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About The Sunday Oregonian. (Portland, Ore.) 1881-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 27, 1914)
THE SUNDAY OREGONIAN, PORTLAND. SEPTE3IBER 27, 1914. WIRELESS EQUIPPED TRUCK ADOPTED BY CITY IS WONDERFULLY USEFUL ; i Motor Created by Cleveland, O4 Commission Is Transporting Vehicle, Pumping Station, Wrecking Car, Light ing Plant and Repair Shop All in One Radio Keeps Officials in Touch With Marvelous Auto at All Times. FHE FIFTH QUALITIES TESTED Fall Series 8 FRANKLIN CODLING REO Borrowed Car Used by J. C. Braly and Run TOO Miles Steadily on Low Gear. SPEED GIVEN ON HILLS Agent Belittles Performance, De claring 500 or 10 0'Q Miles as Easily Could Be Made "With out Ever Stopping Engine. The superiority of the air-cooled sys tem over the water-cooled in automo bile motors or vice versa, has long been a mooted question among dealers and auto users but no more strenuous test could be desired than was given a Portland Franklin, air-cooled, on September 24, another day set aside for a Nation-wide test of this car. It was the Franklin which recently went 39.1 miles on one gallon of gasoline in and about Portland. The test of the last week was one which would cut many a car to the quick. It was nothing more or less than going 100 miles on low gear, without btopping the engine. The distance had to be covered inside of ten hours. The Franklin car went for the coun try roads and the hills, but even then did the trick with more than an hour to spare, Five Gallons of OH Used. The car first left the salesrooms at 8:25. The route was straight for the country east of Portland. At 5:23 the car came back to the salesrooms, still humming, with 101.3 miles to its credit on a gasoline consumption of 11 gal lons. Five quarts of oil were used. The air-cooled engine was Just warm enough to be at good running tem perature. The mechanics of the com pany immediately removed the hood and in 20 minutes the engine was piled up neatly on a table. Had it been warm they could not have dis assembled the engine. A ' number of Portland enthusiasts watched the car come in and every part was given a thorough examination, but the inspection would never have told whether the car had Just gone around the block or had been upon a run such as Franklins all over the country were indulging in. J. C. Braly belittles the perform ance as far as a test of the cooling system is concerned. "Why that's nothing. We know that the air system cannot be beaten. We knew it before we sent that car out and would Just as soon run it 500 or a 1000 miles and the result would, be the same." Sirocco Fan lined. The Franklin air-Cooled employs what is known as the Sirocco suction fan. The fan is in the fly wheel, which runs in a chamber formed about the base and front of the engine. It is the direct system of cooling, where water-cooled is called the in direct. In the water-cooled system, each calorie of heat is transferred to the water. The water transfers it to the radiator tubes and the tubes give it to the air. The air-cooled simply eliminates this procedure by transferlng it directly to the air. The test caught Mr. Braly, of the local dealers, in somewhat of a pre dicament. He did not have a single car on the floor and the next ship ment was not due for several days so he had to borrow a car from one of his customers. The Franklin which made the run was the property of John Haak, and had been run about 1600 miles. Itinerary la Given. The first leg of the 100 miles was to Gresham, then to Fairview, St. Johns and back to Portland over the Broad way bridge. This was a steady pull all the time. Forty-five miles were covered in that manner. The car came in at noon and immediately left for Oregon City going by the East Side, the return trip being made on the West Side. This furnished some hill-climbing, but a good pace was maintained all the way. The car came back to Portland at 3:14 and after that it was given some of the hardest grinding of the day. One of the observers Jokingly re marked that the car had done nothing worth while and ought to take a trip over the hills. "Just as you say," remarked Mr. Braly and the car was sent up Love Joy street to the Skyline boulevard and 'the Trojan pulled through mud which sank it to the hubs. In spite of its light weight, but it got through. Heavy Grades Taken. The elevation is about 1200 feet at the highest point of the drive but the motor kept at work regularly. When Washington and Nineteenth streets was reached, the car still had two miles to go and Mr. Braly shot lor Hall street. This grade was climbed at the highest speed of the day. With gears unchanged, he raced the engine until a Bpeed of 16 miles an hour was reached at the steepest part of the incline. The speed of the car" was Increased as the day wore on. The first two. hours were toured at a little bit. bet ter than 11 miles an hour. In th afternoon a pace of 14 or 15 was set and maintained. The average speed for the total time was Just a shade less than 12 miles an hour. The observers on this, trip were James A. Appleby, of the Portland Automobile Club; Frank E. Watkins, also of that organization; Ralph J. taehli, of The Oregonian, and Carl Cadwell, or the Goodrich Rubber Com pany. SEW RECORD IS EXPECTATION Corona Course Said to Be Ideal for 30'0-Mlle Race. - A new world's speed record for the Corona course Thanksgiving Day is predicted from all sides. The drivers who have gone over the course main tain that the Grand boulevard is now in such excellent condition that few tire changes will be required and speed Will be at the maximum. The Corona course is one of the most monotonous in the world. There is not a variation in the three-mile stretch. Jt's Just one wide sweep with a con tinuous procession of pepper trees. There is nothing for the driver to do but to open up. There is practically no danger on the Corona course. The only chance a driver has to roll over is In making a sharp turnout to pass another driver .on the course. The circle will never wear slick like the Santa. Monica speed trail, on account of . its construction. The foundation of the Grand boulevard is rock, rolled until hard enough for a city street, swept to a depth of one half inch and oiled, one gallon of oil to the square yard. The oil used on the speedway was 98.6 asphalt, which held better really than regular asphal- um pavement. - Last year the course was accepted just beforthe race, and was finished BALTIMORE, Sept. 25. The Elec trical Commission of the city of Baltimore has placed in service an unusual type of motor truck which, due to genius, of the commission, per forms an astonishing number of duties in the maintenance of the municipal conduit system. This motor truck. which was built by the White Com pany, of Cleveland. O., combines a ve hicle for transporting repair crews and supplies and embodies a pumping sta tion, a lighting plant, a repair shop and wireless - equipment, enabling the Commission to keep in constant touch with the truck. Perhaps the most striking feature' of this machine is the fact that the wjreless equipment, unlike any other portable set, enables the crew to re ceive messages while the truck is being driven along the streets. The appear ance of the machine gives no sugges tion ot its great utility In conduit maintenance, but when ready for ac tion it is capable of pumping 12,000 gallons of water per hour from a flood ed conduit and will furnish a flood ot light for inspection and repairs, to say nothing of carrying all the necessary paraphernalia. Body of Track Unique. The body was constructed in con formity with plans devised by the Elec trical Commission for the best accom modation of the different pieces of ap paratus and it possesses several note worthy features. Hinged entrance doors, one on each side, greatly facili tate the operation of the equipment, while hinged double doors in the rear provide a ready access to various en closed compartments used as reposi tories for suction hose and other para phernalia. The overhanging hood also forms a locker compartment which is but a few days before the event. The afternoon before the race, 15,000 pounds of calcium chloride was hauled on the course. The contractors worked all night before the race in spreading this calcium chloride, and it was spotted over the speedway. Drawing the moist ure as it does, there was a slime raised on the course. At the spot where this j calcium chloride was broken up, out on the course, there was a puddle or water for days after the race, and It was at this spot Barney Oldfield met with his mishap. It Is believed by many that there is not a car built which can stand to go at its full sped through the long 300- mile race on the Corona course, ihe side thrust of the circle, which is a wear on tires, is the only thing that will go against a world's record. AUTO MAKERS BUY COTTON Two Bales Purchased to Aid South ern Farmers. The Peerless Motor Car Company last week telegraphed its New Orleans rep resentative, the Fairchild Auto Com pany, to buy on its account two bales of cotton In the "buy a bale movement" that has been sweeping the country. The cotton owned by the Peerless Company has been placed on display in the show-rooms of the New Orleans dealer. , Lake County Has Xovel Signs. Lake County, Oregon, recently put up some unique signs along the roads in Central Oregon. The signs are of heavy ingot steel, of a black color, with the lettering drilled In, showing in steel gray color and glittering brightly In the gleams of light at night. SCENE ON LAST TWO v - v ! ' - f - HCS. THE FINAL TDST L lf.'-Z i.v low. ..iV.?.?.C-.-.V A HUBWiiWi. niiMrnnrnaiiwnmijnmi 1 1 - - " ' "i ! i i BALTIMORE'S MUNICIPAL COXDVIT TRUCK. - used for the storage of boots and water-proof clothing. Just in the rear of the driver's seat Is mounted a gasoline-driven centri fugal pump which is capable of ex hausting water from manholes at the rate of 13,000 gallons an hour. For the sake of economy the truck Is not driven by the 30-horsepower truck engine, but is directly connected to an independent four-horsepower gasoline marine engine. Cycllndera Warm Alivaya. The pumping engine, however, is cooled from- the same source as the larger engine.'that Is, water is pumped from the bottom of the truck radiator through flexible metal hose to the marine engine and returned to the top of the radiator after circulating around the cylinders of the truck engine. By this method of cooling the cylinders of the marine engine are always kept warm, which, of course, greatly fa cilitates starting, especially in cold weather. The suction of the pump is connected through the priming device to three 3 inch brass gate-valves by means of an iron pipeline suspended under the body. These valves are located one on each side of the body below the side doors and one in the rear, so that a hose con nection ca.n be obtained, regardless of the location of the manhole, without violating any of the traffic regulations. The valves are set at" an angle of 45 degrees with the street bed to avoid unnecesary bends in the suction hose. The discharge side of the pump is con nected -to a three-inch flexible ; metal pipe which can bo turned through an angle of 180 degrees for the purpose of exhausting the watir .in the mpst advantageous direction. When not in use this pipe is hooked to the under side of the running board.' ' The pumping engine also operates a small dynamo which, in addition to fur CONVICT LABOR SUCCESS WEST VIRGINIA SOLVES QUESTION OF PRISONERS BV ROAD WORK. Honor System Prevails and Savins of Expense in Construction la Two Thirds of Cost of Citizen Crew. Success in convict road work is re ported from West Virginia. This road work has been developed as the result of measures passed at the last session of the Legislature. Prior to this ses sion Governor Hatfield and represen tatives of the Legislature and Supreme Court Journeyed to New Tork for a con ference with the National committee on prisons and prison labor. At the conference. In which repre- senxaiives or the department of highway- engineering and the bill drafting bureau of Columbia University parti cipated, a state road bureau was planned to co-operate with the state prison department in working the prisoners on the pubilo roads. A recent report received by the Na tional committee from A. D. Williams, chairman of the road bureau, states that up to the present time three con vict road camps have been established, the men-being under the honor system and living in tents. Two of the camps are located on a stream and the men each evening go bathing and enjoy all the liberties of camp life. Three Ital ians have attempted escape, but the Americans and negroes are proving themselves worthy of trust. At St. Mary's camp, in solid and loose MILES OF FRANKLIN 100-MILE LOW - J t 4, Jfxy . S -x WRTi.V THE CAR WESXT UP HALL STREET, 16 MILES AN HOUR, STILL J ' - ; ? "' Tf'.ll'" rnffriWflTHTTr ifT-'i if ii i wiumwijis'' nishing Ignition for the marine engine, supolles sufficient current for illumi nating manholes. By the aid of the portable lamps which can be plugged in on the dynamo current, duct chamb bers may be examined for a distance of 50 feet to determine the nature and cause of obstructions in the conduits. The most unusual and interesting feature of the outfit, however, is the wireless equipment, through the agency of which the department keeps In con stant communication with its trouble crew, so that all emergency calls can be handled with the greatest dispatch before serious damage ensues. The truck serves as a receiving station only. The antenna is suspended immedi ately under the roof or the car and Is made of approximately 425 feet of No. 14 stranded, copper wire which was laced back and forth until 40 wires were obtained with a separation of one inch. The aerial Is therefore incon spicuous and well protected. Rigid Tests "Withstood. A series of rigid tests proved con clusively that the equipment is entire ly practical and that excellent results can be obtained through the aid of a simple code of signals without resort ing to the employment of trained wire less operators. It was also- demon strated that direct earth connection was unnecessary, inasmuch as the iron framework of the chassis serves admir ably as a counter-poise ground, there by en.-.bling the truck to receive while In motion.. During all the preliminary tests, the truck never failed to intercept any message sent to it within a radius of 10 miles of the sending station, and even under the most unfavorable con ditions, with the truck running at full speed and blanketed by tall buildings of steel construction, no difficulty was experienced in reading the messages. yards a day. At the Inwood camp the average was 4.33 cubic yards, which in cluded the erection of one concrete cul vert 20 by 30 feet, 27 feet long, and 16 days' labor for one man out of 118 laying tiling. A crew of citizen labor also was working at St Mary's camp on the same work. The cost if moving ma terial by citizens was S3 cents a cubic yard against 30 cents with the prison ers. These developments indicate that through road work West Virginia will to a great extent solve her prison prob lem, as will any state wherein co operation is secured between the high way and the prison departments. . Cyclists on Tri-State Tour. -A motorcycle party from Baltimore, headed by Howard A. French, for a long time a director in the Federation of American Motorcyclists and one of the best-known motorcycle dealers in the East, has-Just arrived in Cam bridge, Mass., after a successful tour through Maryland, Delaware and New Jersey. The party consisted of Misses Katherlne and Florence French, An drew French, Mr. and Mrs..H. N. Bchil linger, Newton and Edith Schillinger, Mercer Galloway and Mrs. J. W. Gallo way. They will remain in Cambridge a week before starting on the return trip to Baltimore. Perfunctory Tribute. (Washington Star.) "That speech you made placing me in nomination was a splendid statement of the case, said the grateful candidate. "Yes." replied the old campaigner. "It was a fine statement. But we're going to have a dickens of a time proving it." - GEAR ENDURANCE RUN. -4. x X4 - J w X- -x V- 'x - " X X,t '-v Buy Reo the Fifth leads all cars in its class because it Is built to stay new to endure. . R. E. Olds spent 27 years study ing how to better cars, and this is the final outcome. Time and skill and money have been lavished on this car. Each hidden part each detail shows the i ablest engineering. The steels are made to formula. Each part is given vast overcapac ity. Each must stand radical tests. To insure against troubles and to give super-strength, we spend J200 per car 6n extremes. Reo the Fifth $1175 Equipped Equipment includes mohair top, side curtains and slip cover, clear vision ventllntlnir windshield, speed ometer, electric horn, extra rim, improved tire bracket, complete tool and tire outfit, foot and robe rail, etc.. DISTRIBUTORS NORTHWEST AUTO CO. K. W. VOGLER, President. ROADS SURE IN FULL Automobile Travel This Year Is Promising. WORK ON TRAILS RUSHED Reduction of Steep Grades Smooth Way to Spokane and Seattle. Columbia Highway and Others to Be Ready Soon. WASHINGTON. D. C, Sept. 26. Fall touring is exceedingly popular, reports the American Automobile Association Bureau, which serves the entire coun try, for at this time of year the trunk roads are in as good or better condition than In any other season, particularly as the principal road work in progress in the Spring and Summer is largely completed. In the West the Ciolden iieit route. which extends from Kansas City through Topeka. Abilene and Oakley to Denver, has been put in excellent con dition, and as the shortest route be tween Kansas City and Denver it is being traveled more than ever before. The most important single improve ment in the Northwest has been the elimination of the steepest grades, and also the rough road that formerly ex isted through Snoqualmie Fass in the Cascade Mountains. By the reduction of this grade and the improvement of the surface, trips between Spokane, Se attle and Portland soon can be made with a irreat deal less trouble than heretofore, and without the danger of breakage that formerly existed on the Snoqualmie Fass line. Columbia Hlftraway Rushed. The wonderfully scenic route along the Columbia River from Portland to The Dalles is also well under way, and can be considered as complete for the heavy travel to the Pacine Coast In 1915. This road avoids such grades as exist on Snoqualmie Pass by following alongside the picturesque Columbia River. Next year tourists from Mon 1 OO Miles Low Gear In 8 Hours and 40 Min. Without a stop or. an adjustment, using 11 gallons gasoline and one quart of oil. This is the wonderful performance of a Franklin stock car. raley Auto Co Main 4880, A - a Long-Time The beauty, the finish and equipment are as perfect as the chassis. The one-rod control is embodied here. You will find It in no other car. Men who want the best will find it here even in the smallest factors. , Small Upkeep All this means small upkeep. It means freedom from trouble. It means years of perfect service. That Is what men want today. They are buying cars to keep. In the past few month we have sold more than 10,000 of these cars. . - . A. . . if- ' BROADWAY AT COUCH. tana points and east will have the op tion of running to Portland via Spo kane. Snoqualmie Pass. Seattle and Ta coma: or down from Spokane to Walla Walla, and thence west through The Dalles to Portland. Tourists running west from Albu querque this Fall have a complete choice of two routes the remainder of the way to Southern California. For merly practically all the travel used the "Trail to Sunset" from Albuquerque through Phoenix and Tuma. to San Diego and Los Angeles; but work done during the past year has opened up and made practically safe the upper and shorter line . from Albuquerque through Holbrook and Flagstaff, cross ing the Colorado River at The Needles, and thence almost direct west into San Bernardino and Los Angeles a much shorter route than the "Trail to Sun set." Tourists making the round trip between Albuquerque and Southern California during the Winter months may .with advantage go on one of these routes and return on the other. Shortest Route Building. Recent developments on the route from Roanoke. Va., through Bristol and Knoxville to Chattanooga give the as surance that this line will be open to through travel with few handicaps be ginning in 1915. When entirely com plete, and as connections are supplied from Chattanooga through Birmingham to New Orleans, this will make the shortest and, most strategic route be tween New York-Philadelphia and New Orleans. Great Improvements are being made, particularly by the counties on that part of the route between Bristol and Chattanooga. Travel from the central states to the Georgia and Florida east coast usually comes down from Indianapolis to Louis ville, Nashville, Chattanooga and thence from Atlanta either to Augusta and Savannah, or to Macon, Valdosta and Jacksonville. While there are some rough stretches, particularly on the Louisville and Nashville pike, this route Is being used much more than ever be fore, and will within the next two or three years carry an amount of travel comparable only with that between the north and south' seaboard states. EXHIBITS ARE BY IXVITATION Xational Auto Shows to Handle Dis plays "Properly." NEW YOItK, Sept. 19. Because of the number of applications that are far in excess of the available space at the National automobile shows in New York and Chicago, the National Auto mobile Chamber of Commerce has voted that the exhibitions in January shall b invitation affairs to which 3881 J r r Car and men are buying them now faster than we can build them. This car once cost, with full equipment, $220 more than now. The present price shows the greatest value you will find in any car in this class. See the latest model. Go through it part by part. Note the unusual features, the costly con struction, the exactness, the lux ury of it. Cars built by lower standards will lose their attractions when you learn what these things mean. We have dealers in 1155 towns. Ask for name of nearest. Also for Reo Magasine which tells and pictures hoiv this car Is bnllt. As ' Fan Scries Streamline H.mIt K.lcctrie Starter X Electric l.lgnts 3S Horse power Tires 34x4 Chain Tread on Rear lHmmino Searchlights Also Roadster Price Is K. O. B. Lansine. PORTLAND, OREGON. will be invited such concerns in the motorcar and accessory industry as can be cared for properly. Allotment of space will be confined to members of the National Automo bile Chamber of Commerce and subject to the rules- of that organization, to members of the Motor and Accessory Manufacturers, the Motorcycle Manu facturers" Association and the Electric Vehicle Manufacturers' Association and to such other persons and companies as may be' formally invited by the management to participate. The 15th annual shows will be held in New York at Grand Central Palace, January 2 to 9, and In the Coliseum and First Regiment Armory at Chi cago, January 23 to 33. S. A. Miles, manager of the exhibi tions. Is now sending invitations and application blanks to the leading manufacturers and announces that all applications for space must be In hand by October 3 to participate in the first allotment. The drawings for space for both shows will take place at the offices of the National Automobile Chamber of Commerce on Thursday, October 8, In connection with the semi annual meeting of that organization. With an increased number of com panies making motor cars, accessories, motorcycles and electric vehicles, the New York shows this Winter promise to be bigger and of greater Interest to the trade and public than ever be fore. Grandvlew Farmer Tries Xew Silo. GRAND VIEW. Wash., Sept. 26. (Spe cial.) R. Colyer, a rancher living near here, has completed a pit silo 4 by 13 feet deep, which, with enough corn to feed two cows four months, represents a total cost of $56.70. He believes that this kind of silo will prove fully as satisfactory as a much more expensive For Auto Tops Auto Bodies Auto Painting Ask OREGON TOP COMPANY The AUTO PAINTING CO., Inc. THE AUTO BODY AND WHEEL WORKS. x. w. Cor. 14th and f'ouch Sts. Phone Main 1S4. e 31 North 19th Street
