TITE SUNDAY OREGOXIAN. PORTLAXD. JULY 21, 1912.
ow is the Time to Buy a
TRIP TO GOLDEN STATE BY
AUTOMOBILE FOUND INSTRUCTIVE
Oregon Can Learn by Seeing Good Roads in California, Says Motorist-r-E. L. Thompson, Who Made Ran to San
Francisco, Says Oregon Loses by Lack of Better Highways.
13
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1 Per f get Road Between Sacramento
and San Francisco 150 A! ilea Lodr
2, Rest in a- In a Shady Spot In Cow
Creek Canyon -3, Winding Mountain
Road Between Kennett and Dnnamnlr
-4, One of the Numerous Kerries
Croaaed on the War to California
6, On the Top of the Siskiyou.
A liberal education In the matter of
good, and bad roads, according- to E. L.
Thompson, la a trip from Portland
over the mountains to San Francisco
by automobile. Mr. Thompson,, with
his family, has Just completed such a
trip, and he says that he wishes every
resident, of Oregon who is Indifferent
to the importance of road improve
ment, could have a similar experience.
"We ought to be thoroughly ashamed
of ourselves," said Mr. Thompson, de
ploring the particularly bad roads In
Southern Oregon. "Here in our state
we have some of the most beautiful
scenery on the continent, and in the
wonderful Crater Lake region we have
an. attraction for tourists unsurpassed
anywhere, yet our highways leading
Into this section are In disgraceful con
dition. Not only are they rough and
uncomfortable, but actually dangerous
to traverse. The persistent motorist,
after managing1 somehow to negotiate
these treacherous gutters, and pushing
on over the mountains, finds a marked
contrast In the beautiful, well-kept
boulevards of California. Consider
in? the comparatively unattractive
scenery or me aacramenio aiiey
region, and the hot weather with
whirling dust and gusty winds of that;
section, one might wonder how it comes ,
that these California roads are fairly
alive with touring cars, with green,
cool, appealing Oregon so near by ex
cept for the condition of the roads In
our state. The roads are the explana
tlon. and if our highways were only
half so good as those In California we
would draw touring parties from all
over the country all season long."
Trip Take Six Days.
"We made the trip from Portland to
San Francisco In six days," continued
Mr. Thompson, "and were kept very
busy at that. This trip really should
take only four and a half or five
days, and this would be the standard
time for the Journey If our roads were
anywhere near what they should be.
With the present tendency towards
open-air driving and the popular idea
of spending vacations traveling by
motor, we should right now be draw
ing the bulk of the non-resident travel
to our Northwest, where we have the
cool weather, green woods and ever
changing panorama of beautiful scen
ery In contrast to the dry. scorched
plains and foothills of California.
Bad Roads Expensive.
"By our backwardness In improv'
Ing our roads we are losing a great
deal of money and valuable opportuni
ties of advertising. The average tour
lng car carries five or six people and
each party Is good for from Ho to J2o
per day at hotels along the route. If
our roads were comfortable to travel
upon we could have a steady stream of
these touring cars running through our
state from early May until away Into
October and November, and the money
they would bring Into the Northwest
would be scattered throughout the
country, in much more beneficial way
than that which we have been gather
ing In through our festivals and carni
vals here in Portland. And this would
not be the only benefit of road im
provement, for local business and land
values would feel the advantage very
quickly of the easy and comfortable
highways. All through Central and
Upper California this Is realized, and
the hotels -nd business houses along
the way look forward every season to
the profits that come to them from
automobile travel. Automobile parties
are a wholesome class, liking good
rooms, good fare, and everything first
class. They are good-natured and pay
liberally for good treatment. It is a
class of patronage that Oregon should
not be missing.
Preliminary Work Big- Aid.
"The one thing that was impressed
upon my mind, second to the bad roads
in Oregon and the good roads in Cali
fornia, on this trip," added Mr. Thomp
son, "was the excellent preliminary
work already done by the Pacific
Highway Association. The surveying
parties for this organization have gone
over the route most carefully and if
the doubtful tourist will always fol
low the way pointed out by the official
signs, he will not make any mistakes.
Through the vicissitudes of our Jour
ney, these signs of the Pacific High
way Association loomed up as never
failing beacons, and. as we came to
each one we felt as if we had found
an old friend. They are placed at each
parting of the ways, and, although
they seem at times to counsel the trav
eler wrong, this Is never the case. No
matter how rutty and treacherous
seems the road they point to, nor how
fair and inviting the way that leads
In another direction, the signs are to
be relied upon, and if they sometimes
seem to lead one a long way around,
there is always a good reason for it.
The "pathfinder" cars that have sjone
over the route very painstakingly have
tried out every possibility and have
chosen the easiest and safest of the
roads.
"One of the very worst stretches of
road Is that through Pass Canyon,
from Cottage Grove southward, anc:
again the road on both sides of the
border line in the vicinity of Cole's
Station is very bad." ,
Of adventures along the way, the j
Thomnson nartv had an abundance. Asseveral bad mudholes and sinks had
they were passing through Cottage been negotiated with difficulty.
. . . : Towards the end of the Journey,
rove a oeavy raiu 8lunu """miles out of San Francisco, they
as they proceeiea tne rain Degan tstruck tne hard surface of the excellent
come down in torrents, tne rutty roaaroad tnat runs into the broad boule
became worse and worse and the carvard being built through the foot
beean to skid badly. Directing the hills into Oakland. This road, for
rest of his party to get out and walk, about 40 miles, leads through "Dublin
Mr. Thompson put chains on both rear Hills," And the boulevard is to be 60
and forward wheels and cautiously feet wide, hard-surfaced, curbed and
drove the car forward at little more with a grade of only 60 per cent. It
than a snail's pace. The storm and runs along the edge of a gorge.
the bad roads continued until within through the mountains, and is most at
about 80 miles of Comstock, where the tractive. But if Oregon could have
persistent optimist and good roads such a road through any portion of its
booster, somewhat bedraggled, but still beautiful scenery, there would be no
cheerful, again took his passengers onpossible comparison, says Mr. Thomp
board. son. who says "it is to be hoped that
By way of a change, an InvitlngOregon residents will come to realize
stretch of roadway, of decayed granite, their neglected opportunities in the
was happened upon between Ashlandnear future and help the good roads
and Grants Pass, but previous to thisenthusiasts to do something."
ELECTRICS GOHE III
Dealers Say Eastern People
Bring Cars With Them.
PRICES ARE DEPRECIATING
Immense Growth In Popularity Is
Shown by Increased Somber of
Machines in rse Cost of Up
keep Is Diminishing.
BY J. It. D. KEPPT.
Durinir the recent Elks' convention
many of the visitors remarked about
the absence of electric cars In this city
anil nuestloned the reason therefor.
They remarked about the miles of fine.
hard-surface streets, the Deautirui resi
dences, the vast wealth of Portland and
the Ideal conditions for tne elecric car.
Some of the visitors rented electrics
and the manager of one of the electric
garages said that he had rented every
electric he could put In commission,
and all to Eastern people.
The reason for this probably Is tnat
electrics have been used for a longer
time In the East, 'the factories being
there and naturally catering to the
nearest markets. Today, however, the
electric manufacturers consider the en
tire country their market and are build
ing their plants to take care of the
growing demand for this type of car,
which has gained a reputation for Its
simplicity, quiet running, convenience
and comfort.
That the electric is practical and is
growing In demand Is shown by the
following figures or three American
cities:
Number of electrics in use 1905 1913
Chicago .800 4500
Detroit : 200 1800
Denver 100 1100
Growth of Manufacturing; Shorn.
This shows an increase worth con
sidering, while the following table
shows the Increase of manufacturers
caused by the demand:
In 1905 there were: Babcock. Baker,
Waverly, w oods, Rauch & Lang. Co
lumbus, Studebaker.
In 1911 there are: Babcock, Baker,
Waverly. Woods, Ohio, Bailey, Colum
bus. Rauch & Lang, standard, Hupp
Yeats, Flanders, Ideal, Kimball. De
troit. Studebaker.
Portland .people are Becoming inter
ested in the electric and the Increase
in sales has been good the past two
years. Quite a few Eastern people who
have taken up their residence here have
brought their electrics with them from
the East and have found ideal condi
tions in Portland.
The upkeep expense on the new elec
trie cars is low, when equipped with
solid tires and the latest battery. The
public electric garage will make a rate
of about $1 per charge and with the
new long-distance electrics It is not
necessary to re-charge until after the
car has been driven 60 or 70 miles,
which is about three times as far as
the average car is used In a day. This
basis would incur an expense of $10 to
$12 per month and the car could be
kept at the residence garage. However
It Is much better and more convenient
to Install a charging plant in the resl
dence garage. This is automatic in its
action and shuts off when the car is
charged. The expense of charging by
this method averages about 18 per
month. The Poulson residence, in the
Irvington district, has a complete elec
trie garage, where two electrics are
housed and charged. The charging
plant has been in operation for two
years, giving practically no trouble
and at a very low expense. There are
several of these plants In Portland.
Electrics Are Cheaper.
The electric has been considerably
reduced in price in the past two years.
not at the expense of the construction
of the car, but because the manufac
turers have more experience and can
build a car at less cost than formerly.
An electric car can now be purchased
at a reasonable price and with the low
upkeep expense It becomes more of an
Investment than a luxury.
The electrlo broughan is the Ideal car
for all-year use. In the Summer all
windows can be opened, allowing plenty
of air, and In the winter with the win
dows closed it is as comfortable as the
living-room. No one knows the real
value of an electric until they own one
of the modern makes. A garage man
has remarked that one of his patrons
drove her electric 15,000 miles In the
past 18 months and there was real
trouble If the car was out of commis
sion for a day. This is a Portland
woman, too.
ONE MODEL PLAN BEST
AGENT SATS IT HELPS OWXER
AXD DEALER ALIKE.
Concentration of Effort on Single
Machine Minimizes Cost of
Production and TTpkeep.
Concentration of effort on the pro
duction of one model has figured large
ly in the success of manufacturers
of popular-priced and medium-priced
automobiles. Announcements made by
several of the leading makers show
that the tendency toward this idea is
growing more and more pronounced.
Keen competition In tne automobile
field has caused the manufacturers to
strain every point to minimize the cost
of production and facilitate the mar
keting and maintenance of their prod
ucts. To this end they are hitting on
the "one-model" plan.
The logic of producing only one
model is apparent to ail who are famil-
This is just the season of the year
when motoring can be enjoyed to its
fullest extent
And the car that will give you this
motor enjoyment unhaunted by doubt,
misgivings or the bogey of high upkeep
cost, is the Studebaker "20."
You can buy a Studebaker "20" blind
fold. The name has been a synonym for
quality for over 60 years and eliminates
any element of chance.
The quality of the Studebaker "20" is
equal to that of any car made, irrespec
tive of prica
We know, because every part of
Studebaker cars is manufactured in our
own plants guaranteeing to us what we
guarantee to you.
The good appearance of your car is
another essential to motor enjoyment
Note the just pride that every Stude
baker owner takes in the style and good
looks of his car.
You can always pick a Studebaker.
Beauty and mechanical perfection
distinguish them.
The Studebaker system includes the
largest and best equipped factories in the
world. Hundreds of automatic machines
manufacture parts for Studebaker cars
with superhuman exactness and at low
est cost. A corps of engineers and
inspectors direct the work of 10,000
skilled mechanics.
Because of our enormously increased
factory facilities made necessary to cope
with the constantly growing demand for
Studebaker cars, we are now in position
to make prompt deliveries.
75,000 Studebaker cars in use with
every owner satisfied, are convincing
proof of Studebaker supremacy.
This is the Car You Want
The $800 Studebaker (Flanders) "20"
( Price, Standard Equipped $800 t. o. b. Detroit.
Equipped,' aa above, with Top, Windshield, Preat-O-Lito Tank and Speedometers $883.
Let us give you a demonstration.
Take a ride in a car that is not a luxury
but a healthful form of pleasure that cannot
be equaled in any other -way at several times
the cost
We are ready to serve you.
Ask our dealer for the new Studebaker art catalogue or send to 00 for tl
THE STUDEBAKER CORPORATION - - - DETROIT, MICHIGAN
OREGON
, Portland, Studebaker Corporation of America
Salem E. M. F. Motor Sales Co. Forest Grove Goff Brothers. Aurora F. t. Miller.
Hillsboro Wilkes Auto & Garage Co. . Ne-wbeig L. E. Baughmau. Yamhill F. L. TrullingeE
WASHINGTON
Ridgefield A. N. Allen. Vancouver Clement & Moss. Kelso F. W. McKenney.
lar with the motor car Industry," said
F. W. Vogler, Northwest agent for the
Reo, Apperson and Little cars, In dls
cusslnit this subject the other day. "It
eliminates a world of complicated ma
chinery, makes the buying of material
easier and cheaper, and brings to a
minimum In more ways than one the
cost of running the factory.
'It Is the dealers who benefit most
by this clan. They do not need to
carry several stocks of different parts
complete sets lor each moaei ana
they are better able to render adequate
service to their customers. This Is a
big point In their advantage, more so
than most people realize. since ine
question of service replacing parts
quickly has become an important fac
tor In the business, the dealer who can
render the best service Is the one who
will eventually have the highest in
crease in sales, provided, of course, he
handles a good car. The lewer tne
parts he Is forced to carry, the more
asily he can give gooa service.
Delve into the history 01 tne suc
cess of the biggest automobile manu
facturer the world has ana you will
find that one of the most important
factors In his great success has been
his concentration on one model. Thus
It has been with the Reo. The Reo
Motor Car Company manufactures but
ne model the color, the equipment.
the construction on each Is Identically
the same.
rhi. nf rnmrinsr different mod
els, with different colors and body de-
slgns. Is unwise In the long run, I
think. As soon as a prospective pur
chaser finds out that the ear the dealer
Is agent for Is made in only one color
and one design, he will become recon
ciled to that fact. Given a wide va
riety to choose from, he will ponder
and fret and always want to see' the
particular model the dealer doesn't
have In stock. s
"My experience has been that It Is
easier to get results with the 'one
model' car. The sales organization, by
concentrating efforts on that one car,
will bring much-better results.. Eventu
ally, I believe, all makers of popular
priced and medium-priced machines
will come to this method."
HOXEST MAXWELL MEN FOTTND
Owners "Refuse to Cheat in Order to
Get Gold Medal.
Diogenes' search for an honest man
would be cut short if the 60.000 Mile
Maxwell Motor Club existed In his
time.
No less than 20 candidates for the
club made oath of a mileage just un
der 50,000 and received silver medals,
when a few miles more would have
gained solid gold medals for them.
However, It, Is said that nonesty la
Its own reward, and In this case the
proverb holds true. All have received
sliver medals and in a few weeks they
will get the gold medals, too.
OAKLAND
OREGON DISTRIBUTORS
Main 75 Phones A. 4655
PACIFIC MOTORS CO.
632 Washington Street
Mil a mi oma- LH iiiu. 11 111111 wrnii jsyBMiL.ii min i I
if
Federal Tires are recog
nized by automobilists
who know as the tires of
"Extra Service." Their,
exceptional endurance,
and the unusual service
thejr render are due . to
their high quality.
Federal Tires are the tires
you should select because of
the extra service they de
liver. The additional miles
they give will materially re
duce your tire expense.
Ask to see Federal Tires
their superiority will be ap
parent. In all types, for all standard rim .
WEST COAST SUPPLY CO,
Distributers,
31-33 North Seventh St.