, according to announcement of the legal department of the American Motorists’ Association. “Action of the State Supreme Court, sustaining the validity of such a law, will meet with the approval of motorists throughout the country,” declares Thomas J. Keefe, general manager of the A. M. A. “It upsets the old common law theory ‘that the King (or State) can do no wrong. “It is estimated that there are ap- proximately 300,000 automobiles oper- ated by the Federal and State govern- ments in this country. Of this total a higher percentage is in the District of Columbia than in any other city. A person injured by an automobile owned by the Federal, State, city or county governments should have the same Tight of recovery as though his injury was sustained through the negligence of a private automobile operator. An act similar in purposs to the California law should be enacted in each State,” Keefe declares. The California act, passed by the last 1 Legislature, makes the Sate and certain | designated political subdivisions respon- | sible for the negligent operation of any | motor vehicle operated by a State em- ploye. It further provides for insurance indemnifying the State in case of liability. Validity of the act was questioned primarily on the ground that it was class legislation, the objection being that it insured to the benefit of only those injured through some instrumentality of the State other than an automobile. “This objection,” the court pointed out, ““goes only to the policy of such lative department of the Government, in adopting such a policy, is not the con- cern of the court. It is enough if the statute strikes at the evil where it is felt and reaches the class of cases, such as automobile accidents, where it most frequently occurs.” 'DECREASE IS SHOWN IN CROSSING DEATHS Increase of 2 Per Cent in Number of Injuries Is Reported, However. During the first 10 months of 1920 | 1,982 persons lost their lives as a result | of accidents at h'ghway grade crossings, |a reduction of 56 compared with the {same period in 1928, according to re- ports just filed by the railroads with the Interstate Commerce Commission | and made public today. | Persons injured in such acc'dents | totaled 5,368, an increase of 100, or |2 per cent, compared with the same period last year. Accidents at highway grade crossings in the first 10 months in 1929 totaled 4,713, compared with 4,585 in the same period last year, an increase of 128, or 3 per cent. This reduction in the number of fatalities at highway grade crossings for the 10-month period in 1929, com- pared with the same period the pre- ceding year, took place in the face | of the fact there was an increase cf | 13 per cent in the number of fatalities | resulting from automobile accidents on all highways throughout the country, and the fact there was an increase of 8 per cent in the number of automo- biles in operation. This would seem to indicate that the American public | is responsive to the efforts that are being made by the railroads of this country and various automoble and safety organizations in seriously en- deavoring to reduce the number of highway grade-crossing accidents. Independence was signed at Philadelp! from a slightly "“"fi;“} position and can be seen from all parts of’ legislation. The wisdom of the legis- | C.. FEBRUARY 16, 1930—PART FOU (Title registered U. 8. Patent Office.) —BY JAMES W. BROOKS. t, San Xavier Mission will in reverent awe for d al surfounding country. Camels Take Speed Officers on Trail Of Road Violators Speed cops mounted on camels is the novel spectacle to be seen in Egypt, where nowadays tourists are taken to King Tut’s tomb by motor, say the foreign travel division of gnoe American Automobile Associa~- n. “Nowhere else in the world is the camel used as a mount for traffic of- ficers,” the statement _continues. “Most of the horses at Luxor per ished during a plague last year, which accounts for the innovation of the motor car to convey tourists to the famous tomb. The speed cops, however, have not as yet ac- quired facility with the automobile and have reverted to the anclent use of the camel.” PUBLIC DOMAIN 1S ROAD PROBLEM Cutting Through to Join U. S. Highways Presents Finance Problem to Congress. BY JAMES W. BROOKS, Directer, American Highway Educational Bureau. Another highway problem has come up to Congress for financial solution. More than one-half of all the land in the 11 Western States is public domain, and to cut through these lands and con- nect with main highways on either side is obviously a Government responsibility and not one for the States in which public lands are located. In these 11 Western States the people of the United States own 51 per cent of the land, and west of Denver publie | domain is 33 per cent of the entire area. Recognizing the fact that some provie |sion must be made to extend Federal highways across these lands, a bill has been introduced in Congress by Repre- sentative Colton of Utah which author- izes the Secretary of iculture to co- operate with the State highway depart- ments and with the Department of the Interlor in the survey, construction, re- construction and maintenance of main roads through unappropriated or unre- served public lands, non-taxable Indian lands or other Federal reservations other than the forest reservations. The meas- ure states that such sums as the Con- gress may hereafter authorize to be ex- pended under the provisions of the bill shall be apportioned among those States having more than 5 per cent of their area in public lands, and shall be pro- rated and apportioned to such States in the proportion that said lands in the States are eligible under the provisions of the act, and that no contribution from the States shall be required in the expenditure thereof. The roads so built are to be con- structed and maintained under the pro- visions of the act, and shall be of the same standard as to width and char- acter of construction as the Federal Government requires of the States un- der like conditions, provided that in the allocation of any such funds authorized to be appropriated under the bill or any subsequent act preference shall be given to those projects which are located on the Federal-aid highway system as the same are now or may hereafter be designated. Mr. Colton's measure has been unani- mously approved by the House commit- tee on roads, and its early passage is | hoped for by highway departments in the States concerned. It must be re- membered that there is no way to get an interstate system of roads across these States except by traversing these lands held by the Federal Government. When the Engine “Coughs.” If your engine “gallops,” the gas mix- ture is too rich. If the engine “coughs,” the mixture is too lean. You can fa- miliarize yourself with the sounds de- scribed by running the motor, first, with an extra rich mixture and then with an extra lean one. —_— ‘The plate glass industry would shrink two-thirds without motor car: | | orld's Largert Buildsre of (3R gy Open Today Showing the finest display of Boats ever shown in Washington See the 1930 Chris- Craft Models we are showing in our show rooms at 1344 Connec- ticut Avenue. We also have on display four used Chris-Craft that are just like new. Open every day from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. THE WASHINGTON MOTOR BOAT SALES AGENCY erection of this most a hundred Dbefore st a ww hid It t Speeding Hurts Engine. Don't drive in second gear any longer A car speed of thirty than necessary. . (Sketches by Calvin A. Fader.) desett mmmtalalnsm near about the village. miles an hour in second means that your engine is going much faster than at the same speed in high—and it wears out an engine to race it. DON’S SPEED RECORD ATTEMPT APPROVED British Driver Hopes to Set 250- " Mile Mark in Trial Next Month. The contest board of the American Automobile Association has issued an official sanction for an attempt by x:;c | Don, British racing driver, to shatter the existing automobile record of | 231.447 miles per hour, established last year at Daytona Beach, Fla, by Ma). H, D. Segrave. ‘The governing body of racing has | been advised that Don plans to sail for | Gavs. arriving 8¢ Davions Beach, about | days, at Daytona Beach al | March 1. He will make his try for the record between March 15 and 30. ‘The speed test will be run under su- pervision of the A. A. A. contest board over a measured mile on the Daytona Beach speedway. _ “Kaye Don will bring to the United States a product of the famous Sunbean plant, builders of Seagrave's Golden Ar- | Tow,” says the statement, “and is hope- | ful of atiaininy speed of 250 miles per hour. It will have 24 cylinders, with | two engines superch: to develop | 4,000 revolutions per minute, and 4,000 horsepower, While it 1s patterned after | the Golden Arrow in some respects, it has many additional features, and rep- resents the genius of English engineers in their quest for a car to shatter the existing record.” ——. There would be little business for the suburban real estate owner and dealer without cars. MARMON STRAIGHT-EIGHTS EXCLUSIVELY SINCE 1926 THE STRAIGHT-EIGHT LEADER Four years ago Marmon pioneered the straight-eight in the fields of conservative price and popular demand. The pioneer has now become the leader. Marmon concentration on the straight-eight has developed the greatest, most complete line of straight-eights in the World today—each one of them time-proved and road-perfected .—four great new cars in four price fields. MARMON-BUILT ROOSEVELT the World's first straight-eight priced under $1000 NEW MARMON EIGHT-69 challenging all competition in the $1500 field NEW MARMON EIGHT-79 a new degree of luxury for the $2000 buyer NEW MARMO Marmon'’s big N BIG EIGHT new fine car—under $3000 NEUMEYER MOTOR CO., Inc. Salesroom 1517 Conn. Ave, N.W. Phone Dec. 1762 Distributors 2021 Service Station 17th St. N.W. Phone North 4010