Evening Star Newspaper, October 25, 1931, Page 53

In the Motor World BY G. ADAMS HOWARD. CCORDING to the latest figures of the United States Census Bureau, the Na- tional Capital ranks fifth in the list of cities of more than 350,000 population in the least number of traffic fatalities r 100,000. The census report 'or the 52 weeks ending October 3 places Boston first, San Fran- cisco second, Baltimore and Buf- falo tied for third and fourth Jplaces, and Washington fifth. A Good Record. Twenty-one cities are found in this list of cities having more than 350,000 inhabitants, so the fact that Washingon has a lower rate than 16 others is not a bad record. But if the total motor car reg- istrations of these 21 cities could be considered, Buffalo would stand in the enviable position of being in first place, for in propor- tion to its population the City of Buffalo has more automobiles registered than any other city in this group with the exception of Los Angeles. Unfortunately for Los Angeles, the fatality record there is worst than any other city in the list of 21. ‘Washington, if car registration vere considered, would be very close to Buffalo, but carrying the long division to another decimal, that New York City would still be ahead. According to “Facts and Fig- Ppres of the Automobile Industry,” published by the National Auto- mobile Chamber of Commerce, Washington last year had a pop- vlation of 486,869 and an auto- mobile registration of 156,676. Buffalo had a population of 573,.- 076 and 184858 cars registered. fThis would mean that in Wash- Ington there is an automobile to every 3.17 persons, and Buffalo one to every 3.10 persons. Registration Figures. Boston is given a population of 781,188 and a registration of 116,- 264. San Francisco is given a pulation of ¥34,394 and a reg- tration of 158,162. Baltimore is given a population of 804,874 and & Rflltra fon of 132391. Los ‘Angeles, with a population of 1,- 238,048 and a registration of 516,- 106, cannot have many pedes- trians. It would seem that in making up percentages and averages of M tomobile fatalities, the regis- should be considered al with the population. At this . however, Washington's rank would be about the same as it now is. ‘Without considering registra- tions the Census Bureau gives out the following figures for the 52 I weeks ending October 3: The cities are given in order of their population. New York 18.1, Chicago 27.3, Philadelphia 19.3, Detroit 183, Los Angeles 304, Cleveland 25.2, St. Louis 18.4, Baltimore 15.7, Bos- ton 14.2, Pittsburgh 23.6, San !'nfinchool 14.7, lwaukee 18.4, Bu 5.7, Washington 17.7, M 203, New Orlean: 219, cinnati 28.8, Newark 20, Kansas City, Mo, 24.5; Seattle, £3.7, and Indianapolis 19.8. ‘Twelve cities have shown a de- crease In fatalities, six have shown an increase, and three have remained the same. Time for Touring. Now is a wonderful time for short tours. Leaves along the countryside are turning in all of Nature's lovely tints. Washing- is the heart of many wooded sections. Good roads lead into these sections in both Mary- Jand and Virginia. A run into Leesburg, Berryville, Harpers Ferry and Frederick will rove an interesting day’s venture. circular tour of this kind will prove enjoyable and can be ac- com| ed in one day with ease. A shorter run where the trees may be seen in all their glory can be made by going to Lees- burg by way of Tysons Cross Roads and returning by way of Fairfax Court House. Leesburg, surrounded by many picturesque estates, is only 35 miles away. Cross the Key Bridge and pro- ceed through Cherrydale into Falls Church. Turn right in the center of the town and continue to Tysons Cross Roads and con- #inue straight through. A turn left takes the motorist futo Fairfax Court House, where the other road to Leesburg may be taken. Roads to Warrenton, Upperville, Manassas, Culpeper and Luray beckon the traveler. Beyond the famous Shenandoah Pike lures one on. Fredericks- burg, Charlottesville and Rich- mond provide places of interest on U. S. Route No. 1 across the Highway Bridge. Rival Attractions. Maryland’'s countryside has its i attractions. The Eastern end of Pennsylvania avenue leads to Upper Marlboro and Annap- olis as well as the Bladensburg route, where a right turn is made at the American Legion memorial monument. Access to the low flat- lands of Southern Maryland can be reached this way, or by con- tinuing on the Good Hope road grom Anacostia. lhE r Maryland has ni r th ents. The Rockville Pike on through pleasant farm- MOTOR DON'TS [DON'T ABUSE THE NEW LEFT TURN! Georgia avenue way will| |ing lands. From there on stretches the old National Trail pursuing its way into the mountains just beyond Frederick. Antietam, | Gettysburg, Hagerstown and | other delightful spots await the seeker. | Improperly adjusted brakes | often cause a number of mechan- ical ills, according to W. T. Palm- er, an official of the company making brake linings. Among |them are warped brake drums, front wheel alignment trouble, spring breakage and bent axles. Care of Brakes. | “In addition to the safety pro- moted by properly adjusted brakes |in order to forestall skidding and slewing, brake neglect frequently costs the car owner a great deal more in garage bills than regular inspection and care of his brakes | would “amount to,” Mr. Palmer says. “Four-wheel brakes, while con- | siderably more powerful than the | formerly used two-wheel brake, | require “extra attention in order |to keep them in proper repair land adjustment. The car having a tight front brake on the left wheel and a loose brake on the right front wheel may bring about wheel alignment problems in ad- dition to causing skidding on wet | pavements and dangerous sudden | twisting into oncoming traffic. “Efficient brake inspection at a | reputable service station usually | costs nothing and it may save | thousands of dollars and weary |weeks in a hospital. Periodical |brake care is only a trifling tap |on the family budget; an auto- | mobile accident is a wallop that may knock it out for years and cause endless misery.” Unsightly Signs. | War has been declared by high- | way authorities of several States |on” the unsightly traffic signs, erected on metal poles, which dis- figure the landscape on heavily- traveled roads, especially near in- tersections. Robbins B. Stoeckel, commis- sioner of motor vehicles of the State of Connecticut, is one of the leaders in this movement. “It is a curious anomaly,” Mr. Stoeckel said recently, “that, | while the State on one hand, is | endeavoring through active con- structive work by the State High- way Department to beautify road- sides and, by enforcement of the laws, to remove eyesores, such as junk yards and wayside advertis- ing signs, it should also be put- ting out other signs of which the beauty feature is, at least, a ques- ionable one. | “Modern methods of handling traffic require large additonal numbers of markers and signs. It seems that a traffic sign has %o be rude enough so that the im- pression it has upon an observer is a direction, rather than a pleas- ant remark, so our signs have fast become, as they probably should, outstanding from the viewpoint of visibility. “In modern trafic handling, these have often been placed to- gether in groups to the detriment of the general appearance of the neighborhood. As the groups of i &ut up by communities are | admittedly necessary evils, it ag- pears that some care and thought ought to be expended upon mak- ing them all the more acceptable from the beauty standpoint.” The Paris Salon. The Paris Automobile Salon which opened this month is marked by sober decoration and fewer contrasting colors in the automobiles displayed. In all 77 automobile manufacturers are ex- French. Nineteen American com- panies are represented, six Ger- man, five Engl , two Belgian, six Italian and one Spanish. Black remains the leading color for au- tomobile finish as judged by the ghe show would disclose a big step forward in the brighter color schemes. After black the color schemes indicated as most popular are blue, maroon, green and beige, in the order named. Some strik- ing designs are shown in beige and ivory, also in gray, brown, yellow and red. The show is distinct in its_color aspects from the salon of last year in that less composite shades are on view. Medium |shades are also absent. The im- | pression is that light or dark |shades are the favorites, a very dark blue especially being shown | widely. The new color scheme of | having cars of the same color all |over with relief of other shades | In filets on belts seems to be grow- ing in popularity. Colored fenders | are less in evidence. Disc wheels seem to be the favorite for the French cars, the proportion being about twice that of wire wheels Plain woolen cloth for upholstery | is seen on a majority of the cars, fancy woolens in 23 per cent. The| upholstery on the remainder is divided in leather and fabrikoid for upholstery. These represent 21 per cent of the total. STATE TO INVESfIGATE | INSPECTION COMPLAINTS its en-! Fraudulent Operators of \ Garages. Special Dispatch to The Star. BALTIMORE, October 24.—A num- ber of garages and repair shops desig- nated as State safety inspection sta- tions are taking advantage of moto ists, according to complaints made to Motor Vehicle Commissioner Baugh- man Several Baltimore motorists have taken their cars to these stations, ac- cording to Baughman, had them in- spected, and pronounced faulty. They have paid for minor repairs, Baugh- man added, and been permitted to drive away with official safety stickers affixed to the windshields Going later to the safety lanes op- erated by State and city police here for reinspection by experts and patrol- men, the auto owners have been told that the car equipment is faulty, that the repairs paid for never were made. “We shall send these motorists back to the garages, accompanied by State police,” Baughman said. “The patrol- men will inquire why the cars were permitted to drive away with faulty equipment, falsely branded safe. “The troopers also will find out why a charge was made and no work done. l.f the l't‘n.teh t‘nwehc“wn are shown to e guilty, their inspectfon privileges will be revoked.” g 2 hibiting. About half of them are! 589 cars on display. This is a sur-| rise, since it was thought that| Maryland Troopers to Look Into THE SUNDAY SO THATS A HOSSLESS CARRIAGE ! WwWAAL 1 DECLARE. STAR, WASHINGTON, | D. (..J)(‘lnl)‘l-,l{ DOWN THE ROAD—Recollections. - i 0 @"“J" BAirye e GREAYES T Sho LEADING M THE PARADE . MOTOR AND . GIVE ‘EM [t — ANOTHER THRILL. STER! &7 1 N {/ COLORS SUGBESTED FOR BUSINESS CARS Use of Vehicle Dominates Decoration—Pastel Tints Taboo. The choice of color for commercial car bodies is often more a matter of utilitarian requirements than of taste, and this must be so, for, though the new designs in commercial car bodies are well balanced and artistic, the use to which they will be put must always come first in choosing the: finish, ac- cording to Howard Ketcham, director of a paint advisory service. Forget-me- not blues and pastel rose tints have about as much appeal on an ice truck as a snowball has to an Eskimo. The smartest of the new delivery car designs are created for the stylish met- ropolitan specialty shops, the lines of a town car being sometimes adapted for such uses. Speclal delivery cars each require special treatment, depending on their use. Old style trucks can be re- colored with originality and good taste that will make a whole delivery fleet scem like new. Simplicity is in most cases the digni- fled method. In general, one all-over color, embellished with whatever let- tering is required (and it is well to see that the lettering is clear, readable, and in keeping with the color scheme), plus a minimum striping, is the present smart commercial fashion. The wheels should be the same color as the stripe. In fact, adapted to truck uses, the same color vogue shown to be the popular one for pleasure cars holds for delivery units as well. Longchamps Popular. Longchamps, & clear green, has re- cently been very popular for commercial car use. There is a Longchamps green deep also for use when required. Cigarette cream makes a good contrast, ]t)art]l(cullrly on town car type delivery rucks. Green gray is another useful color, especially combined with English gray |and embellished with silver in striping or | distinctive maroon, a clear, rich color, and requires a red-gold ipe for con- trast. Grays are interesting to many, | but they should be not the hackneyed grays, but the usual ones. Neenah, an original blue-gray, is a perfect color base for use with several accents, in- cluding casino red, silver, cigarette cream and Nassau orange. This color goes very well for panel delivery units. Moonstone, & bright, clear gray, with black for an accent; or mellow valescure tan, stri) in matadore orange; or Antibes blue, striped with silver, are lively specialty shop suggestions. Heavy duty trucks are not intended | to ook beautiful, but rugged and de- | pendable. Clean, conservative, cool- | looking grays and greens or even yel- | lows are most popular for such vehicles. | Florists use the pastel colors, of which | this year there is a great variety, |, Where the car demands a bit of at- | tention, “strong, contrasting colors are | best Cigarette cream, with dark | boatswain’s blue; silver, with brilllant / mountain ash; matadore orange, with | black or pastel yellow or dynamic red. Browns have little appeal for heavy | duty trucks, for they are qulet and re- tiring | like appearance needed. |S. A. E. TRANSPORTATION | MEETING HERE TUESDAY Three-Day Gathering of Engineers Will Include Visit to : White House. Owners and operators of more than & quarter million automotive vehicles will assemble at the Shoreham Hotel October 27, 28 and 29, for the ninth annual national transportation meeting of the Society of Automotive Engineers. Six technical sessions, two inspection | trips and a call on President Hoover at the White House are scheduled. “Legislation, past and pending, com- bined with the growing importance of | automotive and freight motor vehicle transportation will make this conference of unusual importance,” declares John A. C. Warner, general manager of the | society, in announcing this mecting Railroads and their co-ordination with | automotive freight and passenger sys- tems, the relation of the automotive engineer to motor transport operation, the application of Diesel engines to commercial vehicles combined with a report of a broad survey relating to equipment, operation, service and main- tenance of large fleets are pertinent sub- jects that will be considered. The en- gineers also will inspect the Washing- ton Raflway & Electric Co.’s properties and pay a visit to the Bureau of Stand- erds, where they will be shown the spe- cial transportation work being done at the bureau. The mesting will conclude with a transportation dinner arranged | with the co-operation of the Washing- ton and Baltimore sections of the so- clety. Arrangements for the confer- ence are under the immediate charge of F. K. Glynn of the American Tele- | te h ‘Teiegraph Co. and L. R. Buck- z?ndu:‘lee %l the ’x‘l':,n‘k;:hbflrolt Axle Co., ts vice pi lettering. Harvard crimson is a| They lack the strong, business- | |SAFETY EDUCATION OF ADULTS BY ALBERT W. WHITNEY, Associate General Manager National Bureau of Casualty and Surety Underwriters, New York City. Twenty years ago the country was Jjust waking up with horror to the waste of human life that was going on in in- duystry. On this tidal wave of aroussd sentiment was launched the industrial safety movement and the workmen's compensation system, which is now in effect in 44 States. A similar situation, only still more ce- rious, confronts us today in the traffic field. Over against th: ,000 workmen that are killed in industrial accidents each year there are 33,000 persons that are killed by automobiles, more than twice as many; furthermore, the num- ber is growing & thousand or so every year. The automobile is a more de- structive force among our people than was the European War when our sol- diers were on the battlefront. PFurther- more, it is not just a part of our people that are affected, as in war and indus- try, but all of us, all those that we hold dear, our husbands, our wives, our par- | ents, our liitle children. Public Awakening Needed. We are due for a similar arousing of public sentiment with regard to the proper use of the automobile. ‘That such disregard of the safety of people on our streets and highways will be permitted to continue is unbelievable. ‘There is just one thing that we can do and bring it under effective control. ‘Through the combined compulsion of public opinion and the law the reckless and careless driver must be either edu- cated to be a safe driver or be driv:n from our streets. No one who will think seriously about the situation can doubt that this change can be brought about. Fifty years ago the newspapers all too fre- quently recorded frightful train wrecks. Today traveling on a railroad train is one of the safest ways of spending one's time. Last year there were only seven passengers killed in train accidents in all the many billions of passenger miles traveled. The railroad has been made safe. Problem Is Difficult One. ‘The problem is admittedly difficult, probably far more difficult similar problem in industry. The cen- tralization of authority and self interest in the employer affords an approach Milady’s She is a fast driver who can keep ahead of her bills. How would you like to see one of your own cars parked down the street in | front of a neighbor’s house and realize | that you could do nothing to prevent | its present occupant from stopping off to give his girl friend a spin? A New York woman recently experi- | enced just such a heartache. When her husband died the two custom cars which had been available for her daily | use were somehow or other caught up |in the legal proceedings of settling the estate. The partner in her husband's business appropriated the machines, | although he had no personal .need for them. A youthful relative had keys to ‘the garage and helped himself. “She drives with too heavy & foot.” was the way a dealer passed off the complaint lodged by a chauffeur, who said the madam was troubled by hav- ing the engine knock on hills. “Try to convince her that for best results with any car on any hill it is necessary to fed gas with discrimination. Tell her not to crowd the engine.” . Pkllrldoxmllly a lighter foot spares the ck! A new system of door locking makes it possible for the driver to enjoy peace of mind when the kiddies are riding in the rear. While waiting for this needed improvement to become gen- erally available it may be well worth adopting the plan of a mother of three, who has had extra large rubber door stops inserted in the jams of the rear doors. Adult strength is now needed to open the doors. Put this down as the week's safety suggestion: When a collision seems in- evitable try to make it a sidewise rather than a head-on or an angular impact. Glancing blows are the least dangerous. New York chauffeurs have their troubles with women whose knowledge of automobiles is limited to the paying of bills and nestling under the sheen of luxury lap robes. One of them who has been demanding a new car for the past 10,000 miles pointed out to his employer that her car had just com- pleted two trips around the world and really had more than done its bit in the interests of her personal transpor- tion. “I wondered where you were last night"” she observed, cackling suspi- clously from the rear seat. and thet is to wake up to the situation | it than the | SEEN AS TRAFFIC PERIL CURB Fatalities Among Children Drop Due to Invaluable Instructions Given at Home and SC}IOO]. to the industrial problem that is far different from that in the case of the automobile, where the driver is for the most part not responsible to any one above him. This lack of natural re- sponsibility on the part of the owner and driver is the reason why a strong traffic control must be set up. The | driver and owner of a motor car must, through drivers’ license laws, through trafic control requirements, and | through the surveillance of State au- thorities be tied into a system that | will make him feel a social responsi- | bility and compulsion that is largely | lacking today. All these things must | unquestionably be supplied. but along | with these must go education. | _People can be educated to be safe. | The results with children show this. | Almost the one bright spot in the traffic situation is what safety education has accomplished among children. Since 1922, the year when safety education was introduced into the schools, there ! has been a 38 per cent increase in fatal | accidents to .adults, while during the in the number of children and a still greater increase in the hazards of life, there has been a 2.3 per cent decrease | in fatal accidents to children. The re- | sults in the automobile field are still more striking. Teaching of Adults Urged. Automobile fatalities for adults be- tween 1927 and 1930 increased 28 per cent. During the’same period auto- mobile fatalities for childrea of pre- school age decreased 10 per cent and for children of schoo! age decreased 19 per cent. Figures from every part of the country show the same thing. Children are learning how to take care of themselves, while adults are being killed in increasing numbers. If adults lhld learned to take care of themselves as well as our children, we should have 23,000 less people killed by accidents every year than is now the case. If such results as these can be had with children, it is certainly not im- possible to accomplish at least similar results when adults begin to take the | situation seriously. But the situation | must be taken seriously! The time has come to put the automobile where it belongs. but terrible as a master. Every facility must be given for the safe operation of automobiles, and then he who is un- willing or unable to learn must be ex- cluded from the highways. An awak- ening to this situation is long overdue! Motoring BY FREDERICK C. RUSSELL. | _If you are going on a Fall picnic Where the car is driven off the road try to park it on a decline, blocking | the wheels with sizable stones. Be- | cause this is a hard season on batteries there might be some possibility of not being able to crank with the starter when you get ready for the homeward trip. With the car on a hill you can place it in gear, start it coasting with | the clutch pedal to the floor and crank | the engine automatically by letting the | clutch pedal up siowly. If the car is equipped with free wheeling have it in | conventional gear for this process. Little women who want to do big | things in their driving should remem- ber to reach out a little bit farther whenever giving a hand signal, which | should be much more frequently than | is usually the case. Because they sit lower in the car their arm ordinarily | does mot protrude far enough to gain | attention.” White gloves help to catch the eye. Also wave the hand a little before settling down to giving the ex- :::u dérectlona to the man or woman nd. If you know a woman who is just learning to drive pass along the sug- gestion that she have the men folk | jack up the two rear wheels so she can |learn the art of shifting gears while | the engine drives the wheels out on | the driveway. It is an excellent way |to become familiar with the whole | process without fear of a collision and | the embarrassment of a public display of inexperience. Talk with any woman who drives a car and you will find that she nurses a fear somewhers in her system that a tire may go flat some time some place when there is no convenient aid avail- | able. Tt probably bothers a good many man drivers if ‘they ‘would admit it. | Isn't it strange, in view of this sub- | conscious worry, that so few persons | ever think to change those little valve | cores in the tire stems at least once a | year? | A tire can go flat from | leaky core more quickly than | average puncture. a worn, with the Motorized Youth. Little Willle (to cat purring content- | edly on hearth)—All right, all right; vou dumbbell—if you're going to pa | there, turn off your engine. rk | to in Sade OPERATION COSTS OF AUTO ANALYZED Good Highways Held Paying Investment by Road Builders. Proof that good roads are a paying Investment from the highway user's point of view is shown by an analysis of automobile ration costs on vari- ous types of iways according to the American Road Builders’ Association. ‘The average automobile owner may prefer not to know what his per mile operating cost actually amounts to, but he surely is interested in knowing how much he saves by driving on improved coads, also the difference in cost of operating various types of cars and the savings accruing in each case as the r;uulv, of highway improvement. Average Expenditures. From detailed cost records reported on about 800 automobiles ated in various parts of the United States, fig- ures were prepared, taking all factors into consideration, showing the aver- age cost of automobile operation over lllltypel of surfacing to be in cents per e: same period, in spite of a great increase | m;j) Light fours . Medium fours . Heavy fours . Light sixes .. Medium sixes Heavy sixes ... Among the various items of operating cost, Toad condition is shown to have no effect on license, garage, interest and insurance. The increase in cost of maintenance and in depreciation of automobiles as the type of road becomes poorer is in somewhat the same ratio as the increase in gasoline consumption, shown above. In cost of tires and tubes comes the greatest increase, and it is estimated that where $1 is expended | for this item on improyed roads of high | type the cost is almost triple on roads | without improvement, or $2.90. Division of Costs. ‘The division of cost items on an imaginary “average” automcbile, based on annual mileage of 11,000, is shown as follows: Cents Item of cost. It is marvelous as a servant, | Gasoline oil .. ‘Tires and tubes. Maintenance . License Garage at $4 per month. Interest at 6 per cent.... Insurance (fire, theft, tornado). ‘Total cents per mile....... The saving shown in operation of such average automobile due to road improvement is, where roads without improvement are changed to interme- diate type, 1.07 cents per mile; where intermediate type is changed to high type, 0.99 cent per mile, and where unimproved type is changed to high type, 2.06 cents per mile. Differences Noted. ‘The cost tables range from 11 cents per mile, the cost of operation of a “heavy six” over unimproved roads, | down to 5.10 cents, the cost cf operat- ing a “light four” over high type roads. ‘This gives a conservative figure for the lightest car and the bess road conditions obtainable, and for the heaviest car op- erating cn unimproved roads. | Allowing 15 miles travel on & gallon of line, the 15 billion gallons con- sumed in 1930 carried ‘motor vehicles 225 billion miles. If half the travel is on the 700,000 miles of surfaced roads and the saving is 2 cents a mile, the saving to the public each year amounts to $2,500,000,000, & sum in excess of the amount expended on highway main- tenance and capital investment in bet- ter roads. DRIVING HELD PRIVILEGE Operation of Motor Vehicle Is Not a Constitutional Right. ‘That the driving 67 a motor vehicle has been held by the Supreme Court to be not a constitutional right but a privilege that may be granted or re- voked was the statement made by Mor- gan T. Ryan, registrar of motor vehicles for Massachusetts, to the New England Section of the Society of Automotive Engineers. He says that the law classes the motor vehicle as a dangerous vehicle and the Legislature has delegated to the registry of motor vehicles the power to grant and to revoke the driving privilege. Skt U. S. Auto Manufacturing. ‘The United States produces about 87 RS TR Failure to judge correctly the dis- tance necessary to pass & car caused Snjufiuhm?enunltnsl le month in New York Oity, formation supplied the Silvertown Lesgue, Poets may sing, “If Winter comes can Spring be far behind?” but the provident motorist gives it an automo- tive flavor by querying, “If Winter comes is Autumn too early to prepare?” While the bright skies of October en- wisely are thinking of the colder sea- fancy normally turns to mileage and of a disposition to look ahead to the motoring thrugh Fall preparedness, While it still is possible to crawl un- car in comfort at a filling station, there those little matters which are sure to the cold season. It isn't simply a mat- end lubricant to a lighter grade, but shackles, the stop-light switch, the ex- propellor shaft brake, if the car car- i courage a spirit of laissez-faire, many son to come. In the Fall a motorist’s foliage, but this year he evidences more possibilities of more enjoyable Winter Excellent Opportunity Afforded. der the car, or stand around the jacked is excellent ,opportunity to attend to be neglected when the curtain rises on ter of changing transmission and rear of checking over the body bolts, the baust system, the spring clips and the ries this type. If there is evidence that the universals have been throwing | grease, the retainers may need replac- lnr. Often the joints are only half filled because mechanics neglect to re- move the air vent plug when pumping in fresh ofl or grease. A thorough fill- ing of the joints at this time should last far into the cold weather season. Springs are hard working units in the Winter. To help them compensate for the stiffer action of the hydraulic shock absorbers, and to prevent the possibility of breakage, have the leaves spread apart and lubricated with penetrating | oil. This will not only help to remove rust, but will lubricate as well. If the leaves seem to be unusually rustt, end cakes of dirt or hardened groes fre found between them, it will be good in- surance to remove, polish and repack them with graphite, Shock Absorbers Adjustable. * Some of the hydraulic shock absorb- ers are adjustable, and if the change can be made easily it is not necessar: to make a lterations until the need for them . If a cold weather set- ting involves changing valves, however, it is better to have the work done now. ‘The shock absorbers also will work bard in cold weather, largely because of the rougher going for the car. If they have not been attended to for some time, a profitable move will be :&n l;;vc them removed and recondi- Some of these devices should not be serviced in accordance with the general rules. One, for instance, uses a light ol all year round. Another uses a me- dium grade, but has thermostatic ad- Jjustment to compensate for temperature ! changes. To put a fluld of different | consistency into either of these devices would mean borrowing trouble. Generator Changes. Just because the engine has been draining the battery during the Fall is no reason to have the generator charg- ing rate increased. The chances are! “uwr may require a good FALL LOGICAL TIME TO GROOM AUTO FOR WINTER WEA Autumn Held Ideal Season to Put Car in Condition to Withstand Ice and Snow. THER . that when the garage | arainng Wil ccase and charging rate will L i § or the hea | ing the cold motor, | up in the generator ing any change in trol, however, make erator is charging normally. Its | may need replacing, and cleaning. itch f It is not advisable Winter carburetor m t this To do so means f¢ the constantly on a mixture that is the average Autumn day. :;fhna;:zz mn: advisable, an e v} is to be done largely | night or r?r very short runs, more nearly approximating the Winter setting may be justified. Temporary Mixture. Among these is the idea of learning how to make a temporary mixture for | starting. This may involve merely giving the high-speed adjustment of a couple of notches. Another to crank the engine a few hand with the ignition switch using the starter in the regular It will help considerably to keep breaker points cleaned, properly Justed and synchronized. If the car carries a this is the logical time to cl carefully. The hot ai t; checked for leakage ané piping is rotted it should Hot water systems should be and the electrical connections of the tblowzl;l lcheecekded over. The electric mo- or will n a little olling and commutator dressed. 38 the linings. If any is should be burned off with a man who knows his business. before attempting to brakes, since reconditioning may restore equalization. Care of Brakes. Brakes often fail to give needs oiling. Irlghol‘l1 for this m‘dmfl' : wi lubricat! with later. Efficient . m" sity in cold weather, 1 late tor. This is ti out the cooling system for anti-freeze. (Copyright, 1931.) {STREET REPAIR WORK REQUIRES PLANNING Effect Upon Traffic Should Be Con- sidered, States A. M. A. Official. Motorists must expect a certain amount of inconvenience and delay due to repair, cutting and reopening of pavements already laid out; at the jsame time they should have assurance of & municipal policy that will measure the efficiency of such work by its effect upon traffic. This point is made by the American Motorists' Association, which declares the present volume of street maintenance work justifies careful con- sideration of a wise in con- o number of ‘street chosed” in municipalities in e cm:n!ry never was greater than at pres- ent,” gaged in street paving maintenance programs on a larger scale as a means of providing jobs for thousands. Simi- larly, public utilities are extending and enlarging their facilities, which means the temporary tearing up of street pavements and the blocking of many thoroughfares. ““This is essential wark and decidedly helpful in the present economic situa- tion. Motorists should recognize that and willingly pay the cost of the slight inconvenience and delay it causes them. “At the same time, municipal au- thorities should plan such work with exceptional care from the standpoint of its effect upon traffic. A broad sur- vey by the American Motorists’ Asso- ciation indicates a wide variation in municipal policy in this respect. Many cities are especially careful to see that the work is so_distributed that trafc | ® is not entirely barricaded from certain districts or herded onto one thorough- fare inadequate to handle the addi- tlonal burden. Elsewhere, in the ab- sence of thoughtful planning, traffic’s flow is dangerously disrupted.” In summing up, Mr. Keefe points out that the abnormal street condition in- variably is a prolific cause of accidents. e says: “It should be clearly realized by both street users and those who have juris- diction over street maintenance and re- pair work that the present situation does produce abnormal conditions in traffic. Safety demands these be over- come by the intelligent co-operation of all concerned.” ONTARIO OFFICIAL SEES GOOD TIMES ON WAY Bases Prediction on Increase in Trafic Census Over Last Year. Speaking to the 300 members of the || Canadian section of the Society of Automotive Engineers, Leopold Macau- ]l}',d‘e minister of highways for Ontario, ma good times are not far distant. based this prediction on the fact that the traffic census just completed in Ontario showed an increase in traffic of 11 per cent over 1930. He admonished some automobile | manufacturers on their advertising, say- ing that he had noticed one car adver- tised to do “75 miles with ease. I do not think that this is good advertising. Any one going 75 miles on the roads in Ontario will be ‘pinched.’” Flood Lighting. : Flood thm‘unlh of crosswalks and ‘of In are lor Yome o ite moxs. beariy” wevelod through routes in New Jersey. .« Most Important Pnt After all, the most important of any motor car is the nut that holds the steering wheel. all parts of the | O the comforting prophecy that ||| He | ROAD CONSTRUCTION EASE SHOWN IN 10WA Ninety Per Cent of Primary Sys- A decade ago the somewhat hopeless. automobiles then. Today there are excess of 26,000,000 motor vehicles, prospects for Nation-wide motoring eom- fort and unehuyn-hlnunr says Thomas J. Keefe, eral er of ‘American Motorists' | rief the el b2 . “Cities and towns are en- is pa; from motor license and Federal aid have 60 per cent of this Only 40 per cent of in the last five years pa: built in Tows” to reach to San Francisco.” DOES YOUR CAR SPRINGS NEED ATTENTION FREE INSPECTION We Can Make Them RIDE LIKE NEW Springs Manufactured, Installed While You Wait For All Makes of . | AuTos, TRUCKS, BUSSES Quick Service for * . High-Clage ' ' BRAKE LINING SEE US WASHINGTON ¢ 3 Farm-Owned Autos. ‘There are 5,677,500 motor vehicles as farm-owned, of which 4,910,300 are passenger cars. SPRING WORKS- 1410 Church St. N.W.'