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About The Sunday Oregonian. (Portland, Ore.) 1881-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 18, 1912)
V TTTE SUNDAY OnEOOXIAy, PORTLAND ATJGUST 18, 1913. ELECTRIC FAVORED FOR CITY TRAVEL Good Reasons Advanced for Increase in Demand for These Cars. ' CARE NEEDED IS SLIGHT If Battery I GWen ecesxy At tention and Flushed at Inter Tals little More Is Required. BT J. U D. KEPPT. The electric la fast becoming reco id ai the mot convenient car for town ue and the Interest which la being- manifested In thU type of auto mobile 1 growing every day. It is es timated that at Jeaet 50 new electrics will be placed in Portland between now and the Christmas holidays. People sow realise that the electric ! reli able and. in many ways, the Ideal means of getting- about In the city. The care necessary to keep an elec tric In good running condition Is very light, bat there are details which should be looked after regularly It the maintenance bills are to be kept at Ue lowest figure. These details often are neglected, causing trouble and Incon veniences that can be avoided if negli gence does not rule. Give an electric one-tenth of the care required to keep a gas car in running condition and it will prove to be one of the best friends the owner could have. The battary. tor Instance, is the heart of an eleotric car and requires attention. The battery should be kept Hushed, that is. the cells should be filled with water at In tervals to keep the electrolyte or fluid, over the top of the plates. In this climate a flushing will last a week or 10 days. The time necessary to flush a battery, providing the cells are accessible. Is about 15 minutes and ran be done by an inexperienced person. The only caution necessary is not to overflow the cells. The battery should be fully charged out it Is not necessary to charge- a bat tery every time it Is used. Sometimes a car Is used but a few miles a day and possibly only one-eighth of the charge has been used. If the battery Is charged every time it is used for short runs, the effect is the same as a man eating all the time. His stomach would soon get out of order. And so it Is with the battery of an electric car. ' It has been shown times Innumerable that it is best not to charge the bat tery until the current Is at least two thirds exhausted. Keep the battery flushed, charge w-ben necessary, ac cording to the mileage of the car. and not only will the maintenance, expense be very low but the battery will last much longer and give the best service. There are various makes of batteries on the market, and In purchasing a car it is advisable to see that the bat tery equipment Is of a-reputable make, aa this has considerable to do with the future service. The motor of an electric car requires very little attention. The best makes are equipped with anular bearings, . which require attention only in one to three years. Occasionally it is well to clean the brushes and commutator, but this Is seldom necessary, as the mod ern motor Is built dustproof and water tight, and will run indefinitely with very little attention. In running the car much better serv ice can be had by careful driving. In starting, be sure that the brakes are released before turning on the power and put on the power one point at a time. Many electric car drivers are not cautious of this, and go through the controller two and three notches at a time. This not only waates current and reduces the mileage, t ut causes great strain on the motor, transmission and tires. Just a little care on this particu lar point will save many dollars and greatly increase me Hie, mileage ana service of the machine. In stopping. It is best to turn off the power 50 or 100 feet and coast to the destination, applying the brakes slight ly when the car Is stopped. This saves an undue strain on the car and un necessary wear on the brakes. Invariably, when an owner has be come dissatisfied with an electric, tha reasons therefor can be traced to neg lect and carelessness on the part of the caretaker of the machine or the work of the driver. A little, but necessary, care, and good Judgment In driving, will make the electric an invaluable servant In . business or pleasure. KXIGHT MOTORS VICTORIOUS American Engines Make European Automobile Men Marvel. Most recent of the strenuous European automobile races the Belgian grand prise over the Ardennes circuit, re sulted in a tie between the three-car teams of the Minerva-Knight type and the Hormes machines. The two-day event comprised 12 rounds over the 30-mlIe course, a total of 720 miles for the two days. Because of the wide spread Interest among continental mo tor engineers in the sleeve-valve type of engine. Invented by Charles Y. Knight, of Chicago, and the prominence of the cars in the ten teams as well as the individual machines that contested In the long, grueling competition, the honors at the end practically were ex clusive to the Minerva-Knight entrants. p-y virtue of performance and piston diSDlacement the Belgium-made auto mobiles, equipped with the American motor, came out of the wonderful teat the wonder of the engineers. Among the contestants beaten by the Minerva-KniKht were the Lion-Peugeot. of French grand prlx victory fame; a Mercedes-Knight team, three Opals, three Benx and three Excelsiors and three-car teams of 3. S. A. . A., F A. B. and Vivinus make. With only two irand Drtze Schneiders named, no com plete team data was available on these machines. Besides mere was a uw man valveless. a Chartler, Rolland- Pilan, Ulspano Suiza and a Ford. PACKARD FORCE IIAS XEW HEAP J. G. Vincent Assumes Charge of Corps of Engineers. The Packard Motor Car Company has cured a notable addition to Its es rlnixrinr forces in the apoointinent of J. G. Vincent to the position of chief engineer. Mr. incent becomes the ex ecutive head of the active engineering corps, with Its four subdivisions known as carriage chassis, carriage body. truck and experimental divisions. Russell Huff, consulting engineer, and . c. J. Moore, manufacturing engineer, botn of whom have been with the Pack ard company since the bringing out of the first mode!, will constitute an ad vlsory body having supervision over all Packard engineering work. Mr. Vincent, formerly chief engineer with the Hudson company, was at one time superintendent or invention wun ihm Burrouchs Adding Macnme torn pany. He has a wide reputation as a designer of motor cars. LOS ANGELES-TO-NORTH-YAKIMA MOTORISTS WHO BOOST SIGNPOST ACTIVITY OF PORT- ...-. LAND AUTO CLUB. . - - , 2f i ,iAim rtiwn I lmmm 1 1 ' i- ri, y c -rJg- ill -m-r vf; FROM LEFT TO RIGHT THB Senators Favor Improvement of Nation's Roads. IMPORTANCE POINTED OUT Ileytmrn, of Idaho, Propose System of Progressive Construction In Country So Highways Will Be Of Permanent Kind. TCxtinnKi roads are comlns in for re peated reference in the Senate debates relating to the postofflce appropria tion bilL It Is evident that there is nnfntlv srrowlne belief that the Federal Government before long should concern Itself with tha construction of trunk Una roads, thus encouraging and making more convenient the great flood ot interstate irmrei, v m-u, un cording to the American Automobile Association Touring Board. Is greater at the present time than it has ever been since the coming at the motor-driven vehicle. t-. i - v- iihatA lit tha senate. Senator Swanson, of Virginia, made this comment: e are now uuh.hi. with the proposition whether the Fed- i .tioii a. siul not ex eriu uvtci uuniuk .- - tend aid for the development, lmprov- ment and construction 01 ni time has. arrived, or win very -.- rive, when the people of the United States will demand that tha Federal, Government shall extend proper aid. Whatever may do ins view i " i- - -. ihAt mmt 1nvftablv be met. and one that cannot be shirked When a government comes to extend aid for roads there are two ways by which it can be done: n con iiu.. the money to construct the road itself, or it can aid, stimulate, and lend In ducement to the local authorities to do the work of road construction and Improvement-" - . Heybnrn Is Favorable. uknm of Idaho, believes: "When the Government enters upon this class of work it should be for the con struction of roads up to tne sianaaru of the highest use. not all at one time, w... . ; i anri e-T-Aduallv: not UU. HJIJ.'UMWuui v ' roads one part of which would be worn out before the otner w cuiui.ii but a system ol progressive cuuauu. . v . vAanit within a reason able time In a system of permanent good roads. ' , Senator Williams, of Mississippi, is a contender for first-class construction. Said he. "You must make one road good, then you must make another good, and then a tnira ana i must be some scheme whereby that could be done with fairness to tne suites and the several sections ui country." Senator Lodge, or oiassacnuseits. . i . "t n. . nT. t n Anter unon tne iruuB. . " v w i policy of Federal aid in good roaaa iu Will " " mi - k-. v. - Ptinnmft Canal cost. and It ought to be done only alter UlUUVllB . most careful consideration ana on broad,' well-understood, well-arranged '. . fr.. thA millions expended we may get value in the return we desire in good roaas. nM.n.niiilaloB ! Made. lsl senAiui - i chairman of the senate coramu " Postofflces and posiroaus, iu. i In fflvnr nf fcTOod TOadS. My opinion Is, however, that we have not sufficient information to take in telligent action as to tne oes. dkiuU of proceaure. . The resolution adopted' at the Wash' i . t..,ai im Pnnvntlnn in J 3.11 inaiuii ... Uttiy io.ofc, - Association's National good roads v. -tt innniar. mil in ur for a Joint i - r riv tnii.n T n A Auiumuuna committee of the two houses, was the basis of a recommenaauon the Senate by Its committee on post offices and postroads. This recom mendation provided that a Joint com mittee be created composed of three members ot tne enwi wmuu " nomhar of the House committee. to make Inquiry into the subject of Federal aid in me conuuiinu hirhwavs and to report at the earliest practicable date. , 5IOLF.R COLE WESTERN HEAD Four Additions Made to Traveling Force of Indiana. Firm. In line with the policy of the Cola Motor Car Company to maintain the highest service for their owners, four valuable additions nave own m - their traveling field force that add tone and strength to their service or-i"- C. J. Corkhlll. a Middle Western auto mobile man with long-standing reputa tion and experience, haa been appointed assistant sales manager with head quarters at Omaha. Neb. He will have charge of a territory bounded by the Mississippi River on the east, the Gulf ot Mexico on the south, and Rockies nn . . nA rmjiH, nn th north. He mo " - will have the same supervision as the -. . i p.i. Brnnral sales miaagcr oi . . n. r.- Onmnftnv in hlR trritorV J. R. Moler is to hold a similar posi tion in the territory west of the NATIONAL I URGED TOURISTS ARB J. O. tAMB, MR. H. V. Rockies up and down the Coast. Mr. Moler will make his headquarters with the large Cole distributers, but will do continual traveling among Cold agents. . J. R. Hamilton, who has a reputation as a thorough mechanic knowing the automobile from radiator cap to tha tip of the rear spring, will be associated with Mr. Moler as the West Coast service expert. W. B. Lacer, who is a man with considerable experience In the automobile manufac turing game, is second Cole service ex pert added. - Howe's Force Increased. Fred N. Howe, manager of J. W. Leavitt. & Co., 1 congratulating him self on taking away from the Leavltf branch in Beattle Robert Atkinson, one if the llvest wire and best-liked sales men along automobile row in the north ern city. Atkinson arrived here last week to assume his new duties. Besides selling Overlands here, Atkinson will have charge of the advertising depart ment of the local branch. ' n 1912 OUTPUT DOUBLED MITCHEM DEALERS PREDICT BIG SALES INCREASE. Factory Meeting Resnlts In Display of Great Enthusiasm Over . Latest Models. RACINE. Wis., Aug. IT. (Special.) One of the most enthueiastlo meetings ever held by the distributers of the Mitchell car has Just been closed and the representatives here returned to their several homes, firm in the belief that they will easily double their sales with the new models. So strong was this iLiiran(-e that the company has already Issued the shop orders doubling the output of 1912. Every section of the United states iimi fAn&riA vm reoresented in he gathering of. 150 distributers, from No va Scotia to British Columbia ana irom Maine to California. The policy of the company is "qual ity and then quantity." They have al- - . . . . . . I . Si 1 AAA ways Deiievea it oener i nnil miithliiAi than 10.000 which WOUld be only ordinary as -to quality. It is no wonder, tnereiore, mi wucu these "distrlbutersralready overflowing 4. W .nthnalaam frrtnl nfl. TtfirfOmi- ances of the Mitchell product, viewed tne HIS moaei. aispiuyea in forms, in the new salesroom at the .mnMlnAltal V HC?lA.rfl? their ability 'to double their sales the com ing year. r...ir. thA 1ltrihuters were entertained "a la Mitchell." All of the many factory additions and im provements were snown tnem; me were banqueted at the Country Club, the best and most beautiful in the city; given a sight-seeing tour of Racine with its delightful drives, beautiful parks- and residential districts, and a theater party. A tareweu mmuruu 4m tha. fftrtnrv dlninsroom. at which W. I Day, sales manager, ex- dence' shown, and wished all present Don voyage on vueir leimu. POPULAR AUTOMOBIIiE SAl.ES MA!f JOINS STLDEBAKEB CORPORATION. 1U iK'ii-i-i'. William O, Duabar. 1 William G. Dunbar, a . well irnmm anA' nontilar automobile salesman, will enlarge his field of activity by becoming associat ed with the Studebaker Corpora tion tomorrow. Mr. Dunbar was for several years factory repre sentative of the Bulck Automo bile Company and later associat ed with the General Motors Com pany. Since coming to Portland two years ago' he has been a member of the sales force of the Howard Auto Company. A TT Rrnwn. manager of the KtnHohalcar Cornnration. savs: i' "It Is my Intention to maintain the most efficient sales organiza tion on the Paetfic Coast, which is in keeping with the Studebaker policy, and I consider that I -am particularly fortunate in secur ing the service of Mr. Dunbar." i DIERKEH, H. DIKRKER. AUTO SIGHS HELP Tourists Praise Posts Put Up by Portland Club. ROADS ARE IN GOOD SHAPE H. F. Dieker Passes Through Port land on Los Angeles-Walla Walla Trip Pacific Highway Is Main Route Chosen. "The sign post activity of the Port land Auto Club has made motoring in Oregon a pleasure the autolBts of a few years ago cannot appreciate," says H. F. -Dierker, of Los Angeles, who passed through Portland last Tuesday In his Overland "30" on the final spurt of his Los Angeles-to-Walla Walla trip. "A person who hasn't made the trip under the old postless order of things cannot realise how the sign posts, with their feeling of security from wrong roads, adds to the enjoyment of motor ing. "The ro&ds are excellent, and if the average automobile owner knew that the trip is a comparatively easy one for any -good car, the number of tour ists would be increased many times." Accompanying Mr. Dierker was his wife, Howard Severson and J. O. Lamb. The party left Los Angeles July 10, carrying a full camping equipment in addition to personal baggage. A number of inviting fishing and hunting resorts were visited on the route, add ing much to the pleasure of the Journey. The Pacific Highway was followed all the way, passing through Santa Barbara, Santa Cruz, San Jose and San Francisco, where three days were spent. From there the course took the autoists through Uklah, Eureka and Crescent City, then across Into Oregon just below Grants Pass-. . Vrnm MAdford thev made a two-dav side trip to Crater Lake, which 'is a delightful trip tnis season oi tne year, with good riding all the way. The party arrived in Portland Tues- dav. stopping only a short time before resuming the Journey to North Yakima and other Washington points. TOUR BRINGS RESULTS FAR3IERS RELIABILITY RUN AID TO GOOD ROADS. Ranchers of Texas Show Skill and Resourcefulness as Pilots In First Endurance Teat. That the farmer has the necessary mechanical skill., pluck and persistence to drive an automobile in & strenuous motor reliability contest was recently aptly demonstrated in the farmers' and ranchmen's endurance run in Texas. The tour, promoted by a farm publi cation of Dallas, was the first of Its kind and wholly devoid of "trade influ ence, embracing a course ot 700 miles from Dallas to San Antonio by way ot Waeco and Austin. The return was via Taylor, Mexla and Corsicana. The contest was conducted under grade four rules, by which the contestants are penalized for being late at controls. All contestants were restricted to farmers and ranchmen owning their own cars, thus making it one of the most practical and popular contests ever pulled off. The roads, as a whole, averaged well, while, on the other hand, stretches were made up of deep dust and small sharp limestones and treacherous rocky rut. It is greatly to the credit of the farmers who participated In' this contest that more penalties did not re sult. In one Instance the bolts were sheared off the rear wheel of a -car while rounding a sharp curve. The wheel bounded off into the field. The contestant borrowed .the bolts of a cultivator from an obliging brother farmer, assembled his wheel and landed In night control ahead of schedule. This Is but one of the many instances in the run which showed the resourcefulness of the average farmer-motorist, who, from necessity, is used to working out his own repairs Independent of garage help. "The result of the many enthusiastio meetings at the noon and night controls is sure to have a strong moral effect In bringing Into line thecountles in Texas that have hitherto been back ward in voting, for road improvement,'1 says a Dallas paper. "The tour proved that the Texas farmer believes that good roads pay and when he decided upon a thing he usually gets what he wants." A. X. Plughoff, general manager of the J. W. Leavitt Company. Harry L. Olive, of Spokane, Willys-Overland agent for the Inland Empire, and W. O Northrup, district manager of the Willys-Overland Company in the"North west, are in Portland for a short visit NEW CAR PLEASES Howe Thinks Toledo Factory's Model Best Ever. WILLYS' POLICY KEPT UP "Last Season We Thought Overland Designer. Had Beached Last Thing- In Moderate-Priced Oar but All Outdistanced," Now. irv k hawk, tha man who 'la mak ing orai-land automobiles popular la this territory, thinks the latest model turned out at the Toledo factory ot John N. Willys Is a world-beater In Ita .ir. It Is a go-horsepower, flv-pae- senger, fore-door touring car, selling below the $1000 mark, with taotory equipment, including a self-starter, tnn a tA itnAt. windshield. presto-llte tank, robe rail and tire- holders. - 'ibis is in keeping with the Wiliyi policy of produoin eaoh year a model that is one of the sensations of the automobile world," said Howe, who watches over the destinies of the Ore gon division of 1. W. Leavitt tt Co. "Last season we thought that the Overland designers had reached the last thing in the moderate-priced car. in their Model 59 we figured that we had everything that could be given for the pfloe. . The new machine, Model 69, however, has its forerunner com pletely outdistanced. It will be one of the real sensations of th 118 season. "The wheelbase on the new car has been increased to 110 inches, while the body "has been lengthened and deep ened, making the car have a or roomy and spacious appearance. All bright parts are nickel-plated instead of brass-plated, while the radlatof IS enameled In keeping with the body finish. The S2x3l4-lnch wheels ate this year painted gray. With blaoK striping and black hubs. "The- hood has been lengthened sev eral Inches, allowing the motor to set forward more than It did last season, .l. i -v. HavAo cF-rpfLtar accessibility. WI11U11 . O . . . j The tonneau is larger and the sides have been raised nearly inree iiitnc, making a better arm rest and riding in general more comfortable. Wltn the lengthening of the hood more leg room has been acquired for those rid ing in the front seats. "A noted Improvement has been made In the braking system, an en tlrely new design being adopted. The contracting brake has an inside dia meter of 18 inches and the brake shoe is two and a quarter Inches In width. The expanding brake ha a diameter of 18 S-8 inches. . .v.-- .ui. fftrwm la tha ln- B.f - stallatlon of a floating rear axle. The axle snail is v,.... -steel; propeller .haft, cold-rolled steel. and the mam oriTiiis .i-v - steel. The rear wheels are now sup. ported by a housing, which takes the weight of the car and tu load off of the rear axle. , "There has been a noticeable elim ination of oiling places, and wherever lubrication is required nickeled grease cups have been substituted for oil cups. The foreparts of the r aptly are inclosed by a sheet metal housing instead ot being left exposed. "So dependable and reliable has the chassis of Model 69 proven -itsel : that only minor details and refinements have been made. The s turdy and pow erful Overland motor is identical with last year's design, because the Over land designers maintain that there Is no opportunity for P'OSJV, fiq "Other specifications on Model 69 are- Four cylinders, oast separately, with a bore and stroke of 4x4 Inches; water cooled. tawmo-Wir radiator; splash system of oiling for crfnk T and ' cam shaft hearings; cyl inders and timing gears oiled by Kin wood force-fed oiler; - Schebler car- . channel sec- Duretor; cemei vw." -- .'M.nii tfil frame; front semi-elliptlo springs, three-quarter el llotio rear; selective three-speed and reverse transmission., with annular bearings: drop forged front axle and 82x3tt-lnch quick.- detachable tires. Salesroom Lures Veteran Pilot. Bert Dlngley. veteran speed devotee of the landS hl. retired. Not ; Ju.t quit for the season, but stopped for keeps He has raced from coast to coast and foreign lands; has flirted with death and repented in no-p ---- -- turn to tne nazniuuu i , he quits cold. He will be general ?ales manager of the National dealer in z . i- ttio lost race was tne 500-mile event at Indianapolis. DO YOU APPRECIATE SIMPLICITY IN A MOTOR CAR? The White Self-Starting Six Is the simplest and easiest to oper t of all Sixes. The monobloo cylinder construction absolutely eliminates all manifolds and en closes all working parts of the motor in accesses, oil-tight compartments. The motor starts by merely pressing a switch, lo cated on the d a s h. noor cannot bo unintentionally stalled. There are more reasons why the White is the most advanced car of the present day' White Car Agency PORTLAND, OR SIXTH STREET, AT MADISON. FOR SALE M7 Beautiful 20 H. P. Coupe Not run one hundred miles. Going away. Will Sacrifice. MR. GATES MAIN 53"1 . sir Kf "SOUND JUDGMENT" I Sys: "Get a GOOD Electric Horn" We Have the Best ARCHER & WIGGINS OAK STREET, CORNER SIXTH Atterbury Truck Columbia Carriage & Auto Works, Agti. 809-211 Trent Street. " Phone Main 2892. General Ante Repairing. Bodies and Wheels Built to Order. BALLO0 8 WRIGHT Largest Stock Automobile Accessories M & W Gu & J. and Hartford Tires, Monogram Oils 80-82 Seventh St, Cor. Oak. Portland, Or. MOTORCYCLES INDIAN AND EMBLEM BALLOU & WRIGHT, 80-82 Seventh Street, Cor. Oak BOWSER Chanslor (Hyon Motor Supply Co. PACIFIC COAST DISTRIBUTERS Strbmberg Carburetors, Kelly-Racine Tires, Harris Oils 627 Washington Street, Portland SEATTLE, SPOKANE, SAN FRANCISCO, FRESNO, LOS - ANGELES THE MIGHTY ISCMIGAM ' MICHIGAN AUTO East 1421, B 1345 ValcanLln R.toe.dlm. R. E. BLODGBTT, 8-31 N. 14th. Mala 7005. APPERSON. NORTHWEST AUTO CO. DISTRIBUTORS F. W. VOGLER, President 617 Washington Street. Phones Main 7179, A 4959, J A. SFESCER-8MITH, Pre, and Orn. Kgr. H. C. HUWXETOTON', Sec. and Trea. PORTLAND RUBBER MILLS, Inc. 362-370 East Ninth Street, South Phone Eaat 2146 WE RETREAD TIRES PREER CUTLERY & TOOL CO. Headquarters for Shop Supplies and Automobile Tools 74 SIXTH AND 311 OAK STREETS Our Motto: "Quality and a Square Deal." Western Hardware & Auto Supply Co. SEVENTH AND PINE STREETS. Vulcanizing, Hardware and Auto Supplies. Phones: Main 8828, Home A 2016. - OUDDEN TOUR WINNER. ALWAYS IN THE LEAD Tba Car of Prcren Durability, Economy and Reliability. UNITED 623-88 Alder Street. S3 Auburn Motor Car Co. ROBT. SIMPSON, Met. 5057 Burnside Street A 7339. Main 2674. GASOLINE and OIL TANKS STORAGE 9TSTF,M FOR PVJtl.IO AND PRI VATE GARAGES. S. D. Stoddard, Revrearnta tlT, SOS Columbia Bids. Main 14T6. JOHN DEERE PLOW CO. Northwest Distributors, EAST MORRISON AND SECOND ST3. Phones) E. 3887, B 1825. & BUGGY COMPANY 369 - 371 Hawthorne Avenue TIRES STEARNS. REO. AUTO CO. Phones Main 4337, A 7171.