THE RTJXBAT OKEGOSIATC. PORTLAyP, JANUARY 3, 1915.
BUICK SEE AND PAETY WHICH NAVIGATED SOME OF THE WORST WASHINGTON COUNTY ROADS
PERFECT HIGHWAY
SHOW US THE MAN
Who Wauta to Keoaemlse Gasollme We'll Sell Him a
Blaster Carbaretor aad Guarantee a Savlaa; ( 13 -to
35 Per Ceat Feel.
TEX DAYS' TRIAL TO DOl BTERS.
ARCHER AND WIGGINS
OAK STREET. CUK.VEB SIXTH.
AUTOMOBILE SUPPLIES SPORTIXG GOODS
BOTTOMLESS ROADS
8
Elimination of AH Bad Places
Standing Water and Deep Mud
on Pacific Drive to Be Rec
ommended by Commission.
Encountered Often by
Party on Excursion.
"4 t 4
WASHINGTON MAY
BUICK OVERCOMES
---memmmmm.?mm-mmmmmamram , , j.
ft . li VV
CAR ALMOST SWAMPED
Wheels Spin Around In Effort to
Find Surface and Brash Is Plied
to Enable Auto to Full Out
of One Lake Met.
BT RALPH J. STAEHLL
Eomeone came into the office of the
Howard Auto Company and gave Mel
Johnson, local manager, a tip that the
roads up and down the Willamette
Valley were In good condition for
travel.
Accordingly. Mr. Johnson got up a
party which was to run up to New
berg and back before lunch, one bright
day last week.
The party nearly missed Its supper,
In spite of the heroic efforts of aBuick
Light Six. which forded the lakes that
were not too deep and went through
others like a submarine.
It so happened that at the time the
good roads reports came in the ground
"was frosen, and the car skimmed over
the surface at a lively clip.
Bat tarn .Net Yet Found.
But. today, tbey hare no bottom.
The party planned to tonr along the
Boone's Ferry road and return on the
Rex-Tigardville. viewing the work
which Portland motorists have made
possible.
Everything looked like a bright and
airy little outing, with good speed and
fair roads until a mile or two beyond
the limits of Multnomah County. Then
a sample of the worst of Washington
County road was . encountered, with
mud rising over the hubs and water
standing on the highway surface.
But the Buick plowed through like
a veteran. More than a mile of this
bottomless road was traveled, wheels
spinning and mud flying in every dl
rection. But it was left behind, and
the car struck Tualatin.
Irony of fate! Tualatin, on what Is
supposed to be one of the main high
ways of the state, or at least one of
the leading branches of the highway,
has not as yet been visited enough by
modern motor travel to demand a gar
age, or at least an auto-filling station.
far Ramn Short of Oil.
Tt so happened that the Buick Six
had negotiated the last mile or two of
mud running almost dry, as the sup
ply of oil hud not been investigated
before leaving. Finally a farmer wa-s
found who hud several lawn mowers
and heavy machinery on the farm,
from whom enough was obtained to
take the car on Its way.
However, under the load, of mud,
lack of oil and the worst of conditions,
the car behaved nobly, and when It got
back to Portland was none the worse
for the trip, although it looked as if
It might have been through the wilds
of British Columbia-
Around Tualatin there was a mile,
or two of passable road. Then more of
the mud was encountered.
The worst was what was supposed
to be a cut-off to the Rex-Tigardville
road. The Buick did things in its own
way until it came to a lake which al
most swamped a passing wagon of
cordwood.
Wheels spun and' for a time it
seemed us if the best thing Captain
Johnson could do was send out the S.
O. S. to the neighboring farmers.
Finally all hands, including Rudy
Becker, got out and cut brush, while
Mrs. Johnson took the tiller. On this
the car reached near enough to the
surface to get through.
The Rex-Tigardville stretch is one
long lake from beginning to end.
Gravel is now being hauled, and the
heavy wagons have made It worse than
ver.
Bikk'i Power avea Party.
However, the whole situation Is one
which makes the motorist and the
farmer all the more appreciative of the
good roads, and when the new stretch
is completed the disasters of present
travel will be forgotten.
Luck, coupled with plenty of power
and a good deal of stability, saved the
big Buick from a couple of days in the
mud. Had It ever had a chance to
settle, there would have been no limit
to the depths it could have reached.
One of the farmers explained:
-We had a chance to get into Mult
nomah County, and then we would
have had better roads, but Washing
ton County would not let this part go."
Still, real estate men demand 1300 an
acre for the land to which these roads
lead. There Is no better farm land In
the world than is to be found In the
beautiful Tualatin Valley.
Under such conditions, it would seem
that land worth so much would be
able to support a decent system of
roads. The land undoubtedly Is mar
ketable at the prices asked by the men
along the roads, but the only way they
can make it worth that much to the
farmer Is to make the roads passable
so that he can bring his products to
market.
Studebaker Six Lights Hotel
and Telephone Exchange.
Jo Tlaer. at F.llenabarK. Makes
tieaerator lllamlaate Mouse Till
t'lty'a I'laat la Repaired and
Worklag.
OE TIXER, an enterprising hotel
3 man of Ellensburg. Wash., found
a new field of usefulness tor his
Studebaker "Six" a few days ago when
the city lighting plant at EUensburg
temporarily went out of commission.
After experimenting with candles
and kerosene lamps he finally got busy
with the generator on his "Six." made
connections with the hotel wiring,
started up his motor and Immediately
came into possession of a satisfactory
lighting system of his own.
The next day the EUensburg Tele
phone Company's representative asked
to tap in on the "Studebaker circuit."
The automobile generator sustained the
added load without trouble and kept
both the hotel and telephone plant fully
lighted, atso kept the telephone com
pany's storage batteries charged until
the city lighting plant was repaired.
Cjcllst Olss-Oosses Continent.
An unusual eoast-to-coast motorcycle
trip Is that being made by Ralph O.
Hutchins. of Boston. Mass. Hutchlns
is not following the direct route to the
Pacific, but la taking a diagonal course
to Albuquerque. X. M. From there he
will ga to Seattle and will then make
another slgzag trail to Florida. He
plans to return to Boston along the
east coast. Hutchlns is traveling lei
surely, stopping for days In the cities
which Interest him. and he believes
that when the trip Is completed he will
have a knowledge of the country that
could not be obtained. In any other way.
'if A?1 IT t-"T'. S
DE PALIV1A BEST RACER
RECORD SHOWS UK HAS WON XI
BIG ROAD CO-NTESTS.
Earl Ceeper la Xext With Six Winnings
FinoBi Foreia-a Drivers Far
Behind American Champion.
While some of the managers of so-
called "speed kings and "automobile
race champions" are making surprising
claims for their proteges, a study of
the American Automobile Association
contest board records for a number of
years proves conclusively that Ralph
De Palma is the automobile road race
champion. The records show that ue
Palma has won more Dig roaa races
than any driver in the history of auto
mobile racing, having nine victories to
hia credit in important road events.
De Palma's nearest competitor is Earl
Cooper, who has six road races to his
credit. Teddy Tetxlaff. Harvey Herrick
and the late Lewis Strang are credited
with four; Ralph Mulford. three: Hugh
Hughes. three; George Robertson,
three, and Harry Grant and Eddie Pul
len, two.
In contrast with the famous foreign
drivers, Georges Boillot and Louis Wag
ner have won four road races apiece
not half as many as De Palma. Naxzaro
won five road races and I.ancla three.
In addition to being a nine-time road
race winner and unquestioned champion
at this style of contest, De Palma was
also the track champion in the years
li)8. 190 and 1910. and is the only
driver ever to have held both road and
track championships in the same year.
In 1911 he practically stopped driving
on mile tracks, but more recently has
driven in a few track events, scoring
first places in nearly all of his starts.
He has won more than 200 track races.
De Palma's list of first places in road
races includes: 1909. Riverhead Stock
Car Race, heavy car (Flat): 1912, Santa
Monica Light Car Race (Mercer); 191 J,
Elgin Xatlonal Trophy . Race (Mer
cedes): 11I, Elgin Free-for-all Race
(Mercedes); 1912, Vanderbilt Cup Race,
Milwaukee, Wis. (Mercedes); 1013. Cobe
Trophy (300 cubic inches class), Elgin.
11L (Mercer); 1914, Vanderbilt Cup
Race San La Monica, CaL (Mercedes);
1914, Elgin Xatlonal Trophy Race (Mer
cedes): 1914, Cobe Trophy Race, Elgin,
11L (Mercedes).
In all of these nine victories De
Palma broke records for the course,
either free-for-all marks or class rec
ords, with the exception of Riverhead
and Milwaukee, where ba established
course records. -
De Palma recently had all or the
above records verified at the office of
the contest board In New York and tney
are absolutely official.
NEWWINTON $1000 LESS
MODELS ARE EXHIBITED AT FAIR
IX XEW YORK.
dualities at Largest and Most Costly
Machines Embodied . In Ante N
That la "Xot Quite So Big."
At the Xew York show, open now,
the Wlnton makers are displaying an
abiolutely new addition to their line,
which has stood through eight years.
The car will be 31000 cheaper than the
big model and will have a wbeelbase
of 12$ Inches and powered with a six
motor having a bore of 3 Inches and
stroke of 614 inches.
"This new car." says General Man
ager ' Churchill, "is practically an in
vitation model. By that I mean we are
building it in response to an insistent
public demand for a car "not quite so
big as our model 21, and still em
bodying all the qualities of the largest
and most costly cars. For several
years we have been urged to All this
unsatisfied demand. We are told that
the Industry offered buyers nothing- of.
highest quality except in the great
big cars; that the buyer- who wanted
something slightly smaller was forced
to accept considerably less quality.
"So we have designed this new
model, and we have put into it the
same engineering skill, experience and
fidelity to quality that has given the
Wlnton Six its unique reputation."
Air pressure carries the fuel to an
auxiliary tank under the cowl, from
which the carburetor is fed by gravity.
Lubrication is by means of gear pump,
and water circulation is secured by a
gear-driven centrifugal pump. A motor-driven
air pump supplies pressure
for Inflating the 36 by 4-inch tires.
Non-skid rear tires are regular equip
ment, as ' are Firestone demountable
rims." Additional equipment includes
Warner speedometer, clock. Klaxon
horn, one-man top. Jiffy curtains and
plate-glass windshield, the latter havj
ing rain vision and ventilating ad
justments. There is marked similarity between
the new else Wlnton Six and the larger
one. The motor is of the typical Win
ton Six type, with L-head, big valves
and balanced moving parts. Motor,
clutch and transmission form a unit
power plant, completely housed. The
clutch has five pairs of dry-plates. The
transmission has four forward speeds
and reverse. There is ,a universal
Joint at each end of the drive shaft,
and the rear driving gears are spiral
bevels. The rear axle la of the full
floating- type. . - -
ESTIMATED COST $600,000
Greater Part of" Work Needed on
Southern Section From Pierce to
Clarke Counties Other Im
provements Proposed.
OLYMPIA, Wash., Jan. . (Special)
Elimination of all existing bad
stretches in the Pacific highway, so that
this trunk road may provide a
thoroughfare, of permanent construc
tion in the main and with no bad
grades, from Blaine on the British Co
lumbia border to Vancouver, will be
one of the principal recommendations
of Washington Highway Commission to
the 14th Legislature.
The Highway Commission will meet
Ratnrdav to prepare its recommenda
tions in detail. ,. If the present public
highway levy Is continued at 1 mill,
approximately 32,000,000 will be avail
able during the coming blennium, and
it is believed that the Commission
will recommend that about $600,000 of
this bo expended on the Pacific high-
wy- " ...
Since the Pacific highway already is
completed with high-class construc
tion, in the main, on the northern end,
the Highway Commission probably will
recommend that more than half of the
sum available be spent from Pierce
County south, through Thurston, Lewis,
Cowlitz and Clarke counties. These
counties also expect to aid in the work
of completing the great north and south
road.
Clarke County Commissioners this
week made the proposal that If the
state will spend 6U,vuu in gracing
about ten miles of the Pacific highway
in that county, the county will spend
an additional $40,000 in hard surfacing
and road thus constructed, which would
give Clarke County a hard-surfaced
main road from Vancouver" to Wood
land. Aside from the Pacific highway work
the Highway Commission will recom
mend completion of work ' already
started on the Sunset, Inland Empire
and Olympic highways. Comparatively
uttiA mountain work will be recom
mended, and the stretches planned will
I,, ovaUohie eauallv to farmers and
mi tnmnhilists.
On the Sunset highway, the great
o, ann west road, the Commission
will recommend work at both ends of
the Snoqualmie pass section consirucieu
this blennium through the heart oi
the Cascades. These connections will
thn nana road available to all
An equitable division of funds be
tween Eastern and Western wasn-
ington on the basis oi tne contriDu
tion of each section to the total high
way funds, will be recommended, and
cv.,-n WoRhimrton. under this ar
rangement, will be able to spend much
of Its money on continuations of the
Inland Empire . highway, both north
from Spokane and south from Colfax.
On the Olympic highway, constructed
between Hoodsport and Duckabush this
blennium, extensions are planned at
both ends Bo that a completed roaa win
be available along the entire east side
r tho peninsula irom oneii-uu io
A feature of the new recommenda
tions will be the graveling of roads
already graded. The highway depart
ment spent practically ail avaiable
money this blennium on grading, ex
pecting counties to do the . surfacing.
In the main this wag done but there
are several sections of soft roads which
i wi tmnracticable to surface and
these will be graveled to make them
available.
NEW .PREMIER IS OUT
PBtrE IS LESS THAN 2O0O FOR
FIRST TIME IX HISTORY.
All Element of Quality Established by
Manufacturers Are Embodied In
Latest Model of Car.
- INDIANAPOLIS. Ind.. Jan. 2. (Spe
cial.) Arrangements for the Premier
Motor Manufacturing company io ex
hibit a new model Premier at the New
York. Philadelphia and Chicago auto
mobile shows have been completed. For
the first time in the history of the com
pany a Premier will be offered tne pud
lic for less than $2000.
Frank E. Smith, trustee, brings out
a new Premier that retains all of the
elements of Premier quality, moaern
in every respect and equipped with a
motor capable of 102 horsepower. The
car will carry the latest type Tlmken
front and full floating Timken rear
axles. Timken bearings will be used
throughout the car, which will have
132-inch wheel base and a 4 by 5-inch
motor.
The selling policy of the company
has been changed, inasmuch as the new
arrangements are built on a foundation
of confidence between the factory and
the selling representative, this same
spirit of confidence between dealer and
Premier owner will be urged from the
faptorv.
A new-model under consideration for
some time has been given a mqrougo
test. A convention of the Premier East
ern representatives is called for at the
New York Automobile Show. A good
ly number, of the Middle West Premier
dealers have been at the factory in the
past week pronouncing their faith in
the new Premier and the business poli
cies as outlined by Mr. Smith.
' The much talked-of ram's horn in
take manifold, the subject of numerous
experiments by automobile engineers,
which it is predicted will soon become
a regular equipment on all automobile
motors, is employed In the new Premier
6-BOs. ' . ' ..
Every modern Improvement of the
present era in automobile manufactur
ing is embodied in the new Premier. In
cluding electric starter, electric light
ing, the Stewart vacuum gasoline sys
tem divided front seats in the tour
ing 'car. etc. A simple and unique way
attaohln? and detaching the top is
attracting much attention on this new
Premier model.
NEW OLDSMOBILE IS ROOMX
Changes in Mght Four Add to Com
fort and Appearance.
Further improvements have been
made in the light four Oldsmobile, and
shipments of the new cars are on the
way to distributing centers, through
out the country. The manufacturers
explain that these Improvements, while
few in number, are quite important in
that they add materially to the riding
qualities and the roominess, as well
as the outward comeliness of the car.
In the main they have to do with
WEED CHAINS
For Trucks With Solid Tires
Good Insurance
BALLOU & WRIGHT
BROADWAY AT OAK
BOWSER
DIAMOND TIRES
YnIcaBiziBgiRelreadiBi LLBLCDGEIT.
the body, increasing to a noticeable
extent the space in the tonneau. More
leg room is afforded by an addition of
three inches to the length of the body,
which, however, is not obtained by any
lengthening of the wheelbase. but
rather by adding slightly to the body
in the rear.
The radiator has been Increased in
height, giving more room under tne
bonnet and a higher and more massive
appearance to the front end of the car.
It was said by J. v. nan. saies man
ager of the Olds Company, that the
changes in its light four model relate
principally to the comfort afforded
passengers and the outward appear
ances and do not affect in any way the
mechanical features of the car.
3fAXVELL PLAXT SHOWS GAIX
Keport of Last Six Slonths Indicates
Prosperous Increase.
A most interesting and optimistic re
port on business conditions comes from
the Maxwell Motor Company. Not only
does it show that the company made
big gains over last year, but aloo that
the company's business and production
has gained every month since August 1.
The Maxwell Motor Company em
ployed an average of 4250 men daily for
the months of August, September and
October, 1913, with -an average monthly
payroll of $296,956.24.
The recapitulation statement for the
same months of this year shows a
daily average of 6818 men, with a
monthly payroll of $427,809.52, or an in
creased payroll of $130,853.28 a month.
November of this year makes an in
teresting comparison and ehowa that
business conditions actually are bettor
with the Maxwell Motor Company since
the war was declared in August. The
factory employed 5727 mon daily during
November of this year, as against 6602
men in August of this year and 38H41
men in November of last year.
"When the general business condl
Hons of the country during August and
September are considered, this showing
is indeed remarkable," saio waiter
Flanders, president of the Maxwell
Motor Company. "Maxwell production
has increased every month since August
1, and present plans of the company
are for a still greater increase.
EEXE THOMAS IS CHAMPION
Eddie Pnllen Shares Honors lor
1914 on Motor Speedway.
INTIANAPOLIS, Jan. 2. (Special.)
Snpful champions for 1914 are Kene
Thomas, who won the Indianapolis mo
tor sneedway 500-mile race at bj.h
milAs an hour, and Eddie Pullen. who
tf.nk down the 300-mile Corona road
contest at 87.8 miles an hour.
They are rivaled by Teddy Tetzlarr,
who attained a speed of 142.8 miles an
hour in an attempt to lower the world's
straightaway record, which, however,
still is -ield by Arthur Duray. with a
soeed of 142.9 miles an hour to his
credit, and Georges Boillot, who ne
gotiated the Indianapolis motor speed
way for a full lap, turns and all, at the
dizzy rate of 99.80 miles an hour.
The best all-around speedway per
formance to date is that of Jean Chass-
agne, who in 1913 covered 107.95 miles
at Brooklands, England, in an hour's
running, and the 24-hour drive in 1907
of S. F. Edse, who maintained an aver
age of 65.905 miles an hour for the en
tire distance, stops included.
Answers to Queries
J.
A. F., Gervais, Or. . Why is It ad
visable to take tires off the wheels
n Winter? I should think that If you
deflate the tire and jack up the wheels
and darken the room that would be
sufficient.
2. Does distillate create more carbon
in the engine than gasoline?
Answers 1. Rubber naturally dete
riorates even when off the wheels, but
all strain is taken off the rubber when
the tires are removed from the wheels.
The tires should be carefully wa3hed
before putting in a cool, dry place.
Remove all grease and oil. Deflating
and leaving on the rim has the objec
tion that there still is some strain on
the rubber and with the air out it may
assume an unnatural shape.
2. Distillate may be successfully
used with certain makes o' carbure
tors, and the makers assert that the
carbon deposits are no greater than
those of gasoline. A goad deal depends
on the engine, but for average use with
the nroper equipment distillate will
offer no objections on account of car
bon. WWW
These cold days present troubles of
starting. In other states the average
garage Is equipped with a heater or
noma device to keep the water in the
engine at a warm temperature. For the
short snap of coia wnicn x-oriiana ex
periences such devices are a waste of
money, but simple ways ui "
trouble are many.
One Is the following:
Draw off all the water before turn
ing In the car for the night. In the
morning, when ready to start, refill
with warm water, and starting will be
easy. This method, though somewhat
bothersome, has the advantage that It
precludes all danger of freezing. SUM,
It will be cheaper than a radiator or
tubes burst by freezing.
Manv of tne so-canea ami-ireezin
mixtures win not stand a lower tem
perature than 25 degrees, so those who
have radiators filled with such mix
tures also can look out. i
GASOLINE and OIL TANKS
STORAGE SYSTEMS FOR PUBLIC AS" ;!
VATK GARAGKS. S. D. Stoddard. District 8nat
Sales. 413 Corbet Bids. Mala !.
29-31 North 14th. near Couah
Phono Main 700
F
Automobile Replaces Wagon
in Many Communities.
BIG LOAD EASILY HAULED
Improvement of Koad Conditions
Keults From o'enoral l of Car
to Move rrodurU lo Market
Ijong Pittance Away.
Just as the ox-cart gave way to tha
farm wagon with its fine team of
horses, the wagon Is giving way to the
auto truck. The automobile on the
farm is Just as necpssary as any oth.'r
piece of farm machinery. In fact. It
fills a peculiar place. No matter how
large or how small the farm, there Is
an automobile which will come In
handy. Where larger farms today are
using high-power auto trucks, the
small farmer is saving time and multi
plying his efficiency by using the licbt
delivery car. with which he ran run
Into the nearest town or railway sta
tion In a surprisingly short time as
compared to the old-style means of
transportation.
ffirm lands which years ago were or
little use on account of their lnaccesl
blllty to railroads are now becoming
increasingly valuable because by th
use of a motorcar the distance feature
Is eliminated practically, and 10, 12, or
even 25, miles from a railroad Is no
serious handicap.
Counties Improve Roads lo Farms.
The progressive counties throughout
the Northwest, realizing what automo
biles mean In the development of farm
ing communities, have done their share,
by constantly improving the roads, and
splendid highways are reaching Into
many heretofore Inaccessible regions,
while other roads are in course of con
struction which soon will open many
more acres to the farmer.
The auto truck has made it poaslbli
for the man of moderate means to buy
splendid farming land at a price which,
he can afford to pay, and by bringing
him into close contact with the mar
ket has enabled him to carry on a Una
of farming which heretofore was Im
possible. Throughout the country tributary to
Portland may be seen the cars of hun
dreds oi enterprising and progressive
farmers. They run In and out of the
small towns and railway stations,
bringing in their owners supply of
milk or butter or eggs or general farm
produce, or hauling immense loads of
grain or cordwood. The cost of many
of the lighter cars Is little more than
that of a good team of horses, while
the cost of upkeep Is no more. On tlu
other hand, the automobile naturally
covers distance which was Impossible,
under the old horse and wagon method.
Hundreds of Cam to De Sera.
When the automobile was first put
upon the market it was still In such a
crude state of development that a man
had necessarily to be of a mechanical
turn to be able to operate his car. The
great development which has taken
place in the past few years, however,
has so simplified automobile construc
tion and resulting operation that It la
nothing unusual to see the farmhand
who formerly drove the two or four
horse team today bringing the three or
five-ton truck up to a perfect stop In
front of the railway station.
Hundreds of progressive farmers who
are realizing the immense advantage
of owning a car which will enable them
to reach their market more quicmy
and economically are planning to come
to Portland for the Auto Hhow January
23 to 80 at the Armory. More than 100
types of all makes of cars will be on
display. Many who are contemplating
the installation of motorcars for haul
ing purposes will have an unuoual op
portunity to compare the various makes
of cars under ideal conditions. Joseph
M. Kicg, who is In active charge of the
show, is sparing no pains to arrange a
display from which the prospective
purchaser will De aoie to omain a com
prehensive knowledge of the value of
the various makes of cars.
ISIS' Meet Is Wanted.
A typically Western good time la
nrnmiaed motorcyclists If they should
decide to go to Sacramento, Cal., for
their 1915 convention. The Capital
City Motorcycle Club of Sacramento
has decided to go arter me i:i as
sembly hard, nnd a committee has
been appointed to secure the co-operation
of the civic and commercial bod Ira
of the city. Sacramento has many talk
ing Dolnts as an Idoal convention city.
It is not too large, yet has ample hotel
accommodations. It has an excellent
mile dirt track on which the champion
ships may be held. And It I only
about a three hours' ride from mn
Francisco, giving those attending1 the
convention a splendid opportunity to
visit the Panama-Paclfio Lxpoaitloa.
Tn six months In th fvnlnth c-ntur
380,000 peraunj died la Xplti vt a league.
TRUCKS
GAIN