TIIE SUNDAY OREGOXIA&V rOBTLAXD, FEBRUARY 28, 191&-
$1,000,000 ISSUE IS
AIM FDR GOOD ROADS
"Fans" Plan Special Election
to Make Up for-Bills Lost
in Legislature.
HOPE YET IS HIGH IN WORK
f.aw Permits Two Counties to Build
Jointly Booster Says Paving Is
JVot to Bo Done, but Grading
M ill Prepare for Work.
Although the 1915 Oregon Legisla
ture did not pass much constructive
good roads legislation, the good r6ad
fans- are not in the least discouraged
In their campaign to convert the en
tire state to a permanent policy. The
workers in Multnomah County are for
mulating their plans to petition a spec
ial election in this county perhaps some
time next month, when a $1,000,000 bond
issue to finance tne pavement of trunk
roads will be voted upon.
The Legislature was asked to in
crease the state-wide road levy from
one-fourth of a mill to one-half a mill
and allow the state to co-operate in
road work with districts and counties,
but it refused to do so. Consequently,
the amount to be spent by the state
for the improvement of highways dur
ing the coming year will be about 240 -tutu,
the same sum as was available
last year.
Joint Roads Are Authorised.
A bill providing that counties and
cities might spend money for road im
provement In contigous territory out
side of their own prescribed boundaries
also was defeated. But the same re
sult may be obtained through the road
bill introduced by Senator Vinton,
which was passed.
This law authorizes two counties to
build roads jointly, which means virtu
ally that one county can spend its
own money on an important road out
side its boundaries. For instance, it
Clackamas County were not willing to
improve its share of a trunk road to
Mount Hood, originating in Multnomah
County,- the latter county might offer
to join with Clackamas in the improve
ment and agree to stand all of the ex
penses excepting a normal Jl. or what
ever sum might be agreed upon mu
tually. , Boosters Are Kot Pleaned.
"In face of the. two and one-half mill
road levy, the Washington Legislature
has passed, which supplies about 4,
OO0.0U0 for road work in that state, you
might think the refusal of the Oregon
law-making body would discouraged us.
but such is not the case." said E. E.
Coovert. attorney for Simon Benson, the
eminent good roads authority and phil
anthropist, who was instrumental in
framing and advocating- the road bills
submitted to the recent Legislature.
"Things could be a lot- worse. This
year was essentially one of economy in
Oregon and perhaps we are lucky to
get as much money as we were given
last year. Many of the legislators wt-.re
disposed to oppose any road levy unless
they could see in black and white that
money was to be spent in their country.
Lesson to Legislature Suggested.
-The fact that Multnomah County was
In favor of a one-mill tax even with
the understanding that all of the fund,
over a third of which was raised with
in its boundaries, should be spent en
tirely without its confines, didn't
make anv "hit' apparently with those
fellows. With them the sky came down
at the end of their county boundary.
"It would be a good plan to work a
practical demonstration on the members
of the next Legislature. If three miles
of pavement were laid alongside three
miles of mud road leading out of Salem
and the entire personnel of the Legis
lature required to drive out over the
paved road and back over the mud
road every day during the session I
a:n quite certain some constructive
road legislation could be passed before
the session terminated. That daily trip
would teach them a lasting apprecia
tion of what good roads mean to the
country.
Foundation Is Present Plan.
"My judgment is that no paving will
be done with the $240,000 available un
der the existing one-fourth mill levy,
-as it is not enough money to accom
plish much of anything in that line.
But that money spent judiciously in
grading and building up the present
highways will lay the foundation for a
more constructive character of work
later on.
"The J240.OOO will be spent wherever
the office of the State Highway Com
mission deem that work is most needed.
I predict that some of it will be spent
in Cow Creek Canyon and other un
satisfactory stretches near the Califor
nia line, in Columbia, Clatsop, Hood
River and Wasco counties, and per
haps in Yamhill County on the road to
Tillamook. These improvements would
serve materially to encourage the per
manent establishment of trunk roads.
"Anyhow, we are feeling so good that
we propose to go right ahead with the
' proposed 11,000.000 for roal improve
ment in Multnomah County. If the peti
tions are made up in time. I believe the
special election to decide this issue will
come the last of March. It is rather
tough to try such a proposition so near
taxpaying time, but I'm satisfied we
can carry the day."
Estimates Dae Before Petitions.
Before the petitions calling for the
election can be circulated, estimates
of cost on all suggested improvement
must be made and incorporated in the
petition, raone oi tne hiujicj aaw.
the improvement of any road can le
gally be spent for any other road. Af
ter 2500 names have been affixed to the
petition a notice of the election must
be posted 20 days in advance. Those
hacking the movement feel certain that
they can secure a sufficient number of
names within 10 days after the esti
mates have been completed.
If the entire $1,000,000 issue is .au
thorized by the voters it will construct
about 65 miles' of paved road in this
county, or two and one-half times as
much" hard-surfaced pavement as has
been laid thus far on roads outside
of city limits in Oregon.
The main road to benefit by the pro
posed bond Issue would be the Colum
bia Highway, but County Roadmastet
Teon has recommended that several
other prominent roads within the
county be paved also. At present there
are only three miles of "hard-surfaced
road in Multnomah County outside of
Portland.
Tax t Be Only SO Cent Year.
"The promised bond issue will re
quire a tax of only SO cents a year
on every $1000 to pay off the princi
pal within 10 years and only IS cents
on every $1000 to pay the interest."
said Mr. Coovert.
"Approximately 70 per cent of the
taxpayers pay $1000 and less and an
additional 10 per cent pay on between
$1000 and $2000. Six per cent or the tax
payers pay a majority of the taxes in
this county and an enormous majority
of the voters do not pay any taxes.
Certainly those voters who do not pay
any taxes will vote for good roads, and
1 believe a good majority of the tax
payer will also vot tor the $1,000.-
000 bond issue.
.irA . )- hjiarv taxnavers who
are' still in business are strong adher
ents of good roads and aome ra uiem
not in business are Just aB enthu
siastic. So I feel safe in making ttre
prediction that the bona issue win
carry by a substantial majority even
though It is submitted at a time when
taxes are still fresh in the memory or
all property owners."
CARS BEIXG BETTER EQtlPPED
High Grade Tires, Wind Shield and
Otlier Necessaries Are Items.
"Our great increase of output in
x- . k 4.ii tires is. among
other things, a sign of how car manu
facturers are giving better and better
equipment with their products," says
C. H. Williams, manager of the Port
land branch of the Goodyear Tire
Rubber Company. "A few years ago
ni.? irlthnnt windshields.
and without other things that are pro
vided as a matter oi course "
of todayr And the tires that came with
new cars were usually plain treads,
unless some special arrangement for
nonskids has Been maua u
chasers.
"When we started to push out aii
Weather tread tires for rear wheels,
bocause of thler obvious advantages,
we considered we were doing well if
SFXRETARV OF FIRESTONE
II UK FIRM WILX BE IN
PORTLAND THIS WEEK
'-f 4s v
- v ar "
EL &
s
S. U. Carkhuff.
S. G. Carkhuff. secretary of
the Firestone Tire & Rubber
Company, of Akron. Ohio, who
also exercises direct control of
the SO branches in the United
States, will arrive in Portland
early this week, according to.
advices received by I". W.
Thatcher, manager of the local
Firestone branch.
Mr. Carkhuff i3 one of the
oldest employes of the Fire
. stone Company. He started as
a bookkeeper and is now not
fcnly one of the principal offi
cers but a prominent stock
holder as well.
With Mrs. Carkhuff, the tire
official is bound primarily for
San Francisco, where he ex
pects to see the Vanderbilt
Cup race next Saturday. At
least two of the cars in that
race. Oldfleld's Maxwell and
Cooper's Stutz, will be equipped
with Firestones.
sales of -All-Weather' treads were 5
per cent as large as. saies oi pio....
. iih, a hicr ohftnea has come in
ucau . ' -J- ' -
the last year or two. We estimate that
for 1915 Gooavear ures wia bijuiii -k
proximately 200,000 new cars.' Of
.i ,,i t,if will have 'All-Weath
er' treads on rear wheel tires. The de
mand for this popular, saie anu imc
appearlng type of tire is growing by
leaps and bounds and automobile man
ufacturers may be complimented for
recognizing it and supplying 'All-
. l. ho r imor thouirh 'All-
n cKLucie . " -
Weathers' cost -more to make than plain
tread tires.
f vt .. . nni- fa i manufacturers, but
users as well, recognize this era of the
'All-Weatner treaa, ana uur
j . . i . A nniH in dim to consumers.
... UviHl hntween 'All-Weathers'
and plains practically 50-50."
SALES OF AUTOS
WILLVS-OVERLAAD COMPANY ES
TABLISHES NEW RECORD.
Shipments Daring Second Week in
Frbrnary Total $1,600,000 Tare
Hundred Sent Out. One Day.
More than $3,000,000 worth of busi
ness in two weeks and shipments
amounting to almost $300,000 in a
single day is the actual record of the
Willys-Overland Company, Toledo,
Ohio.
The week ending February 6 was the
largest the Overland Company had
ever experienced up to that time, the
volume of business amounting to al
most $1,500,000. The following week
was even larger, totaling practically
$1,600,000. On February 13 both the
number of shipments made during the
week and the unfilled orders on hand
were greater than at the end of any
previous week.
Monday, February 15, was the big
gest day in the history of the company.
Three hundred cars, valued at $2S6.
725. were shipped without any ac
culmination. from the preceding day.
This is 50 per cent larger than ship
ments on the corresponding date
of last year. The cars went into
2E different states and 65 eities. Eigh
teen were shipped abroad to Overland
foreign dealers. The entire shipment
required 91 freight cars.
Not only did the Overland Company
succeed in reaching this high point,
but once having reached it, almost as
high an average has since been main
tained. 270 cars having been shipped
everv day since. No other factory
turning out medium or high-priced cars
has ever averaged sucn large aauy
shiDments.
In order to create room for the new
factory additions made necessary by
this rapidly increasing volume of busi
ness, reclamation work, which will
add several acres of land to the big
Overland plant, has already been
started. As soon as the ground has
been filled in. drained and levelad.
construction work will be started on
two large buildings, one of which will
rank with the largest factory struc
tures in the world.
When the additions have been com
pleted the Overland factory will have
a total or 79 acres or noor space m
the Toledo plant alone. This, to
gether with the affiliated Overland
plants operated in other cities, will
aggregate over 100 acres.
158 Miles Cost 40 Cents.
Another demonstration of the econo
my of the motorcycle was recently
made by John E. Hogg, of Los Angeles,
Cal. With a passenger on the tandem
seat of his two-wheeler Mr. Hogg rode
practically around the entire County of
Los Angeles, a total aistance oi lat.i
miles. The cost of the entire trip was
just 40 cents, expended for fuel.
12,668 GARS ARE
LICENSED IN 1915
Days of Grace Reduced and
Use to Which Money Is Put
Stimulates Early Registry.
JITNEYS ALSO SWELL LIST
Tabulated Record of All Machines
Operating la State Is Kept and
Prediction Is Total Will Be
About 20,0r0 This Year.
Wh.r. ih office of the Secretary of
State at Salem closed Thursday license
or. T,ajl been mailed to 12.6b8 automo
bile owners in the state, according to
a tabulation or tne uany i
ceived at the Portland office of M. o.;
Wilkins. publisher of the Automobile
Record. Last year on the correspond
ing day only z naa ueu uuc.
ox rf thesn figures it would
. 10.,, tit ttiA automobile
business in Oregon had nearly doubled
within a tweivemonin were u nuii"
chain of circumstances which this year
encouraged the Oregon owners to file
their applications for license earlier
than ever Deiore. .
In the first place the police officials
in Portland gave published notice In
advance that automobile owners would
i an rijjvs' E-raee in which to
,., hir (seb. In 191 they were
given until March 1.
Connttes Are Beneficiaries.
r-v, Koi-otarv of state Olcott in an
nouncing to the public this year just
what disposition was made of. the
money paid out for automobile licenses
made the' public feel more kindly
toward payment of the fees. His re
port shows that all of the fund over
and above expenses received from each
county is returned for expenditure on
the public roads in the respective coun
ties from wnicn n came, uimcr v...
system, which was adopted about two
k1 ADA 8ft at the entire $77,-
592 collected last year was returned to
the counties lor roau eapenuimic.
Mr. Olcott also Introduced a new
custom this year which facilitates the
rapid handling of license tags. Previ
ously none of the tags were mailed out
to the car owners until the official
licenses had been made out and as a
result his office force was several
thousand applications behind 'in, it
work during the early part of the year
This year he ordered his staff to
mail the tags immediately and make
pencil memoranda for making the
licenses later on.
Jitneys Make Difference.
Of course the development of the jit
ney business also has attracted care
into use earlier in the year than usual.
This tendency is illustrated by the fact
that a large number of cars registered
last year in Pendleton, Salem, St. Hel
ens, Roseburg and Astoria and other
cities, are now in the jitney business
in Portland, while their owners stir
i ; n....wia T,.T-t l ti n H Figures com
piled last week by Mr. Wilkins indicate
that there are aoont zou earn m
jitney business in Portland.
My prediction is that 20,000 and per
haps 21.000 automobiles will be regis
tered in Oregon this year as compared
with 16.347 last year." said Mr. Wilkin
yesterday. "Thus far the percentage
of new cars in the registrations is no
larger than last year but the new car
business from this time forward will
increase rapidly because of the open
ing of pleasant weather and I have no
doubt that the registrations for the
year will show an addition of 3500 oi
4000 cars. These need not be all new
cars necessarily for many of the cars
are brought into Oregon by people from
other states. But most of the cars not
represented last year will reflect sales
by Oregon dealers."
Mr. Wilkins keeps a record of every
car registered, the name and address of
its owner, the style, model and horse
power of the car, the factory number
of the car and the .number of the car's
Ti.Afariinr vear. if it had
any. These lists he classifies weekly
by counties and arranges me names u
alphabetical order.
Records Are Published.
Quarterly he publishes a complete
record supplied with an index that
o.i.,A. h nader kev to the owner of
every car instantly no matter what the
number may be.
The name and address of the o.wner
r r- ,nn hA determined immedi
ately by consulting the index device
and following tne Key numoer. nn
iiHa-v axrstm 1 II a nrOVPd SO SUCCeSSfUl
that the Portland Automobile Trade Association-
has tendered Mr. Wilkins
otficial thanks for the invaluable serv
ice rendered by the quarterly record.
Figures are being compiled which
will show just how many cars of each
particular make tnere are in me smic
Among the first 10.000 automobiles
: thia ti. q Kifin are owned and
operated in Multnomah. This shows
that less man in per cent ui me .uun
nomah County cars have 'not been reg
istered. Some of these cars are still
in storage.
Motorcycles and automobile dealers
licenses are handled under a separate
series and are not Included In the gen
eral registration figures quoted. Abonx
2800 motorcycles were registered in
Oregon last year.
Next to Multnomah County Marion
is highest in the number of cars regis
tered and Jackson and Umatilla coun
ties are about even for third place.
PVEE ADVERTISING INDORSED
Automobile Company Manager Says
Truth Is Vital Feature.
George M. M. Dickson, general man
ager of th,e National Motor Vehicle
Company, has been given the title, "Na
tional board of censorship," by L. S.
French, advertising manager. Dickson
has a keen sense of humor and fully
appreciates the joke. But French in
sists that there is more truth than
poetry In it. . ...
Dickson is a great believer in adver
tising, but also believes that every
advertisement a company publishes is
liii wnniii not sanction
KU UUIISd'V"' -x. -'
an advertisement that his company
- - . . t . - a . . ...1111 VJ ft cave
could not aosoiuieiy tunm.
1 1 . (.1. nnmnlnv tnlkfl in Drint
Lllttl wuoii ' . , j - .
it is Just as binding as though they
had slgnea a coniracv, mm
that this is why National advertise
ments are always conservative and do
not contain exaggerated claims or
boasts. Dickson points with pride to
kt. Hnw,Mam'a is vmm of success and
says that they have never saW anything
that tney naa o live . .
made any false or exaggerated claims.
Hooslers Elect Officers.
INDIANAPOLIS. Ind., Feb. 27.
Frank E. Smith, head of the Premier
Manufacturing Company, has been
elected president of the Indiana Auto
mobile Manufacturers' Association.
Henry Campbell, of the Stuts Motor
car Company, becomes-treasurer of this
11t JospDh Ward, of the
United States Tire Company, retains
the position oi bcuoumj. i" new
officers were chosen at the annual
meeting 'of the organization in Indianapolis.
A WORLD'S RECORD!
100 Double-Decked Carloads of
500 Automobiles
VA1VE-IM-HEAD
fh
StSHBSUEEXSMMES
MOTOR CARS
Value $644,44022
In One Train and on One Bill of Lading
Left the Buick factory at Flint, Michigan, at 11 o'clock A. M. Saturday, February 20,
consigned to the Howard Auto Co., for distribution on the Pacific Coast.
Absolutely the Largest and Most Valuable Shipment
of Automobiles Ever Made in the
World's History
It Stands to Reason That There Is Merit to An
Automobile That Continues to Sell by the
Trainload Year After Year
"When Better Automobiles Are Built, Buick Will
Build Them"
HOWARD AUTOMOBILE CO.
MEL G. JOHNSON, Manager.
Phones Main 4555 A 2550.
14th and Davis Streets.
$25 PRIZE OFFERED
Public School Pupils to Tell
of Portland's Advantages.
MODEL LETTER IS DESIRED
Plan Proposed by Automobile Asso
ciation for Bringing Tourists to
Pacific Coast and Insuring
Visit . to Oregon.
Here's a chance for a lad or lass in
the Portland public schools to earn
25 in gold. The Portland Automobile
Trade Association will give this sum
to the schoolboy or girl who writes
what is adjudged to be the best letter
sent East telling of the good things
Portland offers the transcontinental
tourist.
The association at its last meeting
formulated a plan to advertise Port
land and Oregon and its many attrac
tions through the school children of
the city The plan contemplates carry
ing a message particularly to the tour
ists of the Middle West and East who
might be planning a trip to the Pacific
Coast during the coming Summer and
Fall seasons.
Every schoolgirl and boy of the Ulty
of Portland is asked to write letters to
friends who reside outside of the state,
boy and girl friends, aunts and uncles
and relatives, urging that they visit
the "Pacific Coast and that they come
through Portland and stop off here.
The letter should set-forth the attrac
tions of Portland, what is to bo seen
here and why we have chosen to I've
here and believe it to be a better coun
try than exists elsewhere. The exclu
sive advantages and attractions of the
Portland country are to be emphasised
in these letters.
It is proposed that a "model' letter
shall be drafted and that some one
Portland schoolgirl or boy shall be
the author of this model letter. To ob
tain this the association has offered
a prize of $25 in gold to be awarded
to the schoolboy or girl writing the
best letter. The judges of the contest
wlU be appointed by L K. Alderman.
Superintendent of Schools, and H. J.
Banta. of the Dealers' Association. Mr.
Banta proposed the plan and has the
matter in charge for the association.
Before the plan was launched Mr.
Alderman was consulted and gave it
his indorsement. He thinks it will be
of benefit to the community as well as
to the pupils, enlisting their interest
in a good cause, crystallizing a strong
mental suggestion as to the advantages
or the community and state in which
they live. -
It is believed that this letter written
by the school children of Portland to
their fri3nds will be the means of car
rying an Oregon message to approx
imately 150.000 people residing outside
of the state.
HATSES MOTOR OX liOXG RtTX
Speedometer Sow Shows 20,000
Miles and 50,000 Is Objective.
"At the Newark, N. J, branch of the
Haynes Automobile Company the motor
of a Haynes light six was started De
cember 1. and has been running night
and day until the speedometer now reg
isters more than 20.000 miles." says
H. 1m. Mann, manager of the Nob Hill
Oarage & Auto Company, distributors
in ihis territory for the Haynes.
"It is the intention to keep this motor
running continuously until the 50,000
mile mark is passed.
"The entire car is mounted in the
show window on blocks so that the rear
wheels may revolve and operate the
speedometer. The hood is removed and
the motor runs without any auxiliary
cooling agent. The surrounding tem
perature is that of the salesroom. No
adjustment is permitted at any point.
The valves are to be used the entire
60.000 miles without regrinding, and the
spark plugs are not to be touched."
Fords Used for Delivery Purposes.
Ellas Romero, a multi-millionaire, in
fact one of the richest men of Buenos
Aires, owns nine big Panhard Levas
sors automobiles, four of them for de
livery. Tet he has just bought a Ford
for touring, reports H. Hampton,
of the Buenos Aire branch of the Ford
Motor Company, and in the Spring ex
pects to introduce Ford equipment for
his delivery. Mr. Hampton, by the
way. writes that crop conditions In
that part of South America are excel
lent, which means big sales, big busi
ness and prosperity, in which American
manufacturers now can share. The fact
of Branch Manager Hampton's pres
ence and activity and success in
Buenos Aires is another demonstration
of the Ford Motor Company's policy of
going after the business aggressively
wherever It may, in any and all the
markets of the world.
Pord "999" Mlay Appear.
VENICE, CaU Feb. 27. (Special.)
The reappearance of the famous old
Ford racing car 999 is promised as a
feature of the first annual Venice
grand prlx, March 17. This speed de
mon of the past, in which Barney Old
field made his reputation, is stored
In the garage of Dana Burks, a Venice
resident. It has not been driven for
years, but Burks has asked Oldfleld
to pilot it once around the parkway
before the start of the race, and the
master driver has consented. Burks
will go to considerable expense to fit
the oar up so the wheels will go
around.
Sunday Practice Offered.
VENICE, Cal.. Feb. 27. (Special.)
Ten days ot practice will be allowed
J.l.Ta.B In (ha fif.f unmlSl VeniCO
grand prix, which is scheduled for
March 17., This will include two Sun
days and will be the first time there
has been Sunday practice In connec
tion with nn automobile race In Sonth-
ern California. Tho cily truwl.-o. huve
........... I .. rrl i II u m'n TWi V TT1 i t M 11 U IA
drivers to "open her up" on thr day"
and all Intersecting xtrects 111 ho
doped and guarded between the. Innns
of 10 o'clock and noon.
JEFFERY
CHESTERFIELD SIX
Is the Most Up-to-Date
of All Up-to-Date Cars
is
THE LIGHT-WEIGHT, ECONOMICAL CAR
Beautiful stream-line body
One-man top with Collins curtains
Bijour starting and lighting system
Small bore, high-speed motor
Worm drive rear axle
Cantilever springs, properly suspended
Imported annular ball bearings
Spicer universal joints
Damlier leather couplings
Dry plate clutch
THE THOMAS B. JEFFERY COMPANY
Main Office and Works, Kenosha, Wis.
Frank C. Riggs Company
f i -'-r t ,?". !VJ . .... f -v I o II' 1. ! .
- . . . iiisfriDuter ior uresron ana r. naMnnKurii
j, , H , jjy
W A onH Wnchino-tnn sts. I'nriinnri. nr.
AtUU ll IV. a7 ' ' -