Evening Star Newspaper, April 27, 1930, Page 55

In the Motor World BY G. ADAMS HOWARD. WO happenings took place last week in the District of Columbia which were pleas- ing to the thinking motor- ists or, as a matter of fact, to the thinking residents of the city, for in this city there are few inhabi- tants that have not become mo- torized at one time or another. The first was the action of the Subcommittee of the House Dis- trict committee in reporting fa- vorably upon the automobile safe- ty responsibility bill. Thinking people favor this measure, whether they ride or walk, as an accident to a pedestrian is far more important than a damaged Tender or radiator. If anything, those who walk are more interest- ed in the measure than those who ride, for the injuries of a serious nature are more likely outside of " a car than within. The other happening is the or- der of the new Commissioner, Herbert B. Crosby, that members of the Metropolitan Police De- partment exercise proper courtesy when coming in contact with the public. This deals almost entirely with the police and the motorists, for few others have contact where courtesy is a problem. The new District head states that the value of courtesy will be a cardinal point in his administration. Courtesy Best Policy. It is only the minority that do not practice courtesy, but it is time that the rough, insulting and “hard-boiled” officer find out that he cannot get away with such tac- tics. Generally it is the young po- liceman, recently appointed to the force, that has his head turned by being given a little authority. A few may be “old timers” that have not learned that courtesy, like honesty, is the best policy. Cour- tesy brings about respect for law, and the world today greatly needs that trend. The order of Commis- sioner Crosby is to be commended. ‘The report of the full House District committee on the auto- mobile safety responsibility bill is expected soon. It is to be hoped that the action of the subcom- mittee will be followed. Twelve States have adopted this plan either in full or in part. The American Automobile Association, which has sponsored this measure, reports that the province of On- tario, Canada, with more than 50 per cent of the car registration in the Dominion, has just adopted this law. May the National Capi- tal be not far behind! It has been predicted that in a short time all glass used in motor cars will be of the non-shattering kind. Unquestionably, the use of lass of this kind in automobiles as done more to cut down seri- ous injuries than any other recent innovation. Glass-Inclosed Cars Gain. In recent years there has been a tremendous increase in glass- inclosed cars. It is stated that in 1919 only 103 per cent were so inclosed. In 1928 the number reached 88.5 per cent. Naturally, the more glass the greater the danger, unless it be glass that will not shatter and fly. Surveys in more than one-half of the States of the Union esti- mate that 65 per cent of the in- Juries received in motor accidents are due to broken glass. A con- servative estimate of all accidents, it is pointed out, would be that 50 per cent are caused by broken fnm or some 350,000 people hurt a way that might be easily prevented. States have many regulations requiring certain headlights, cer- tain efficiency of brakes and in- stallation of mirrors—all to pre- vent or cut down the number of accidents. Would it be unreason- able to have State laws requiring the use of safety glass compul- sory? Many motorists of Washington have yet to believe the traffic sit- uation at Dupont, Thomas and Towa (soon to become Logan) Cir- cles as satisfactory. ~Without doubt, congestion caused entirely by the light controls has in- creased. Everything happens there all at once. It has been suggested that the director of traffic allow the street cars to journey on the red and zrealLW light. The cars of the tion company make their turns now on the red light at Cal- vert street and Connecticut ave- nue. Favor Two Weeks’ Trial. ‘Those in favor of this plan be- leve that it should be tried out for two weeks. Temporary signs should be placed for the infor- mation of the motorists and re- placed with permanent signs should the plan prove successful. | ‘Then the motorists would have free way at all times on the green light. rlnn would not endanger pedes- rians at all and would allow a much freer movement of traffic. Button, button, who has the button? Those remembering this old game will soon find out that the Traffic Bureau has the but- ton—and many of them, at that. 1t is stated that 10,000 of the but- ton markers are on hand and will be put around the downtown area in the near future. It has been definitely found out that markers MOTOR DON'TS DON'T LET WITH GREASE AND DIRT ! EXCESS GREASY DIRT SURROUNDING YOUR MOTOR IS A DANGEROUS FIRE-HAZARD, IT ALSO MAKES EVEN THE SLIGHTEST ADJUSTMENT A MESSY AFFAIR.HAVE YOUR ENGINE THOROUGHLY CLEANED ‘AT LEAST TWICE A YEAR !! It is argued that such a| of this kind are the best to use for indicating safety zones and crosswalks. Paint jobs won't last and the self-vulcanizing tape is inclined to get too wavy. Button markers are of a higher initial cost, but are regarded as much more practical. Speaking of the painted lines, there have been about five strips of them laid out on Pennsylvania avenue in front of the Traffic Bu- reau. They were put there for test purposes. A story is related by Inspector E. W. Brown that old Dobbin just couldn’t make them out the other day. Hitched to an old cart, the pride of other days happened along. His spirits were low and so was his head. Notic- ing the white and yellow strips, he paused and would not proceed. Finally the driver had to get down from his seat and lead the horse around them. Evidently, it is thought, the horse mistook the lines for strips of wood over a bridge or something and feared that he would get his hoofs caught in the intervening places. However, the installation of the button markers is not on that account. March production (factory sales) of motor vehicles in the United States, as reported to the Department of Commerce, was 401,378, of which 335,789 were pas- senger cars, 64,200 trucks and 1,389 taxicabs, as compared with 324,018 passenger cars, trucks and taxicabs in February and 585455 in March, 1929. Will Observe Garden Week. April 28 to May 3 is garden week in Virginia. For the second year the owners of beautifully flowered and shrubbed estates will throw open their gates to the pub- lic. Last year, it is estimated, one- half million motorists from every State in the Union took advan- tage of this Southern hospitality. These gardens, located in every part of the State, are full of his- toric and romantic interest. A map of their location and the route to reach them will be found elsewhere in this section. The Automotive Daily News speaks its mind editorially on the hit-and-run drivers. It states: “Perhaps the meanest creature that infests the highway is the hit-and-run driver, the man who injures some one and then tries to escape the consequences of his misdeed by putting on speed and getting away. It is claimed that more than 1,000 people are killed annually in New York City by hit- and-run drivers, most of whom get away. In fact, last year there were only about 300 arrests for this misdemeanor. “One of the reasons why hit- and-run drivers get away so fre- quently is found in the disinclina- tion of the average citizen to take down a number and report an offense to the authorities. Why any citizen should hesitate to re- port a wretch guilty of so cow- ardly a crime passes understand- ing, but the fact remains that most citizens do hesitate. “In order to encourage people to report hit-and-run drivers, the New York Automobile Club has just offered a reward of $100 to any one who reports such an oc- currence. It is felt that this re- ward will obviate the feeling that most onple have that they will be tied up in court proceedings by making a report and will lose time and money. If this reward for reporting hit-and-run cases works out as the New York club hc;fiea it will, the idea probably will be taken up by other automo- bile associations.” The local A. A. A. has offered similar rewards, and only too sel- dam have they been claimed. It may be because there are fewer such drivers here. JOINS IN BANNING RECKLESS AUTOIST Maryland Club Director Indorses D. C. Action Against Motorist Who ' Had Violated Regulations. Special Dispatch to The Star. 26—H. of the Automobile Club of Maryland, is in hearty accord with efforts of Wash- ington officials to bar a motorist, whose license has been revoked from using a Virginia license in the District. “I have always felt that the threat of revocation of license is the greatest penalty which can be hung over a law- less driver’s head,” Mr. Lucius said. “When all the States adopt a uniform list of requirements for drivers’ licenses | and establish full ' reciprocity a great step forward toward safety will have been taken. “Under such an arrangement, if a | driver from one State offended suffi- | clently in another, his home State would honor the request of the State in which the offense was committed and the license would be revoked.” {MORE ADULTS VICTIMS OF AUTO ACCIDENTS First Three Months of 1930 Record Sharp Increase in Ratio | as Between Children. Special Dispatch to The Star. AND IN THOSE “GOOD OLD DAYS” APRIL 27, THEY AVERAGED TEN GATES PER MILE. -~ 5 Y (Copyright 1900 by Frank L Beck, Trode Mark. Rog. U. & Pev. OF) 1930—PART FOUR. SHORT TRIPS AROUND CAPITAL OFFER VIEW OF APPLE BLOOMS Twenty-Mile Ride to Sandy Spring and Back Via Ashton and Colesville Suggested for Tourists. BY LEE LAMAR ROBINSON. ‘The king is dead! Long live the king! The cherry blossoms in Potomac Park have come and gone for this year. Vol- umes in prose and poetry have been written of them, and justifiably. But so generous has been Mother Nature to the territory which is of and around ‘metropolitan Washington it still has in gratitying measure other floral offerings of "like character to those in Potomac Park which, in the opinion of many, exceed in beauty, as they undoubtedly do in fragrance, the blooms which fea- ture annually the transplantings around the Speedway from the Far East. ‘The apple bl locally should be at their best. Unless the cold weather should take a hand and ruthlessly de- stroy the freshness and beauty of these biooms in Montgomery County in Mary- land and in Arlington and Fairf: Counties in Virginia, a Sunday trip by motor which offers convenient travel and d: Journey taking up much less than a Y. home, is awaiting those in the National Capital who may or may not so will it. Many Washingtonians naturally have just enjoyed the apple blossom fete around Winchester, and have been re- paid for their time and trouble. This trip means two days at least by motor if fatigue and the trials of traffic con- gestiorr are not to be considered. Even then there is some of both in the journey. The one in the National Capital tour, largely through its metropolitan _territory, promises, according to horticulturists in the Department of Agriculture, oppor- tunities for feasting one's eyes on dis- plays of the extravagances of nature almost at one’s front door, equaling, if not exceeding, in exotic beauty any possible to be found in the Valley of the Shenandoah. The difference nat- urally is in the acreage and number of orchards to be found close at hand. Buds Are of Pink Tint. And, say these good-natured parti- sans, the treat which is now in store will equally recompense those who may not, as well as those who may, have had opportunity of seeing the cherry blossoms in full bloom. Offerings in the orchards, large and small, near Wash- ington should now about have reached the stage where the buds are three- fourths in bloom, a stage which offers possibly the most ideal of times for viewing them. Enthusiastic nature lovers say the buds on apple trees when Jjust about ready to open fully are in- rospect just now, . | viting enough and inspiring enough to plerce the armor of the most extreme of cynics with their appeal. The buds are pink, the brighter color adding to the ‘lure. The bl full are lossoms in white. ‘The full-bloom stage, however, when hundreds or thousands of apple trees are to be seen collectively, offers a sight more than worth the while, and par- ticularly so if viewed from a distance, and preferably from a hill or rise. ‘Those motorists who have had the privilege of looking down into valleys such as those to be seen from the Na- tional Old Trails Highway in Western Maryland and in West Virginia, as well as in the Shenandoah country, upon thousands of acres of apple trees, either well into the bud or in full bloom, have had a thrill like unto which few scenic views may afford. ‘The crab apple tree has its partisans and, despite the psychology of its name, is well deserving of loyalty when it begins to put out its buds in the Spring of the year. Its partly opened bud is pink, also, but of a pink like few others seen on tree or flower. An expert in the Department of Agricul- ture, of the feminine persuasion, said of the bloom of the crab apple tree that it is “very lovely,” thus adequately describing it, doubtless. The peach with breakfast and dinner at| S tree in this territory, the bloom of which is likewise rare and beautiful, flowers ahead of the apple tree and its blos- soms, like those of the che trees, are gone for this season. Peach trees, except in commercial orchards, are found usually scattered among the apple trees. A few of them, possibly, sufficient to make the effort worth while, may be found by the motorist who cares to make search for them, but with much of their charm now |, gone. ‘The commercial apple orchards close at hand, together with the innumerable smaller orchards, in and around private homes, in sufficient numbers to make full measure, will meet all reasonable demands for supplementing an other- wise interesting Sunday journey by highway. Trip Is Suggested. of around 20 miles out at most, say horticulturists, out the Seventh street pike to Olney, thence to Sandy pring, Md., and back by way of Ash- ton, Colesville and Burnt Milis, will be sufficlent to afford tourists a compre- hensive view of the best that Mont- gomery County has to offer in larger orchards. For those who may care to explore some of the less well known hwdys, the cross road from Coles- ville to the Seventh street pike, or, the one from White Oak to Laurel, is cer- tain to repay the effort, as numerous smaller orchards, and some of impres- sive proportions, may be viewed from the road. Still another of interest in Montgomery County is that reached either by taking the Rockville road, out ‘Wisconsin avepue, to Rockville, or, directly out the Seventh street road to Wheaton, and then across to Rockville, or, for further diversion, the Sligo road at the end of Silver Spring, to Coles- ville, across to the Seventh street pike, to Wheaton, and then to Rockville. From Rockville, where many lawns are made attractive by scattering apple trees, the route is “out the Potomac Highway until displays are reached. Fine Orchard Near Vienna. ‘Then still other flelds, in Old Vir- gmu, close at_hand, are those to be found around Vienna, reached by the Lee Highway, after crossing the river. Near Vienna one of the noted orchards of this general section is to be found. Following the “open road,” one may soon be reveling for as long as is de- sired around Fairfax Court House, and in that general section via Lee High- way. Here apple orchards of a kind to suggest those in the Shenandoah Val- ley are at hand in quality if not in quantity. The more adventurous, to whom a drive of around 40 miles one way would not seem to exceed the limits of a local journey, may seek added pleasures in Loudoun County, where Virginia apples have attained wide fame, like those farther on in the Valley. To and from Loudoun or Fairfax Counties, as in the case of nearby Mary- land, many side roads beckon one to enter, with offerings of apple orchards and valleys, it matters not what direc- tion is taken. The commercial orchards are, as a rule, on or close to the main traveled highways, with here and there scatterings of private orchards. Off the main highways, on the side roads, the orchards are as a rule uncultivated, but the effect when the trees are in bloom is inspiring. It happens, due to the physical char- acter of the country in Arlington and Fairfax Counties, Va., and in Mont- gomery County, Md., that opportunities are numerous for views of -Pple or- chards from considerable elevations, thus affording an added charm for the ‘motorist. Maryland in 1920 had 1,651,936 bear- ing apple trees, in addition to 766,351 trees not of bearing age. Apple trees blossom fairly early in life, however, it One tr) BALTIMORE, April 2¢ —Fatalities to adults through automobile accidents have shown a sharp increase during the first three months of 1930, while the ratio of deaths of school children has shown a definite decline in the same period, according to a report of the Baltimore Safety Council. In the period since January 1 there have been 30 deaths in Baltimore City directly attributable to automobile acci- dents, and of these 23 were pedestrians. Of the adults killed 16 were more than 50 years old. Deaths of school children killed in accidents have been declining since 1926, Only four of the total number of fatali- tles were school children. According to the records of the Safety Council, 40 school children lost their lives in 1926, 35 in 1927, 28 in 1928 and 22 in 1929. “Our work through the schools of the city is bearing fruit, but the process of teaching adults safety is a difficult and long-drawn-out business.” il s Auto Engines Tested Fully. Surprisingly few motorists are aware |of the fact that automobile engines receive the most grueling tests of any manufactured product. ~ “The more strenuous the tests, the petter the fin- ished product,” the chief engineer of one of the leading car manufaturers of hh- eountry. sald recentx, sales floor. balanced. and models. To meet our new car sales requirements it is necessary that we have a varied assortment of types and models of new Nash cars on our Used car stocks must be kept equally well At present, due to volume of used car business, our stock is low on some makes ‘We will pay cash or make unusual allowances toward the purchase of new Nash automobiles on such cars as we need to round out our stock. Perhaps your automobile is one of the makes or models that we want. HAWKINS—NASH 1529 14th Street N.W. | is stated, those not of bearing age, therefore, usually adding to the foliage effect along with the more mature trees. The number of bearing trees in- creased in Maryland around 365,000 in the 10 years between 1910 and 1920. Assuming the same increase from 1920 to 1930, tht total number should now approximate 2,000,000, plus the natural increase in the number of trees not of bearing age. That State in 1920 had 34,414 acres of apple trees of bearing age, and the total acreage at this time should, there- fore, on the basis of the increase in number of trees for the same period, be something like 41,000, with probably around 2,000 acres of not yet bearing, but partly in flower. Virginia in 1920 had 7,385,277 trees of bearing age, an increase of around 380, | 000 over 1910. In addition, it had in 1920 2,857,007 trees not of bearing age. The number of the latter trees in Vir- ginia, however, decreased from 1910 to 1920, as against an increase in Mary- land. That State should have some- thing like 7,750,000 bearing trees at this time. Its acreage of such in 1919 was 153,843 and its increase in acreage should have been around 7,500 between 1919 and 1929, with possibly a falling off in the acreage of trees not yet bearing. ‘The District of Columbia had 1,036 hearing apple trees in 1020, 618 less than in 1910, but in 1920 it had 1,178 gl;eleél not bearing, as against but 29 in REMOVING “CANARIES” Winter always seems to leave a car with a flock of “canaries” around the doors. But they are easily removed. Examine each of your doors carefully. You will find evidence of metai-to-metal contacts which are causing your chorus. A drop of ofl at these points of contact and also on hinges and door locks will probably erase all trace of the sym- phony. 5 MAKERS OF AUTOS ARE SEEKING TO POPULARIZE THEIR CARS Engage in Research for “Means to Elimi- nate” Distracting Noises—Discordant Horns Chief Source of Complaint. BY H. CLIFFORD BROKAW, Automobile Technical Adviser. Modern industry has introduced into life a factor which in sorhe instances is said to be affecting adversely the nerv- ous system of human beings. This is the matter of noise. People who live in cities or along main arteries of auto- mobile traffic have frequently been an- noyed by the unnecessary use of the automobile horn by motorists. To just what extent the motorist may refrain from contributing to the general sum total of noise and still operate his car with reasonable safety is a matter which can be given some consideration with possible advantage. ‘Automobile manufacturers have donc much in the way of research work in order to produce an automobile horn which will give the best resuits. The horn sound is produced by the rapid vibration of a thin metallic disc or dja- phragm. This vibration creates sound waves in the air. These waves in turn are concentrated and directed by a horn-shaped projector which amplifies and projects the sound, and which is attached to the collar in front of the diaphragm. If the vibrating diaphragm or metallic disc did not have & column of air racing on it through the pro- jector a metallic sound would be given out instead of a resonant noise. Diaphragm Vibration Cited. Like a pendulum, the diaphragm vi- brates freely at a certain natural period of vibration or frequency. Use is made of this phenomenon in automobile horns by having the speed of the elec- tric motor adjusted to the diaphragm vibrator. The effect of this phenome- non is so pronounced that within cer- tain limits the diaphragm vibrates, practically controlling the motor speed. Since the horn is indispensable to the automobile, one should cultivate the fine art of being able to operate a motor car with as little tooting of the car’s horn as possible. Many motorists do a lot of unnecessary horn blowing, rorgemnz that there are proper places and occasions for using the automobile horn. Usually those beginning to drive an automobile are a bit nervous i operating the car and are lkely to overdo the use of the horn. Even with a minimum of horn honking. it shculd be recognized that with the large amount of automobile traffic which is on the highways today an automobile horn which has a gmunz sound io the ear means something. Thcre is no reason for a horn to have a terrifying sound, one that is si to the snort of a wild animal or to it of a loud voice calling the dead to arise. A pleas- ant calling horn will command im- mediate attention as readily as one with a weird quality of tone, and is less apt to confuse those in danger. There are those who seldom blow their horns, thinking it a fine accom- plishment to be able to drive a car with the horn silent most of the time. Even this can be carried too far, as there is no doubt that there are occa- sions when the horn should be used. A little bit of thought in this mat- Drive this Car PUT IT TO THESE ELEVEN TESTS Prove Oldsmobile’s Bolanced Design- Know its All Round Performance The only true test of performance is per- sonal experience. Take a trial drive in an Oldsmobile and give it these eleven tests «+.0rany others. Match it against other cars and make your own comparisons. TEST EASE OF CONTROL Note the comfort of the adjustable driver’s seat—the convenient arrangement of driv- ing controls. Test the easy action of the elutch—thesilent,easily-meshed gearshift. TEST GETAWAY Measure Oldsmobile’s swift, stageless pick-up in all gears. ' TEST HANDLING EASE Learn how Oldsmobile’s instant response to accelerator, brakes, and steering wheel simplifies driving under all conditions. TEST SMOOTHNESS . Drive Oldsmobile through the entire range of its abilities. Note the quiet smoothness that prevails at every speed. TEST RIDING COMFORT Oldsmobile’s seats are wide and deep-cush- ioned. Its Fisher body interiors are room: and restful. Four Lovejoy hydraulic sh absorbers smooth out road ties. TEST ACCELERATION IN HIGH GEAR When you pass other cars on the road, mark how Oldsmobile’s smooth, effortless power enables you to sweep into the lead easily and . TEST SPEED Seek a straight, level stretch of highway. OLDSMO OF G E Wisconsin PRODUCT Northeast Oldsmobile Sales & Service 64 H Street N.E. Telephone Metropolitan 5260 Murphy Motor Co. 226 Carroll Street Takoma Park, D. C. Telephone Georgia 3782 726 17th Street N.W. Telephone Metropolitan 4314 ter will help in adopting some arrange- ment as to when to use or not to use - the horn. When driving past public. . schools or other places where there are likely to be many children about, the automobile horn is considerably used. Nevertheless, when children are playing in the streets, in which case they are usually very much preoccupied with their games and probably would never hear the horn, careful driving may be a better means of getting through than the use of the hord. Then there is the matter of stop lights which are supposed to automati- cally direct traffic. Even with the lights in the favor of a motorist, the honking of a horn does not always give one the right of way, and it is necessary to sub- stitute careful driving. One of the fairly well known s of excessive automobile horn sounding is illustrated by the driver who on & visit stops in front of a house and pro- ceeds to awake the echoes throughout the neighborhood by continuous blow= ing of the horn for the purpose of let- ting some one in the house know of his arrival and presence. A similar cir- cumstance is when trades people de- livering packages drive into the rd and, tead of quietly going about their business, they insist on letting everybody in the vicinity know of their presence by unnecessary use of the car's horn. Both of these types have little place in the scheme of things and should be considered by those in- terested in anti-noise campaigns. Respect for Churches Enjoined. ‘The blowing of an automobile horn can be reduced as much as possible, if not entirely disregarded, when dri Pl past churches on Sunday, particularly during the period of service, or near hospitals, or when driving through either the city or country late at night. Neither excessive blowing of the horn . nor complete silence is suitable to the - situation, but motorists should arrive somewhere between the two extremes, which will be conducive both to safety and less noise. If the horn fails to function properly at any time a service . station should be consulted without - delay. b Mr. Brokaw will be glad to write on any sublect pertaining to the automobile that & reader may sugges TIGHT FAN BELT URGED Otherwise It May Result in Over- heating Motor in Warm Weather. Be sure that your fan belt is tight enough to be efficient. During the ‘Winter, a slipping fan belt is apt to go unnoticed, but with warm weather com- ing on it may result in overheating of the motor. Here’s a simple and easy “ way to see if the fan belt is properly adjusted: A proper adjustment of the fan belt is obtained when it is just possible to rotate the fan with the belt held sta- You'll thrill to speeds far higher than the average motorist ever uses. TEST HILL-CLIMBING ABILITY You'll find that Oldsmobile’s tremendous er reserve gives wonderful hill-climb- ability. TEST ROADABILITY Alow center of gravity and balanced ht contribute to Oldsmobile’s une..m:;’d8 road- ability. TEST THE BRAKES Oldsmobile’s all-enclosed weather-proof four-wheel brakes assure a quick, smooth stop—always. TEST PARKING EASE Fingertip steering and a short turning radius permit you to park in restricted space with ease, These eleven tests will give you an excellent basis for comparing Oldsmobile with other Thousands of motorists who have given Oldsmobile these and other tests have made it the car of their choice. Drive Oldsmobile and judge it by your own standards of performance and value. TWO-DOOR SEDAN ‘895 f.0.b. Lansing, Michigan Spare tire end bumpere )BIL NERAL Motor Co. J. B. Monroe ‘Waldorf, Md. Brandywine 10-F-4 Olds Motor Works Factory Zone Office, 1515 14th St. N.W. E Pohanka Service 1126 20th Street N.W. Telephone Decatur 0206