The Sunday Oregonian., September 21, 1913, SECTION FOUR, Page 4, Image 48

rHE SUNDAY OREGOXIAX, PORTLAND, SEPTEMBER 21, 1913.
BUICK, FULLY EQUIPPED, SETS NEW MARK OF 40
HOURS, 50 MINUTES, SAN FRANCISCO TO PORTLAND
Little Car Carries Three Passengers Over Distance of More Than 700 Miles Only Delay Experienced Due to One Puncture Roads in Oregon Found
Setter Than Expected Mechanism Undamaged by Severe Strain Destina tion Beached Ten Minutes Ahead of Schedule.
ROUTES DISCUSSED
"The Decline and Fall
OF MICHELIN TIRE PRICES
TOOK PLACE SEPT. 15, 1913."
ARCHER AND WIGGINS
OAK STREET, CORNER SIXTH
AUTOMOBILE SUPPLIES SPORTING GOODS
Population Is Chief Factor -in
Building Travel Artery
Through Oregon.
4
PROPOSED
HIGHWAY
BOWLBY FINDS BAD SPOTS
Engineer Pep lores Miserable Condi
tion of Rond Between Portland
and Salem Washington Sets
Example for This State.
BY WAILER GIFFARD.
So much has been written about
roads in Oregon that there would seem
to be but little excuse for more. Tet
all that has been said in the past has
been said disjolntedly. There has beon
a section of the road discussed here,
another part there and a third at an
other time with the result that many
people do not know just where some
of the roads are and are In ignorance
as to what should be done to give Ore-
pon its section of the Pacific High
way.
First, let It be said that there are two
routes, two main arteries of travel
through Oretron: one, the central road.
the other, the Willamette Valley road.
There are, of course, adherents of
both routes, who clamor loudly that
theirs should be made the main road.
There are others who say, "Let us have
the road that will cost the least to
keep in good repair."
Population Chief Factor.
What really should be the guiding
spirit of the men who have charge of
making- such highways? Naturally, of
course, population has a great deal to
do with it. In fact, the number of
towns en route should be the chief
factor In settling the question of roads.
Then there is the topography and the
climate to be considered.
The central route has two big ad
vantages. First, it takes little money,
and when Multnomah, Hood and
Wasco counties have finished the
stretch from Bridal Veil onwards will
be in good or at least fair condition
for most months of the year, due to
smaller rainfall.
On the other hand, the WiUamete
Valley route has the bulk of the popu
latlon. From Portland it lies through
Oregon City, Salem. Albany. Eusrene.
Cottage Grove. Rosehurg, iGrants Pass,
Medford and Ashland, a list compris
ing most of the towns and cities of
any size in the state.
Weather and Topography Bad.
Asian offset the topography and the
rainfall are adverse, with the result
that at present the road Is impossible
and Impassable for many months. To
put It on a firm foundation would be
an expensive lob. in the opinion of
State Highway Engineer H. L. Bowl
by. who recently went over the route
with Governor West and others. But
he is spending time, energy and what
money it has been possible to obtain
so far on the illamette valley route.
"The bad places," said Mr. Bowlby
one day last week, "are between Rose
burg and Grants Pass; between Ash
land and the California state line, and
the road between Portland and Salem
is the worst of the route. There Is
strange situation, and one almost un
believable, that the road between the
two largest cities of the state, one of
them the capital, should be in such an
abominable condition. Of course, it
should be a hard surface road all the
way.
The bond Issue, so heartily voted
by Jackson County, an Issue which
should be taken as a worthy example
by every other county, will eliminate
that bad piece of road from California
to Ashland. It is most important that
there should be a good road through
to California by 1915. and as Jackson
County has done me the honor of ap
pointing me to supervise the construc
tion, I am going to strain every nerve
to get it completed. We will get all
let
the surveys in and the contracts
Just as soon as possible.
Crook County May Bond.
"Crook County is considering a bond
Issue of 200,000 at the November elec
tion, and Coos County also is consid
ering a bond issue at the same time.
Coos would issue 1450.000 for a road
. from Roseburg to Coos Bay."
In Washington state, which In Mr.
Bowlby's opinion is eight years ahead
of Oregon, they will have a total of
$19,000,000 to spend on roads for the
years 1913 and 1914. This sum is di
vided up as follows: state roads II..
750.000; permanent highways, $3,250
000; road and bridge fund, $10,000,000
Jving County. $3,000,000; other coun
ties, 11,000.000.
In Oregon the only money available
is the road and bridge fund for the
various counties, amounting to $8,000,
000, which is spent in the ordinary
way oy tne county Commissioners.
What else may be raised must be by
voung oonas in the various counties,
Dut outside of those already men
tioned there is nothing being done aa
lar as tne public is aware.
County Seta Example.
If Multnomah County would follow
. the example of Garfield County, Wash
ington, which voted the other day the
umii or io mills, it would raise
$3,300,000 or thereabouts, and if only
the genuine need and advantage were
realized Dy a majority of the voters
as strongly as it is by some of the
iarmers mere should be little diffi
culty in raising the amount.
men it would be possible to do
what is really the most important road
worn,- namely, resurvey. resrrade and
generally put In first-class condition
the Willamette Valley road. What It
needs is hard surfacing to a width of
24 feet, regraded so that there Is a
maximum or 5 per cent, and no curves
closer than 200 feet. These are the
pians along which Mr. Bowlby is
working. Given such a road, the vol
ume of traffic to Oregon should be and
win oe enormous.
C. L. Boss & Co.
BOWSER
BUSINESS MEN IN TrtOOPS
Second Company of Cavalry I Al
most Fully Made Vp.
With nearly a sufficient number of
men to make up two complete compa
nies of cavalry, the new buslnes men's'
branch of the Oregon National Guard,
which has been in course of organiza
tion since early last Spring, "will com.
mence drilling within the next few
weeks. The organization which will
have no official connection with the
National Guard, but which will work
along with that body, expects to be fit.
ted out with all necessary equipment
as soon as drilling is started.
During the campaign conducted to
secure recruits among business men,
many enlistments have been secured.
The number is great enough now to
make up one complete company and
part of a second. Arrangements are
being made for the establishment of
quarters for drilling and social pur.
poses. The organization la following
closely the plans outlined in the original
announcement in The Oregonlan several
months ago.
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Bosch Magneto
Rayfield Carburetor
Stewart Speedometer
Warner Speedometer
Indian Motorcycle
Ballou & Wright
BEOADWAY AT OAK
Phones, Marshall 5860, A 6638
AUTOMOBILES
EO
TRUCKS
Distributors for Oregon and South. Wash,
also. Portland Agency, 615-617 "Wash. St.
GASOLINE and OIL TANKS
STORAGE SVSTEMS FOIt PrULIC A.D PHI
VATK GARAGES, a. U. Stoddard, Representa
tive, ao5 Columbia Rlda. Alaia 17.
twf&mf TIRES
Vukanlzlns and Itetreadins. B. S. U LODGKTT. 29-S1 North 14th St. Mala 1001.
Peterson & Sleret Co.
AGENTS
450 Hawthorne Ave., Corner 8th
Phone E. 64S
AUTOMOBILE AND SHOP SUPPLIES
Spark Plugs TOOLS Brake-Lining
MOTORCYCLES AND ACCESSORIES
Preer Tool and Supply Co.
Sixth and Stl Oak Sts.
Phones Main 10S2. A 1US3
-
rtllir-n nnm in Tnninlnisht and will attend Monday's meet
UnLU Ullnll IS III Ml I ins- Other Portland citizens who will
IHVLII IIU1U IU IUIIU
COUNTIES TO DISCUSS CO
LUMBIA HIGHWAY.
THROL'GH the cold, gray mist of
last Thursday morning two men
sat waiting: in an automobile on
tfie top of a hill near Tlgard. As they
sat, half asleep, they saw before them
two little lights twinkling like stars.
rounding into view, growing gradually
larger and larger.
Gradually the car drew closer and
Roy Wilson could be seen at the wheel
of the little 1!4 Bulck, which was plug
Klnf? ifti steady way to a road reoord
from San Francisco to Portland. Wilson
was almost "all in." He managed to
raise a cheer and with that the wait
InK couple. Mel Johnson, head of th
local Howard Automobile Company, an
Doucrlass Shelor turned their machine
around and prepared to race the Wilson
car into Portland.
The Oregon Hotel was reached at 6:10
A. M. The Bulck had covered the 74
miles In 40 hours. 60 minutes actual
time on the road, knocking more than
17 hours oft the best previous recorded
running time.
Car Stands Abuse.
To drive the 740 miles between San
Francisco and Portland from Tuesday
at 12:30 P. M. to Thursday morning
5:20 o'clock a total of 40 hours and SO
minutes, was Impossible a few years
ago, and the accomplishing of this feat
by one of the smallest and lowest
priced cars of the Buick line certainly
proves that the present-day small car,
that is well built, will stand an un
limited amount of abuse In the matter
of rough roads and hard driving.
"This time, which is 17 hours and 10
minutes faster than the former record
over this same route, is not particularly
fast when taken from a racing point of
view," said Mel Johnson, "but when one
stops to consider the size of the car, the
roads this route covers, and the fact
that the entire distance was driven by
three men. one of them making the
whole trip, while the former record of
68 hours was made with a high-powered
touriner car carrying three expert driv
ers end a guide all the time and having
fresh relief dgrer waiting at Kedding,
Cal., and Medford, Or.. It makes the per
formance of the little Bulck appear
really wonderful. Still more, when the
fact that the little car made the run
fully equipped is taken into consider
ation, the performance Is still more
remarkable.
Trip Made Fnlly Equipped.
"The usual custom In making records
of this nature Is to strip the car of
every last ounce of weight that can
be removed from it. It is then gone
over and the chassis is strengthened
by extra bracing; the gear ratio la
changer, and the car virtually is re
built and bears small resemblance to
the original automobile as sold by the
manufacturers.
The little model 24 Buick, used In
making this run. not only was a regu
lar stock car, but was fully equipped
In every detail. Including top. wind
shield, fenders, and even such minor
details as a dust cover over the . top
and seat covers.
The mechanical part of the car was
not altered In any way and the only
items of extra equipment carried were
pair of rebound straps retailing at
$6.50, and an auxiliary air valve at-
teached to the manifold of the carbu
retor."
The story Is told best by C. A. MeGee.
of the Howard Automobile Company,
San Francisco, who was In the car the
whole way.
Fred Gross and myself were de
lighted 'when C S. Howard, who con
trols, the Buick and National business
of the West, suggested that we take a
Bulck pleasure car and establish a new
road record between San Francisco and . the Howard Automobile Company, and
Portland,
"We found the road conditions just
the reverse to what they were when
we drove the No. 3 Buick truck
through. At that time the California
roads were smooth and hard, while the
Oregon roads were rough and full of
holes. On this last trip the roads he
tween Vallejo and Redding were badly
cut up in places and generally rough
and dusty. There are also many miles
of new road under construction, all of
which made the golne much harder
man we naa expected.
Average of SS Miles Maintained.
In spite of this, however, we were
able to maintain our schedule of 25
miles an hour to Redding. At that place
we began to encounter the mountains
and our schedule, which had all been
prepared before we started, called for
a reduction in speed as a matter of
safety.
The entire Sacramento River Can
yon was negotiated at night and we
arrived at Dunsmulr just at daylight.
iv minutes ahead of schedule time.
We used this ten minutes in having
a hot breakfast of eggs and coffee, and
left for Grants Pass again on time.
We found the roads from Dunsmulr
north much better than we had exDect
ed. Of course, the heavy (trades are
mere, regardless of the road condition
but they gave us absolutely no trouble;
in ract, we used tne low eear verv sel
dom.
We experienced our first and only
trouble about ten miles south of Grants
Pass. In crossing one 'of the many
small bridges in this vicinity we ran
a big bridge spike into our right front
tire. This is the only delay we ex
perienced with our Goodyear tire equip
ment, and in fact it Is the only delay
on the entire trip, other than the ne
cessity of stopping for oil and gaso
line.
Time Lost on Wrong- Road.
'After slipping on one of our spare
tires to replace the punctured one, we
started again for Grants Pass eight
minutes behind schedule.
At the town of Rogue River we were
directed onto the wrong road and this
cost us 20 minutes, bringing us to
Grants Pass 25 minutes behind schedule.
'Gross, who had done most of the
driving to this point, was relieved by
Roy WIson, of the Portland branch of
we started north again at 2:50, just 30
minutes late.
"Wilson's schedule from here to Port
land called for 20 miles an hour aver
age and the way he started out I was
quite convinced that he would maintain
it. We covered the 79 miles between
Grants Pass and Roseburg in three
hours and 40 minutes, and the bes
previous time record for this distance
is four hours and 33 minutes.
. "This fast trip brought us into Rose
burg 10 minutes behind schedule and
from there on through Oakland, Drain,
Eugene, Corvallis, Independence, Salem
and Newberg, we had no trouble in
maintaining our schedule and arrived
at the Hotel Oregon at 5:20 Thursday
morning, just 10 minutes ahead of our
schedule, which called for 41 hours for
the trip of 740 miles from San Fran
cisco to Portland. -
"We were particularly fortunate in
the matter of tire trouble. From what
we knew of the roads we expected a
great many delays on this account, and
as a safeguard we carried two extra
Goodyear no-rim-cut casings, mounted
on spare rims, with us, and shipped
three extra mounted casings to Grants
Pass.
"Mechanically the little Buick seems
to be in as good shape as when it start
ed on the run. We used Diamond Mon
arch heavy oil for lubrication and had
no spark plug or carbon trouble on the
entire trip. In fact, the lubrication was
perfect.
Crabtree Woman Mother of Eight.
ALBANY, Or., Sept. 20. (Special.)
A family, which would satisfy the most
ardent opponent of race suicide Is that
of Edward Chastaln, of Crabtree. When
Mrs. Chastaln gave birth to a son last
week it made Her the mother of eight
children, the oldest one of whom is not
yet 10 years of. age. It is an equally
balanced family, too, there being four
girls and four boys. There is one pair
of twins in the family, both, of the
twins being girls.
Pythiang to Meet October 4.
CHEHALIS, Wash., Sept 20. (Spe
cial.) The annual district convention
for Knights of Pythias, District No. 7.
has been called to meet at Lebam on
October 4. The lodges at Chehalis,
Centralla, Lebam, Raymond and South
Bend constitute the district. The off!-.
cers of the organization are C. A. Coul
ter, of South Bend, president, and
Jesse R. Imua, of .Chehalis, secretary.
Hood River and Portland Officials
and Business Men Will Make
Water Trip on Monday.
Plans for building the Columbia high
wav through Hood River County will
receive earnest discussion next Mon
day, when a party of Hood Ttiver Com
mercial Club members, accompanied by
the County Commissioners and County
Judge, come to Portland and meet with
public officials and private citizens of
Multnomah County.
The visitors and the Portland people
will leave the Courthouse in this city
promptly at 11 o'clock Monday morn
Ine and motor to Chanticleer Inn,
I where they will have luncheon and
where a formal meeting will be held.
.Julius L. Meier will preside.
The purpose of the meeting will be
to interest the people of Hood River
County in the Columbia River highway
sufficiently to have them 'apply for
state aid in making the survey through
that county and eventually to have the
road built under direction of the State
Highway Commission along lines simil
ar to those now being laid out for the
work in Columbia County.
A. S. Benson, who has given liberally
of time and money to the cause of the
Columbia River highway, was instru
mental in securing the meeting with
the Hood River people. His father, S.
Benson, who gave HO.OOO for the "shell
rock" road which will form a link in
this highway, arrived in Portland last
attend will Include bestdes the County
Commissioners, H. L. Pittoek. Judge E.
E. Coovert, C. S. Jackson, Major Bowl
by, State Highway Engineer, Paul Wes
singer and John B. Yeon.
It is understood that a surplus of
about (600 remains In the fund pro.
vlded by Mr. Benson for the "shell
rock" road and that this will be divert,
ed by him for use in the Hood River
County Survey. )
WOOD RATS STEAL SYRUP
Bushy Talis Lowered In Jug I'ntil
Saturated Willi Sweet Fluid.
Ex-Mayor Henry S. Rowe, who owns
a Summer home at Rhododendrorn on
the Mount Hood road, is having trouble
with wood rats. They pet Into his
house in spite of all precautions and
carry oil the hammer, nails, other tools,
etc.
Ex-Mayor Rowe is fond of syrup. He
took a Jugful up to hla Summer home
last week. He had it securely corkod,
and felt absolutely sure no wood rat
could get at the inside of that Jugr.
They got there easily.
The hole In the jug whs too small to
permit the rats to enter, but a wood
rat has a lonir busy tail, and one of
the rats would simply drop his tail
down into the mouth of the jug and
saturate his tail with the syrup, on
which he would feast. He then would
get out of the way and the other rats
raised the syrup in the same way
until the contents were nearly all ex
tracted. This is the version suggested
by Mr. Rowe.
A New English mine-rescue spparatui
does away with the helmet and weighs only
:!S pounds, yet with ft a man can work In
rteadlv prnses more than five hours
Bargains Exceptional
1000 and $1200
1 9 13 MODELS 40
Reduced From $1875
Electric Lights and Starters
H. P.
A Few Cars for
$400 and $800
An opportunity you cannot afford to miss
if you are in the market for a car.
i
ichiganAuto
El Fto
lOggyLo.
Sixteenth and Alder Streets