Evening Star Newspaper, October 31, 1937, Page 88

G—6 VISITORS 10 CITY SETTING REGORD Number So Far Is Highest Ever—Motor Club Has Grown Greatly. \ BY WASHINGTON I. CLEVELAND, Manager, A. A. A. District of Columbia Motor Club. In the boom touring year of 1937 travel both to and from the District of Columbia has kept pace with the rec- ord-breaking proportions of motor va- cationing gener- ally throughout the Nation. The number of visitors coming to the Nation's Cap- ital so far this vear is by a sub- stantial margin, the highest on record. At the same time, the number of Dis- trict motorists va- tationir.g to other parts of the coun- try, according to records of our travel bureau, is nearly half again as high as the 1936 volume. In a recent survey of travel trends the American Automobile Association asked thousands of members, selected et random throughout the Nation, to name the cities they have found most interesting. When the final returns were counted there was practically a “photo finish” between Washington, D. C. and New York City, but the Na- tion’s Capital came out in front by a small margin Accompanying the nationl increase in travel, there has been a tremen- dous growth in the motor club move- ment, and this has been particularly true in the District of Columbia. In the five-year period from 1933 through 1937 membership in the A. A. A. Dis- trict of Columbia Motor Club has in- creased 133 per cent. As a result of this increased support the club has materially increased the scope of its services and has intensified its legisia-~ tive and other civic activities, Gas Tax Opposed. During the year the club successfully opposed the proposed increase in the District of Columbia gasoline tax. This was one of the most intensive cam- paigns against tax hiking that the club has ever waged and involved collec- tion of thousands of ballots from resi- dents of the District on this question. Almost unanimously, Washingtonians protested against the increase and the huge volume of public opinion was suc- cessful in turning the tide against the Mr. Cleveland. further raid on the motorists’ pocket- | book. The motor club, during the year, #lso was successful in eliminating the $100 limitation in the safety-re- &ponsibility bill. Formerly this meas- ure, originated and sponsored by the | A. A. A, compelied payment of judg- ments arising from a traffic accident only when they involved more than $100 in damages. Believing that this would let a number of reckless and financially irresponsible motor- ists go scot-free, the club urged elim- ination of this limitation and today the safety-responsibility bill is ap- plicable traffic judgments. Violations Exposed. g, Another major accomplishment of the club was the expose .of wide- spread violations of the existing mo- tor vehicle inspection law. The pub- lic attention aroused by this cam- paign succeeded in blasting the Dis- trict of Columbia inspection bill from the Budget Bureau where it was lying dormant. Again this year opposition of or- ganized motorists was successful in defeating renewed attempts to foist parking meters on Washington mo- torists. In the field of safety the District of Columbia Motor Club -has been increasingly active. New projects this year included the introduction of driver training classes on an experi- mental basis in two high schools; the holding of classes at George Wash~ ington and the University of Mary- land for instructing teachers for driver-training classes; -assisting in the establishment of studenf “traffi- clubs” in the city’s high schools; establishment of playground patrols to protect school children during the Summer months, and co-operation with The Washington Star in prepa- ration of the widely acclaimed series of photographs depicting principal causes of traffic accidents in the Dis- trict. In the months immediately ahead the principal ‘objectives of the motor club will b to aid in solution of the parking, congestion and safety prob- lems. el ey e Roads Once Logged by Clubs. Roads in nearby Virginia, Mary- land and Pennsylvania, logged more than a quarter of a century ago by Keystone Automobile Club engineers, continue to be main arteries of motor travel. “IT RUNS in all cases of unsatisfied | | reflected automotive progress in me- shiny new 1938 models will steer. szzton at the Automobile Show this year are pretty .. THE SUNDAY STAR, WASHINGTON, Hold ’Em, Néwt, Here We Go! lzkeh/ to take zt for granted “that the Such was not always the case, as is indicated by the tense faces of those engaged in this “steering demonstration” at the first auto show in the old Madison Square Garden in 1900. This picture is from the files of the Socony-Vacuum Oil Co., which this year marks the 60th anniversary of its development of the first petroleum lubricants for the automobile. Right and Left Turning the pages of history back| into the dusty past, Russell E. Singer, | general manager of the A. A. A, came | forward with explanations as to why Americans drive on the right side of | the road and Englishmen on the left. “The English custom -of driving to when lone horsemen rode about armed to the teeth,” Mr. Singer explained. “In those days, every stranger was a potential enemy and the rider would sidle over to the left in order to keep | his sword or pistol arm next to the| stranger. | “Later, drivers of coaches and| wagons sat on the right side in order | to have the right arm free for wield- | ing the whip, and accordingly passed to the left of approaching rvehicles as it was easier when sitting on that side to avoid wheel entanglements on the narrow roads and streets. “However, on the continent, in | France, Germany and Italy, the nos- | tilion system was used for both coaches and wagons and the driver rode on | the left wheel horse. Accordingly, | vehicles passed to the right. Today, | there is differing practices in differ- | ent nations and occasionally on cross- |ing a national border it is necessary to cross from one side of the high- | way to the other, | “In America, 'ADVERTISING SHOWS HISTORY OF AUTOS | Progress in Meéchanics and Style Shown in Early News- paper Series. The history of the automobile could well be written merely by a reproduc- tion of its newspaper advertisements, according to Frank J. Denney, Cadil- lac-La Salle advertising manager. Through the years these ads have chanics and style and the public’ ac- ceptance of each new feature. In the early part of the century, for instance, when motor cars betrayed their antecedents by aping the lines of the buggy, the prime object was to sell the public away from the horse. Copy pointed out that a gas vehicle would “never eat its head off” and that there was no “hitching or unhitching annoy- ance.” Later, as engineers improved their craft, reliability became the theme. Claims of “freedom from the worries of tinkering” and “simplified power production” ruled the advertisements. An emphasis.on performance fol- lowed. Speeds “up to 40 miles an hour” were listed. One Cadillac of the period was pictuwred climbing the steps of the National Capitol to demonstrate un- usual ability on hills. Thus it has been with each new de- velopment on the automobile. As an engineering milestone was reached it set the pattern for newspaper adver- tisements. Newspapers were depended upon to carry the information to the public. “In 1938 we again expect Cadillac- La Salle newspaper advertisements to add a chapter to the file on automotive history,” Mr. Denney said. “Last year we were the heaviest newspaper advertiser among the fine- car builders. Perhaps significantly, LIKE NEW SINCE I TOOK IT TO MILLER-DUDLEY FOR A THOROUGH CHECK- also, our sales set new all-time rec- the left originated back in the days|” Side Driving Traced to Ancient Customs Conestega wagons rode the left wheel | | horse postilion-: -style and consequently dl’D\e to the right. Eventually the deep ruts made by the covered wagons were followed by the first horseless carriages when they appeared on the infuriating farmers, causing runaways and sending billows of smoke across the countryside, “Driving to the left, oddly enough, scene, is the custom in one United States| possession—the Canal Zone. This re- sulted because the first chauffeurs coming into Panama were from Ja- maica, where the British method of passing prevalls.” Roper (Continued From First Page.) arrive when the situation will become so ghastly that they will regard it as worthy of more of their direct atten- tion. When and if this time does ar- rive and the capable business plan- ners of the United States take over accident prevention planning, I think efforts will begin to show better re- sults. I can see little hope for the present program of delegating tiie job to theoretical professional safety workers who create an atmosphere of humanitarianism at weekly lunch- eons for their sponsors and then slight the gruelling facts as to why thousands are being slaughtered in | the streets and highw D. C, OCTOBER 31, 1837—PART SIX. TRAFFIGLUB AIMS TOLD BY STUDENT Organization -Is Purely a Student Affair to Better Conditions. BY MISS HELEN BELL, Traffclub Safety Director and Western High School Student The dreadful accident last Septem- ber, which took the livey of James Leech and Elmer Hays, two of Western High School’s most promising gradu- ates, has brought home to the students of Washington the urgent need of some sort of organization to reduce traffic hazards. As a result of this need, Trafficlubs have been formed in all the high schools. They are designed not only to improve the driving and walking habits of students, but also to better traffic conditions as a whole. Miss Marion Doyle, with other class- mates of the two boys, conceived the idea of “a living memorial to these dead.” Tentative plans were made and the small group of friends gained the support of the Board of Education. The idea was then presented to the| youth of Washington through an assembly at Western High School, attended by student leaders from all the other high schools of the city. This new idea of a “safety club” was enthusiastically received by the student body. Immediately after this first assem- bly, the representatives of the schools met to discuss plans for the organi- zation of the club. It was decided that the drive should be pushed in all the high schools, thus affecting a | great number of young drivers. Sug- gestions for the program of this year's activities were sent in and combined. It was decided that each club should have its own constitution and organi- zation, but that there should be central advisory committee composed of the six presidents. Each student leader took these plans back to his| own high school, and the six individ- | ual Trafficlubs have now been official- ly launched. Purely a Student Affair, One of the most important features of this new movemen* is the fact that| it is purely a student affair. The idea | came from students, and it is being| carried out by students. Thus it is hoped that AMHAZIVG VEW ington high schools will rally whole- heartedly to this new proposal. Reports show that the plan of & student safety program has been most successful elsewhere. In Providence, R. I, a junior auto club conducted a series of lectures on traffic and safety. More than 1,000 students later ob- tained driving permits, and after two years the motor vehicle commission, examining the record cards, found that not one of the young drivers had been involved in an accident or traffic violation. This plan hr= worked with equal success in Penn State High School, Pennsylvania, and in a Cleve- land high school. The Executive Committee planned a tentative program for the year’s activities. They voted: 1. To study as a group, and in- dividually, bad traffic conditions within the school vicinity and make recom- mendations for improving them to the proper efficials and also other or- ganizations, such as A. A. A, P.-T. A. and other citizens’ associations. Other Features. 2. To carry on_ a campaign for the offering of the traffic, safety and driving course for credit in all of the high schools. 3. To construct equipment for and to conduct dramatic demonstrations on traffic safety matters and automo- bile operation 4. To test the physical, mental and emotional characteristics of students as they relate to driving, using such testing materials as those developed | by the A, A. A. 5. To sponsor interscholastic con- tests in playwriting and radio script writing. 6. To write plays and radio scripts on traffic safety topics for presenta- tions at school assemblies. ". To show safety films at club meetings and school assemblies. | 8. To sponsor planned tours to| such places as operators’ license bu- | reau, police traffic bureau, local au- | tomobile dealers, to observe traffic | congestion and violations of traffic regulations, coroner inquests, automo- bile shows, first-class repair stations, to analyze traffic acciden. , vehicular | inspection station: | All Models ODGE PLYMOUTH WINTER MOTORING ADVICE INIPARTED Automotive Men Declare Car Should Be Made Ready for Cold Weather. Getting the car ready for the annual bout with Winter, common practice to the contrary notwithstanding, is & special advance process distinct from that of. actually putting on the big show of - conquering the inclement weather of the cold season. Unless this point of distinction is appreciated no motorist can expect trouble-free performance from his car during those | months of the year when Jack Frost endeavors to have the supper hand. ‘This is the plain statement of fact from the lips of thousands of men whose busjness it is to help motorists | see the light about the annual job of getting geared to tough slédding. As in many former years it probably will be widely ignored. Most motorists still think that they can get away with a | minimum of consideration for the car, & fleeting consultation with their con- science or at best a few hours’ visig to the service station. For a car to be really prepared for » meeting the problems of this hostile season of the year it is highly im- portant that its owner give the matter his best thought for at least & week before cold weather actually sets in, He can do this as he goes, often with« out inconvenience. Most important o all is his willingness to recognize the difference between putting the car into fit condition for the Jack Prost ene counter and the equally serious busi« ness of putting on the ngm CARE IN LITTLE THINGS Maximum Performance of Car Means Watching Detaila Careful handling of a car, anywhere and under any conditions, is predi- cated upon the little things, not by New Year resolutions or occasional grand gestures. Motorists can learn this lesson through giving closer attention to the little things in car care. For example, the man who studies his car finds that he actually can improve its performance, increase its gas mileage and cut the cost of operating it. 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