THE SUNDAY OKEGON'IA, PORTLAm MAY 7, J91G.
OF ROADS
SYSTEM
AT HOME LAUDED
Americans Are Prone to Un
derestimate, Not Overvalue
Work, Declares R. E. Olds.
COMPARISON IS ONE-SIDED
Uest Highways in Europe Are Held
lTp as Examples, While Poor
Ilontcs Are Not Pictured. 4
Country Rated Wonderful.
ed "Bert' with a car for his own use
and hereafter he will do much of his
traveling over the open road. "Bert
says the Hup factory is working full
blast night and -day and that production
is now 7 per cent ahead of last years
schedule. The Northwest territory is
showing a 100 per cent increase, he
says.
The Portland Tire Store opened new
quarters last week in the Keats build
ing, where R.' F. Strong, an experi
enced man in the local tire and acces
sory field, will handle the Blackstone
tire. The Blackstone is manufactured
by the Knight vTire & Rubber com
pany, of Canton,' 3., . and has been on
the market about a year. The tire is
made of fabric with a non-skid outet
casing. .
The following self -explanatory let
ter was received last week by C. L,.
Boss,- Hudson distributor, from E. H.
Despain, of Palmer, Or.: a.
""I wish to state since taking deliv
ery on my Super-Six, on April 30. 1916,
I have driven 226 miles, 38 miles of
which was on pavement and 190 miles
on country roads. On the pavement
I averaged 19 miles to the gallon gaso
line consumption and on the country
driving 16 7-10 miles.
"I think this is somewhat remark'
vVe Americans are prone to over
estimate and sometimes to boast of that
which we have," says R. E. Olds, presi
dent of the Reo Motor Car Company.
'At least that is the accusation made
by our European cousins.
"I sometimes wonder if it is Just.
"I wonder if we do not more often
underestimate our possesions and our
achievements.
'We really are a wonderful country,
you know, ami, with full allowance
lor our shortcomings, a wonderful
people, too. So I rather think we are
Justified in some of our boastf ulness.
It is an attribute of youth, and evi
dence of a good, healthy, youthful en
thusiasm. "Apropos of what? you ask.
'Well, of roads, for example. .
One-sided Comparisons Made.
"We are accustomed to saying that
we have the worst roads in the world
and to hold up as an example of model
roads the centuries-old highways of
Europe.
"Of course, we are very careiui io
select which European countries we
will use. And in doing so we very
carefully' ignore Belgium, Holland,
Scandinavian countries. Russia, the
Balkans, Turkey, etc., etc.
"That reduces it down to the Brit
ish Isles, France, Germany and Italy.
And then we reduce it down again so
that it covers not all the roads of even
those countries only the main traveled
roads. The 'trunk lines." as it were.
"I have found, in talking with Ameri
cans who have toured abroad, that
most of them will give as examples
, of model highways a few main traveled
roads. But ask them about the general
roads of any country and they will
either tell you they do not know, or
if perchance one has happened to lose
his way and gotten onto one of these
Tyways, he will admit that they are
about as bad as he has ever seen in
Michigan or Nebraska
Roads of France Are Praised.
"Your traveled American will ex
patiate at great length on the wonder
ful roads of France. And they are
wonderful. That is to say, some of
them are. At that the total mileage
of really good roads in that country
Is much less than most people imagine.
We Journeyed along for many a weary
kilometer over cobblestone roads that
would shake your teeth loose and in
romantic Normandy, too.
"The highways through the Swiss
Alps are wonderful and are the only
roads for which we have no parallel
in this country. At that I opine that
we have a greater total mileage of
mountain roads in this country than
In Switzerland, though not condensed
In so small an area.
"The roads in the British Isles are
excellent, but, after all. New England
lias more, and they are Just as good,
despite the climatic conditions that
lavor the former.
Influence of Climate Cited.
The Rhine route in Germany is all
that has been claimed for it, but we
have our roads up the Hudson and Co
lumbia rivers to match it and who
ehall say whether the scenery on the
Rhine or the Hudson or the Columbia
is more beautiful, since both are mag
nificent beyond description.
"I wonder how many people Tealize
the influence of climate on roads. I
wonder how many of those who rave
over the fact that the Appian way is
Ftiil in tolerable condition after more
than 2000 years have stopped to con
sider how long that same highway
would last in Michigan, for example?
The alternate freezing and thawing
would disintegrate and cause it to wear
away just as fast as they do our own
macadam and cement construction.
"The average American is not per
haps so familiar with what exists and
is being done in his own country as
lie is with European conditions. This
Is particularly true of those Americans
who for the past years have devoted
their Summers to touring in Europe.
"How many of those appreciate how
much roadbiiildlng is going on, not
only in their own immediate neighbor
liood, but throughout this country?"
BODGE TJSKD OX SIAIIj RUN
Valuable Service Between Lamar
and Spring! ield, Colo.. Given.
On the mail route between Lamar
and Springfield. Colo., a Dodge Bros,
touring car is giving great service. The
round trip ls approximately 100 miles
nnd in many places the roads are "bad
and there are steep grades to be ne
gotiated. The Dodge car dally carries an aver
age of 1500 pounds of mall and from one
to four passengers.
The car has been in service since last
year and has traveled more than 15,000
miles in all. According to carefully
kept figures the repair expense has
been but $20.29. The average con
sumption of gasoline has been 19 miles
to the gallon and 900 miles on a gallon
of oil. '
Tires have averaged more than 6000
miles and there are two tires on the
car now that have run more than 9000
miles.
DRIVING OVER RUTTY", t V
BROKE.V OR FROZEN ROADS
DAMAGES AUTOMOBILE
TIRES.
i
SIDE WEAR NO FAULT
Hard Use on Bad Roads
Causes Injury to Tires.
NEGLECT SHORTENS LIFE
t
Section of Tire Showing Snajps
- and J tut Wear.
able considering this" car was new and
somewhat stiff."
HORSES PATROL ATJTO WORKS
Efficient Sentry Is Maintained at
Willys-Overland Plant.
Among the curiosities of the auto
mobile industry are the three horses
used in patrolling the grourd of the
Willys Overland automobile plant at
night. Those are the only horses ever
seen about the great plant.
The 16.000 employes of the Willys
Overland Company, who travel to and
from the automobile factory every day,
utilize about every known means of
transportation that the city affords.
Trolley cars, automobiles, bicycles, mo
torcycles and jitney busses all carry
their quota of passengers to the plant,
but even in this maze of power-driven
vehicles the horse is seldom if ever
fieen.
But after the whistle blows at night
and the army of day workers have de
parted for home, three horses make.
their appearance, entering the grounds
along a'footpath at the rear of the fae.
tory. They are the mounts of the
Overland night watchmen, who keep in
touch with 45 other men stationed
around the freight yards and factory
buildings. Throughout the night they
police the great Overland property and
it is said to be next to impossible to
get through their sentry lines without
being challenged.
HUPP SEXIS FOREIGX AGEXT
Peter S. Steenstrup Will Handle Af
fairs in London.
Peter S. Steenstrup, special forelgJ
sales representative of the Hupp Motor
Car Corporation, has sailed for London
in the interests of the Hupp Corporation.
Mr. Steenstrup -will visit London,
Paris, Madrid and Rome during the next
few months. Mr. Steenstrup has had
a wide experience in foreign trade and
has just recently returned from a six
months' visit to the South American
countries. -
Gossip' Along the Row
Figures compiled last week by M.
O. Wilkins show that a total of 24
931 automobiles were given 1916 li
cense numbers in Oregon prior to May
1 and that S929 of these cars are in
use in Multnomah County, or more
than a third of the "entire state regis
tration. At the close of the 1915 li
cense tag count last year there were
only SS0S cars in use In Multnomah
County. Of the cars now running in
Multnomah County. 1236 are new ma
chines running this year for the firs!
time. -
Arrangements nave just been com
pleted between the O.-W. R. & N. Com
pany and John B. Yeon, roadmaster of
Multnomah County, whereby the Port
of Portland ls to make a fill between
the railroad tracks and the Columbia
River Highway at a point below Mult
nomah Falls, the idea being to relieve
congestion. Mr. Yeon said yesterday
be thought the fill could be completed
-within the course of five or six days.
H. R. Roberts. Nortnweet manager
for the Hupp Motor Corporation, re
turned last week from an extensive
visit at the Hupmobile factory in De
trott and plans leaving today for Se
attle. where he will look over the
"Washingtoni territory and visit his
agents there. The factory has present-
LATEST INFORMATION OSf
ROADS LEADING IN ALL
DIRECTIONS.
The following road bulletin
was issued last Friday by the
Portland Automobile Club:
" ' Portland to Seattle. '
The Pacific Highway to Seattle
is reported to be in splendid con
dition all the way. Would advise
going by war of Vancouver and
up the Washington side. In driv
ing through Vancouver, ' drive
out Main street, which will lead
you directly to the Pacific High
way and follow the Highway all
the way. The distance is about
200 miles and Chehalis is just
about halfway, - with good hotel
accommodations.
I'ortland to Hood River and The
Dalles).
The Columbia Highway ls open
all the way to The Dalles and
said to be in very passable con
dition. Portland to Salem.
The'Paeific Highway to Salem
is in first-class condition and
would advise going by way of
Oregon City rather than the West
Side and McMinnville, as there
may be a rather soft place near
Dayton.
Portland to California.
The Pacific Hignway to Cali
fornia is rapidly getting in first
class shape for touring and there
have been a number of cars re
ported as coming through with
out a great deal of trouble.
Would advise waiting until about
the first of June, when the High
way should be in fine shape.
Portland to Tillamook.
Trip is not advisable at present
time but with three or four days
of good.- dry weather road would
be in good shape. The road is
passable now, but unless the trip
is absolutely necessary would ad
vise waiting.
Portland to Mount Hood.
This road seems to be In fair
condition by way of th
road, coming into the m
just before reaching the
? Sandy. Would not advise going
I farther than Rhododendron, al-
( though they say the road is pass-
able about Jthree miles past Toll
Gate. - . t
Portland to Astoria.
Unless trip" is absolutely neces
t sary would advise waiting for at
I ' least four or five days of good,
T dry weather. T-
Portland to Eatacada and Lo
La Barrc
. Would advise the Logan road
on the west eide of" Clackamas.
The road is high and dry and
very good surface. Crossing the
road at Baker's bridge the river
road is a little rough, but dry.
Is a distance of 31 miles. Log
La Barre is seven miles from Es
tacada. After reaching Estacada
there are road signs directing
the way to Log La Barre.
In the event of rains the above
reports are subject to qualifica
tion in proportion to the severity
of :the weather.'
Cover Also May Receive Xumerous
Small Snags and Cuts If Rear
Wheels Lose Traction and
- Spin Around on Paving.
BY F. W. THATCHER.
Manager Portland Branch -irestone Tire
Rubber Company. (Kleventh chapter of a
series or articles on tire care ana usage.'
There may be times when bad roads
cannot be avoided, but side-wall injury
to the tires under such circumstances
should not, in fairness, be considered
as an indication of fault in the quality
or construction. The eider of a tire
are not intended to withstand such
abrasion and wear as is to je expected
from rubbing against euro stones or
driving in deep, stiff mud or over
rutty, rough or frozen roads.
Wear of this kind usually occurs on
one side of the tire the side from the
car. Small tires that find the lowest
road level will usually receive the
most damage. However, inflation.
weight of car, camber of front wheels,
tread widths and other things all have
bearing on the extent of side abra
sion.
The side walls of a tire must be
flexible in order to properly distribute
the strains, give resiliency, minimize
heat, prevent sharp bending of fabric
breaking and separation. Therefore, it
is desirable that the rubber on the side
walls be elastic and not too dense or
firm; the same hard, wear-resisting
rubber as used on the tread is not
suitable for covering the side walls.
The difference on materials and
adaptability for tires may be compared
with automobile and machinery part
some materials are required to possess
great strength and some are selected
for other qualities.
It is possible, under severe condi
tions, to wear through the side-wall
rubber in a short time, bi-t, ordinarily,
the wear indicates neglect. If it is
necessary to drive occasionally over
bad roads, reverse the tires, i. e.. place
the-worn side toward the car, vulcanize
rubber oer the most worn parts to pro
tect the fabric from moisture and dis-
integration, and it will be found that
the normal service from the tires will
not be greatly affected.
Bfegleeted Cuts Prove Serious.
The service of tires will be abbrevi
ated to a considerable extent if cuts,
punctures and snags are neglected,
Too much care cannot be exercised in
avoiding injuries or this nature, as
much as possible or, at least, give them
the proper attention within a reason
able period.
New macadam roads, especially when
wet, are liable to damage the rubber
cover. It is recommended that th
speed of the car be slightly accelerated
and clutch depressed before coming up
to loose, crushed stone in the road
it is better to coast over sharp stone;
rather than cause more tire traction by
leaving gears engaged.
The rubber cover may receive numer
ous small snags and cuts if rear wheel
lose traction and spin around on we
pavement or in mud or sand. If rear
wheels slip, back car for a short dis
lance -and then start forward. Whe
this rails, jack up rear wheels and
wrap with rope or place something
rirm underneath to give the tires
grip.
Weight Canaes Expamlon,
The elasticity of the rubber permits
a cut in the tread to expand when
under the weight of machine and In
contact with the road. In this way.
such foreign matter as grit, sand and
pebbles are forced into the cut. With
each revolution of the wheel, the accu
mulation of foreign matter acts as a
wedge and further forces itself between
the cover and fabric of the tire.
It is not unusual for the lumps or
"mud boils," if neglected, to cause a
complete separation of the tread. An
entire new cover can often be applied
in a satisfactory manner, providing the
fabric is in fairly good condition, but
it is more practical and certainly less
expensive to attend to the initial In
juries when first noticed.
It is suggested that after a. long
trip, or at regular intervals, the tires
be examined carefully. Remove tacks,
glass, nails and other objects before
they cause serious damage; wash mud
and other foreign matter from the tires
and heal the cuts, punctures and snags
with preparations on' the market for
emergency repairs. If unable to re
pair the injuries in this way have the
work handled by an experienced and
competent repair shop.
5
i
4
1.
STU DEBAKER
Detroit, Mich.
South Bond, Ind. Walkervllle, Ont.
FOUR-CYLINDER MODELS
Touring Car, 7-paaaenger $873
Roadster, 3-paesenger 650
Landau-Roadster, 3-paae. 1 1 BO
Sedan ..... 1028
SIX-CYLINDER MODELS
Touring Car, 7-paasenger $106S
Roadater, 3-passengar - 1 06O
Landau-Roedater, 3-peaa. 1350
Coupe, 4-pasaenger - 160O
Sedan ..... 1675
Llmouaine, 7-paaaenger 2600
F. O. B. Detroit
Take the Judgment of the City
that knows how cars are
BUILT and the State that
knows how cars PERFORM!
There's no surer judgment, no more trustworthy advice
to be had anywhere than that of Detroit and the State of
California.
In Detroit
. the city that produces three-fourths of the country's
cars where people know cars from the technical
and manufacturing sides better than they do in any
other city on earth more Studebakers were regis- '
tered according to official figures in the year of 1915,
than any other cars selling at more than $500.
In California
the State of wonderful roads and weather the State
where people hav.e more miles of good roads to drive
over and more opportunity to use their cars than in
any other State in the Union the official figures for
the year of 1915 showed 15,718 Studebakers registered
2,895 MORS than any other car listing at more
than $500.
California KNOWS cars from use on the roads Detroit knows can from having
the bulk of the industry centered in its limits. Both have made Studebaker
favorite by a long lead. What better judgment can YOU follow in buying?
t
And the reason is simply that every time a man maker even the barest compari
son of a Studebaker with other cars, be finds that to get as much power, size and
quality as a Studebaker offers, he must pay from $250 to $400 MORE. So they're
baying Studebakers and SAVING that $250. Why don't you sea the care then
go make that $25Q-saving comparison.
Or egoi Motor Car Co.
Local Studebaker Distributors
Phone Broadway 616 " Park and Davis Srs.
ra.iSeJ
PROSPERITY HAS HERALD
FRED V. TOLGER APPEARS TO BE
THOROUGH OPTIMIST.
now substituting- motor trucks for
horse-drawn vehicles. I sold three Reo
trucks to one company alone.
"There are many relics of the early
days in that country. In and about
Colville one can find almost as many
missions as in California and there is
also an Interesting; building; at Kettle
Falls that was formerly used as the
Hudson's Bay trading' post.
"I came back from the upper country
to Davenport in a Reo, deriving for 300
miles over roads that were rendered
somewhat bad by the heavy fall of
snow and rain. Spring is about six
weeks late this year. Judging by the
amount of snow at the headwaters of
the Columbia we are to have hifii
water this season."
Tha simian mascot of the ship Appmrt
has been cnt to the Brooklyn IN. T. too,
whre It is said people spend their timi
Ironically as kins It it it su tha O-ermajia
who made ft monkey of him.
Dlatrlhntor of Reo, Cole and Maraon
Cars Finds Conditions Good
Thru ask-out Country.
Frederick (usually pronounced Fred
for short) W. Vogler, the president of
the Northwest Auto Company, dis
tributors of the Reo, Cole and Marmon
pleasure cars in this territory is quite
apparently a thorough optimist.
At least he always returns from ter
ritory trips with prosperity news that
hasn't a .single note of pessimism.
The other day. after dwelling for
some time on the statement that the
company had during April done the
greatest volume of business for any
month in Its history. Mr. Vogler told
about his recent trip north from Spo
kane to the Canadian line, where he
said it rained and snowed every one of
the six days he was there.
"Everyone up in the Kettle Falls and
Colville country was feeling good and
prospects looked fine in all lines of
business," said Mr, Voftler yesterday.
"Several stage lines In that sectionare
e In fair i
he Bluff I
nain road
e town of t
ilOS5
V. O. B. DETROIT.
The New
1916 Hupmobile
A Four That Excels
We grant that some multi-cylinder motors do confer advantages;
but we doubt that they are to be had atthe Hupmobile price.
This you can learn for yourself, without expense and without
much trouble.
Rider In the Hupmobile, and ride in some other car selling for
about the same money. .
Then, if you can honestly say the Hupmobile's performance doea
not match the other, we wyll be satisfied with your decision. ' ;
Dulmage-Manley Auto Co.
IMstrl bn tor Orearon and So. Wash in art on.
MARSHALL 1680, A 1299. ' 48 - 48 TWENTIETH STREET, XE.tR
1 WASfflXGTOX.
White Truck Record for
Performance Unbroken
V77Hllhi Trucks predominate over any
W other make. They give universal satis
faction; and that satisfaction has resulted from
a mechanical design fundamentally right from
the beginning. . -rj
"Years of use, therefore, not merely demonstrate '
White Truck performance in die past; they
also assure White Truck performance in the
future. Whatever improvements and refine
ments have been made, the product has had a
t continuous development of its original design.
O
THE WHITE J20MPANYiCleveIan
PORTLAND
Broadway and Oak Street-
vSBkJmer-r' - - i P" " I i m ; ith .err r?
-
The Anheuser-Busch Brewing Association now own a total of IS White Trucks
f