9
AUT0M0B1XE TRUCKS A JOT TO CENTRAL OREGON MERCHANTS
EXPERT EXPLAINS
HEW STILE GAR
PLEA IS MADE FOR
ere!
ercy-oFiis
rTT
A Motor Car
In Reach of
Everyman
Underslung Construction Said
to Enhance Safety and
Joys of Motoring.
''Road of Three Nations" Ad
i ' vocated Before Oregon
County Officials.
METHOD GAINS POPULARITY
TRUNK SYSTEM IS PRAISED
Lib
TTT
PACIFIC HIGHVA
$350
Objrx and Rrncflts to B Derived
to Jndgn and Commissioners
by Frank B. Riley.
Kloquont and forcible waa the plea
for the Improvement of the Pacific
Highway, made by Frank B- Riley,
vice-president of toe Pacific Highway
. Association, before the Oregon Count
Judaea and Commissioners, assembled
In annual session Ivere last week. Mr.
, Kller. who la one of Oregon's flrmes
adTocatea of better highways, pointed
out the greet gain to be made by the
Improvement of this trunk and tn
manifold beneftta It will bring to the
rountiea through which It passes. H
said In part:
"The ordinary variety of good-road
.meeting Is commonly made up with a
discussion of the highway or tn
future the roads that are soma day to
'he projected. Improved and enjoyed. I
Pwsnt to talk to you about the reality
I nf at least one road which the people
"of the United tat and Kurope- have
rome to recognise as the first real a
t local highway In America, and which
has been pictured and described by the
press and magazines In this country
and abroad as the longest, continuous
International highway In the world.
"The statement by a facetious speak
er at this meeting that the Pacific
"Highway began In the Arctic snow and
ended under the palms of the tropics
was not as much a Joke as was Intend
ed. The road Is built, and every mile
of It Is traveled every day In every
syear. from Vancouver, B. C. to Tta
I J nana, the Mexican border town. The
ranaillan government la extending the
Pacific highway today northward to
Haselton. It. C which Is 80 miles south
of the Alaskan border. pathfindlng
cars are struggling northward to Daw
son, demonstrating the route upon
' which Improvement will begin as soon
as the Canadian engineers and road
builders have reached Haselton. A
. path-finding car enjoying the assist
ance of the Mexican people Is biasing
the trail from fin Plego to the City
if Mexico.
Cewatlea Have Duty.
The Pacific hltrhway In Oregon be
longs to the counties which It trav
erses. The countv authorities of the
various counties have the control of,
and hold In their hands, the destinies
"t the respective sections of this road.
The Pacific Highway Association has
elected these sections; has tied them
together: has given the resultant con
"tinuoud road a name: hae admirably
, marked It with signs of simple, strong
design and It Is for you to maintain
these signs and to sea that this great
(north and south road the golden chain
; that binds the last West receives Its
share or improvement ana Diimienun.
! We want to make It efficient for the
movement of freight and produce, and
we want to make It popular as a route
of travel so that It will create the
need, and stimulate the desire, and
. rrrstalltza the sentiment for more good
. roads.
"The unit of a treat road ayetera Is
the trunk highway. Once having con
structed an artery, whether It runs
. north and south or east and west, the
building of laterals and feeders fol
lews closely: then come more trunk
lines and more connecting branches.
We cannot build all the roads at once.
The first road that most of us want la
that particular thoroughfare whlcn
passes our front gate or which leads
from the barn to the platform where
. we ship our produce. Hut let us build
a main line first and demonstrate Its
economlo and social benefits. There
i Is no Incentive to the building of later-
S ala and branches so vigorously errec
' tlva as the demonstration of a good
. trunk highway.
"Many of you may have the idea that
tlia trunk railroads which are being
extended all the time will lessen our
dertendenca upon the common or county
roads and that we will have presently
little need of the pacific highway or of
. anv ather Important road for the move.
ment of freight. However, the trafflo
rensua of those countries in Europe
which are net-worked alike with rail
. roads and with superb systems of
wagon roads show that the movement
of freight over the wagon roads Is one
- and one-half tlmea greater than all the
. tonnage moved by all the railroads.
Read's I'ee la Varied.
"It has been stated that the Pacific
highway Is essentially a scenle high
way for the motor traveler. I think
the road passes through a fertile region
end the use to be made of It by those
who live In the country through which
It passes for the purposes of communl
ration, social Intercourse, commerce.
. the parcels-post, and the rural free
: deliver will probably alwaya exceed
I Its utility as a route for pleasurable
travel merely. However, there Is noth
ing quite so productive as the Invest
ment In a tourist. Given an oppor
tunity to penetrate Into the heart of
. the Oregon country by an all-the-year-round
road, there Is no over estimating
the numbers In which he will rome.
The Pacific Coast Is the recreation
ground of America- Here we have all
the enchanting varieties of climate,
the fruitful valleys, the tumbling
mountain streams. the forests of
pointed fir. the towering mountains In
the Icy clutch of glaciers all. Indeed,
of which Kurope can boast. The Pa
cific highway Is helping to draw the
curtain from the face of these wonders;
is tempting tile American tourists to
- see America first: Is enticing the
'. prospective small land and orchard
owner to find out for himself the op
portunities In the Willamette Valley, as
he never can discover and know them
Intimately by a Journey made over the
railroads alone.
-The Pacific highway -will promote
trafflo between the cities, help the
farmer to market his produce and will
encourage the tourist to come
among us.
Beaeflta Are Maalfola.
There Is no longer any need for a
group of county Judges and commis
sioners to listen to or enter Into an
academic discussion of the value of
good roads. You. better than any other
body of men. can eloquently and warm
heartedly enumerate the glittering
array of benefits which follow swiftly
upon the building of a deoent road.
; Tou know that tiie good road means a
i revival of the rural church, the lm
j provement of the district school, and
fas a sure result, the raising of the
t standard of clUxenshlp. you know
I that good roads multiply the small land
owner and that In tfie ensuing even
t distribution of population and wealth
shall Ua muck of the solid prosperity
fe:r.rI?e!i,-;;i:?y.,.;-.:;.-;
- i
J3zrjys . eoicjs ,gfteAa czrirrc? zvezranrS!
,-ws-nev Tv ' ia--- r. -4
:iiiaU
of our future. It means greater fi
nancial elasticity and vitality, the so
lution of the high cost of living, the
cessation of this panicky migration
from the country to the cities, where
there remains to be tackled the problem
of the cost of high living.
'The Pacific highway la a chain of
linked roads. We want you To im
prove your link and bind it securely
In this golden chain of the last West.
"The sign posts of this great road
command respect and have enjoyed
the loyal protection of all people along
Its entire length, except. I am grieved
to say. !n one or two places In the
Willamette Valley. Hera on one or
two occasions the village cut-up or
the near-humorous farmer has delib
erately reset one of the signs so as to
guide the traveler Into a blind road
and Into an unfamiliar and out-of-the-
way locality. This conduct has In It
much of the plauant cleverness of
striking a bidden guest over the nead
Just as he Is about to cross your
threshold. In one Instance, at least. It
has so Incensed and outraged a pros
pective Investor that nothing would
so surely throw him Into a frenzy of
anger as the mere mention of the lo
cality In which he had been misdi
rected and In which he had expected
to enjoy a new home."
PRE CAUTION IS URGED
WAY SHOWS TO MINIMIZE VP.
KEEP OF POLICE ACTO.
C. H. Klni: Says Drivers of Depart
ment Patrol Abuse Machine by
Reckless Driving-.
C. IV King, sales manager of the H.
L. Keats Auto Company, has a few
recommendations to make to the Po
lice Commissioners regarding the op
eration of the police auto patrol. The
repair bill for the department automo
bile for the month of November was.
deemed excessive by one of the Board
and also by Chief Slover. Mr. King
nolnted out that If the men driving
the machine would exercise a little
mora caution and spend a few minutes
each day tightening up Doits and nuts,
when there are any loose, the city will
be saved considerable money that oth
erwise will be necessary to spend for
Its uDkeeD.
The city officials later changed their
views regarding the bill, after It was
pointed out that nearly all the expense
waa Incurred when the auto was
mashed tn a collision with a downtown
urb. The automobile company Is not
harglng the rtty rent for the machine
now In use. i ne new pawui wn w
here early next month.
-Tou ran t take an antomoblle and
run it Into the curb, drive It at a speed
of 40 or to miles an hour and then atop
It In as many feet, never give It the
lightest attention and expect it to oe
run without repairs." says Mr. King.
While a police department automo
bile cannot be operated with the same
caution as a family car or a truck,
there are times when excessive speed Is
useless. It has been the case in the
past that the machine is raced through
the City at oreaa-nec ipeca wnea
here Is no need of It. aany times tne
to Is not brougnt to a graouai stop.
but all -the brake power . la appuea
Imultaneously.
"The department neaas snouia see to
it that chains are used when the streets
are the least bit slippery, for the auto
mobile usually Is going at such speed
that a sudden application of the brakes
can only result In the car skidding.
That is what caused. It to smash Into
the curb last week wet pavement, no
chains and a quick stop.
"When the new auto pairoi nrrivee.
m trntntr to reauest that one man be
put In charge of the machine and that
it shsll be his duty to see that it Is
properly cared for. To avoid unneces
sary repair Bum. tne) car snuuiu u
. 1 H ach day. , This would take
only a few minutes, and If one of the
department men cannot iriT m- i
the machine can be brought to our
garage and It will be Inspected by .an
expert mechanic without cost."
R Ci. Barker, manager of the Mlche-
Hn Tire Cnmnany. of Calllornia. was at
the Portland llchelin agency, last waek. ,
BURNS ADORES AUTO
Motor Trucks Relieve Town of
Transportation Problem.
LIVING EXPENSES ARE CUT
Power Wagons Haul Merchandise to
Central Oregon Town tor Much
Cheaper . Rate Than Horse-and-Wagon
Schedule.
Two three-ton motor trucks brought
Joy to the merchants of Burns, Or,
November 29, when the first automobile
freight line entered the town on sched
uled time after a two-day Journey from
Bend. Burns business men are not
quite so much interested in the pro
posed railroad from Vale to Burns
now, as they were a few weeks ago.
The coming of the motor truck an
swers their purpose very satisfactorily
and Is such a vast improvement over
the horse that they are contented to
wait until the steel rail magnates see
fit to connect their hamlet with the
outside world.
Until the memorable date noted
above, all merchandise carted into
the Central Oregon town came via
horse and wagon from Vale. Malheur
County. The route between those
towns Is such that it took 21 days
for the round trip with horses. The
automoble truck, making the longer
haul from Bend, the terminus of the
Oregon Trunk, makes the Journey in
two days. Naturally, the expense of
getting life's necessities to Burns has
undergone a substantial cut and the
consumer Is relieved, in a great meas
ure, of the strain of the high cost of
living.
Roste Traverses Desert.
The distance between Bend and
Burns is approximately 140 miles. The
route traverses an arid desert waste,
where roads are virtually an unknown
luxury and human habitations are few.
The only town encountered on the trip
la Riley, which. If It were on a rail
road, would be designated as a water
tank.
When C. C. Harrison, who Is at the
head of the Central Oregon Trucking
Company, broached the motor truck
idea to the Burns merchants they were
skeptical. Indeed some of them even
laughed at the scheme. His contention
that be could make the trip between
Bend and Burns In less than three
days, carrying capacity loads, was
looked upon as the dream of one used
to city pavements and garage facili
ties every few miles. At nrst tney
would not even entertain the proposition.
Franc C Rlggs. rackara aistrmuter
for Oregon, waa confident that his
trucks could cover the distance in the
time named. This conclusion was
reached after a trip over the route.
When the business men of Burns told
Harrison to "go to It," his prediction
waa Justified. The two three-ton
Packard motor trucks used by him
made the first trip In less than two
days.
The Vale-Burns route is open only
about half the year. It Is possible for
the automobile trucks to go from Bend
to Burns 11 months of the year, and
after a little more road Improvement
work is done the trip can De negotiated
during every month of the year.
Facilities Are Few.
Tavlnar Bend the first stop is Brook-
Ine's ranch, which Is about 75 miles
from the railroad town, or less than
half of the entire trip. me trucK
crew has to carry Its lunch, as the
start Is made early in the morning and
there Is no eating place between Bend
and Brooklng's ranch. At Brookings
the mechanics get their dinner. When
starting on the last lap of the run.
hv tiki anourh food and water to
supply them until they reach their destination.
Idea Originating With Locomotive
Designers Successfully Carried
Out . by Automobile '
Builders.
Prospective automoMle purchasers
the country over have manifested of
late an intense Interest in the merits
of underslung construction, as applied
to automobiles. So incessant has been
the call for a brief summary of the
advantages of . underslung cars that
Fred W. Haines, of Detroit, an author
ity on underslung construction as well
as the designer of many of the more
popular models, has given out the fol
lowing interview on this method of
motor car building:
"Underslung construction," declares
Mr. Haines, "simply means that the
weight of the automobile la 'slung' be
low the axles Instead of 'balanced'
above them. In the manufacture of au
tomobiles It Is merely the new appli
cation of an old principle. .For years In
locomotives.- railway cars, trucks and
other vehicles, where safety and ease
of riding at high speed were necessary,
engineers have used 'the underslung
construction. Its application to the au
tomobile Is new for one reason alone,
and that Is its cost. Designers have
for years realized Its advantages and
its merits have long since won the
approval of the best engineering prao
tlce. Vntil recently, however, the cost
of building an underslung car has pre
cluded the adoption of this type of
construction by any but the makers of
the highest-priced automobiles. The
advent of the modern moderate-priced
underslung car is due to the efficiency
of the present-day large scale produc
tion: it Is the direct creation of the
phenomenal progress which the auto
mobile industry has witnessed In the
last few years.
'Economy Is Claimed.
"Foremost among the advantages
claimed for the underslung construc
tion is the safety which it insures the
occupants of a car. A low frame makes
possible a low center of gravity, and
the result Is the reduction to a mini
mum of the tendency to skid or 'tur
tle'. The significance of this advan
tage will be readily appreciated when
it is realized that skidding is the cause
of a surprisingly high percentage of
automobile accidents.
"Another factor of safety lies in the
peculiar spring suspension and general
design of the car, giving, as it does.
Immunity "from spring breakage. The
recoil of all springs is upward, thus
reducing the rebound and violent Jolt
so noticeable with other types of cars.
Furthermore, if either the front or rear
spring should break, such breakage
will in no wise Interfere with the con
trol of the car. The remaining springs
will hold the frame In place lust as a
rectangular body supported at three
comers could be released at the fourth
corner and sustain weight.
"Contrary to the impression enter
tained by many people, the low frame
of an underslung car does not Jeop
ardize the safety of Its ocoupants In
clearing Irregularities In the road. The
dustpan of an underslung car is flat
and there, are no projections below it.
Equal road clearance Is maintained
throughout and the pan Is no lower by
actual measurement than the low
hanging flywheel and other projections
of the ordinary type of car. Until a
ruler Is brought Into service the or
dinary car may appear to have a great
er road clearance, but actual measure
ment disproves this supposition.
Comfort and Safety Obtalaed.
"Comfort In riding Is another dis
tinct advantage of the underslung type
of construction. The spring suspen
sion and large wheels eliminate the an
noying vibration so that the sensa
tion experienced by the car's occu
pants Is one of gliding rather than rid
ing. No type of construction makes for
easier riding qualities. The low frame
further makes possible easy -exit and
entrance: there is no climbing Into the
car. Accessibility of parts Is another
great convenience to the operator, and
all mechanical parts can be reached
conveniently.
"The position of the motor mokes
possible a straight-line drive, which
means less power Is required from the
motor to obtain certain results. A re
duction in the power required means
a resultant reduction in the gasoline
and oil consumption. Furthermore, all
underslung cars can be. equipped with
larger wheels without raising the car
too high from the ground. Larger
wheels mean a greater tire mileage, a
condition also made possible by a
spring construction which relieves the
usual side lash so wearing on tires.
Tire economy Is not a theory or vain
vision with cars of the underslung
type. Records prove it to be a reality.
"I mlKht go on Indefinitely to ex
pound the advantages of underslung
construction. The best testimonial of
Its worth is the great increase in the
popularity of underslung automobiles
both In the United States and Eng
land." 1
MOTORISTS everywhere have been talking about the remarkable Liberty-Brush
automobile for $350. ,'They have been wondering how it is possible to build a
motor car for such a price. You have hearcl it discussed.
Farmers, Grocers, Insurance Men, Sewine Ma
chine Salesmen, Physicians, Storekeepers are using-
Liberty-Brush cars.
The Liberty-Brush is here in our show-room
for your inspection on the street for your trial.
When you see it and ride in it you will wonder
still more and your enthusiasm will be as great
as ours. We want you to investigate the Liberty-Brush
carefully, for it has established history
in motordom since it was announced. Its appear
ance and performance are as wonderful as its
. price.
It will be well worth your while to investigate
this Liberty-Brush now. 'There are scores of
ways in which it is invaluable to you regardless
of your occupation. -
The family can run to the station or the store,
or take afternoon drives. Salesmen can cover
more territory in shorter time saving expense
of livery bills and increasing revenue. Archi
tects, Builders, Bakers, Commercial Travelers,
It is easy to examine the Liberty-Brush, and
we are glad to answer your questions. Ask us
to tell about the Abernathy kids, ages 9 and 6,
who drove a Brush from New York to Oklahoma
City; or of R. F. D. Carrier Ingersoll, who drove
25,000 miles at an average cost of lVs cents a
mile. Or ask about the Brush economy contest
in which the winner ran 100 miles for 39 cents
and 98 of 109 cars ran for less than. a dollar.
Let us explain how the United States Motor
Company "cares for your car wherever yon are." ,
We represent the Liberty-Brush here and we want
you to know it. We will call for you if you let ns
know your address and we can take you any place
in our Liberty-Brush that any automobile can go.
MAIN 8121
A-7612
Oregon Brush Auto Co. 531 Alder St-
Distributers for State of Oregon-
Some good territory still open for live, established dealers.
Write today.
DEATH OMIACING NEAR
EXPERT SAYS VAVDERBIL.T CCP
EVENT IS DLTE FOR DISCARD.
Manufacturers Through With Track
Meets, Is Opinion of Man Who
, Is Close to Auto-Makers.
mcw -vrtTfrc Tier. 19. (SDeclal.)
Waning public Interest, the uselessness
of demonstrating how fast cars can
. travel and the needless waste of human
life are fast putting automobile racing
In the discard. ' For three years at
tendance at the blgr races has steadily
decreased. The recent running of the
Vanderbilt cup race at Savannah, de
spite the fact that phenomenal speed
was attained by the-ars, was not an
unqualified success, and today Alfred
Reeves, former member of the Vander
bilt Cup Commission and the racing
board of the American Automobile' As
sociation, predicted that about one
more running will end that classic
"It is not to be denied," said Mr,'
Reeves, "that the Vanderbilt trophy
did a lot for the automobile industry.
It has accomplished- all that William
K. Vanderbilt set out to do when he
offered the trophy, proving that Amer
ica can produce the best cars and
nerviest drivers of the world. When
the running of this last race began the
foreign drivers, notably those "
France, were leading the earth . in
speed. For the last four years Amer
ican cars and American drivers have
been in front and it was Just this that
Mr. Vanderbilt wanted to prove. This
accomplished, the usefulness of the
race la past, and I am convinced that
there will not be more than one more
running of It. although I know of no
official attempt to end it-
"The Vanderbilt will not be the only
race to go, however, for all speed con
tests are now seen to be useless by the
majority of automobile manufacturers.
When Benjamin Briscoe, president of
the United States Motorcar Company,
retired from racing a year ago he was
. i l.. manv mn nuTucturers.
conaenuieu ; ""-"J . -
yet since that time many of these have
come to his way of thinking. Buyers of
automobiles to whom races were sup
posed to appeal-are not look ng for
speed. What they want is rellabllitj,
and it is a fact that 80 per cent of all
cars sold are of moderate speed. Ac
cordingly, unlike speed contests, relia
bility runs are here to stay.
-Five years ago practically ery au
tomobile manufacturer raced. Through
it there was a great deal to be learned
and there was real need of giving cars
abnormal tests. Automobiles have now
Reached such a high state of P'rfecUon,
however, that the need of these tests
does not exist.'
That the public is no longer inter
ested to any great extent was evident
It the recent running of the Vander-
mental in the abandonment of the race
by Savannan. intra u. --
steadily decreasing attendance at all
the meets for three years, with the sole
exception of races at Indianapolis last
year, .when there was Interest in the
EOO-mlle race solely because of the big
prize at stake .25,000.
"Another big factor In determination
of so many manufacturers to retire
from racing Is the needless waste of
human life. In the development of al
most every item of human progress
there has been a necessary list of
deaths. This has to a certain extent
Justified deaths in aviation, but deaths
from automobile racing are not neces
sary, and the sport has well been
termed 'barbaric.'
"The time has come for the automo
bile racing industry to stop pandering
to cheap notoriety and barnstorming.
It is time for the industry to take the
place in dignity along with the other
gTeat Industries of the country, with
which it truly ranks. In its solving of
the transportation problem It deserves
to be considered along with the food.
steel and clothing industries, and rac
ing can never help It do this."
Another Xew Truck Likely.
The recent addition to the engineer
ing Btaff of the Studebaker Corpora
tion cf Albert F. Mais Is taken as an
indication in automobile circles that
the E.-M.-F. plant soon will be turning
out a motor truck. No announcement
to this effect has been made by Walter
E. Flanders, general manager of the
concern, but it is expected soon.
Mr. Mais Joined the Studebaker Cor
poration In the role of consulting engi
neer. He formerly was connected with
the engineering department of the
Daimler,Benz and other European fac
tories. His designs in America have
been prominent In endurance and other
commercial vehicle tests, in which they
have shown good quality. - '
t
" Y5-ss
xJ" -
' ' 1 r-rn.i.8
DobbinsBIowout Chains
A PLEASED USER
For Sale at All Supply Houses
and uarages.
PORTLAND, Oct. 27. 1911.
Mr. F. W. Todd. ,
Agt. Dobbins' Blow-out Chains,
Portland, Oregon.
Decromplylng with my promise to you
I wish to advise you that the two sets
of chains which you placed on my tire
at Roseburg have stood up perfectly,
and since my arrival at Portland I am
convfneed that these chains are the
best ever for repairing blow-outs l A
you know, .the tire which you fitted
with these chains I - was about to
throw away. and they not only
broueht this tire into Portland In good
condition, but I fully expect to get at
least a thousand miles more out of this
I regret very much that I had not
known of these chains before I started
on my three-thousand-mile trip, as I
h .i.-.v fires which would have
been of service much longer, and I estimate that 1 would have saved at least
We
MIGHTY IV
T1 "Ti.r3.T
BMITU IP A M
-If
jK..- .- Si J
41
--Wiway
Five Models, 33 and 40-Horsepower.
Fully Equipped, $1350 to $1750.
All 1912 models equipped with the Michigan Self -Starter.
Every "Michigan" car is covered by the strongest guarantee
ever backed by a manufacturer. It will pay you to investigate
it. You want service, and that's what you get with a
"Michigan."
Michigan Auto &
Buggy Co.
Northwest Branch W. A. Wildrick, Mgr.
Phones: East 1421, B 1345. 369-371 Hawthorne Ave.
. , v. i JU.vto v.-r o trnnt t hlTUsT. ana WlSil lO
J i J T -
jav that vou may reier
! lO M. RUUU fcia.si-H. " , j
n v tim. and I can moat conscieauuuoij
enthusiastically recommend the chafns to any one who and I wish for
r.t i . u r,f ubn.a Ll'nlcn . citV blOCK. .HQ X WISH 1 u 1
you'all the success In the world In marketing the Invention. .
Very truly yours, A. P. MATntwa,
Western Bales iUnager for Robert Johns. Lumber Exchange Bldg, Portland.
are here. A revelation in the manufacturing of a
high-grade car at a medium price.
SELF-STAETER, OF COURSE.
PORTLAND-DETROIT AUTO CO.
J. E. Maxon, Manager.
Fourteenth and Couch Streets.
Phones: Marshall 1565, A 2103.