The Sunday Oregonian. (Portland, Ore.) 1881-current, May 21, 1916, SECTION FOUR, Image 50

The Sunday Oregonian., May 21, 1916, SECTION FOUR, Page 6, Image 50

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Newspaper Page Texttttt: kttntdat otit:ooxta. potitTjAXD. mat 21.- ioig. AGENCIES FOR TWO NEW CARS OBTAINED ABLEST GAR DRIVER HOOD RIVER MOTOR TRIP IS RARE TREAT IN STORE FOR AUTOMOBILISTS OF PORTLAND AND OREGON Packard-Oregonian Touring Expedition Finds Conditions Ideal While Out on Run to Compile Official Log of Columbia River Highway Fair Weather Puts Road in Splendid Condition Scenery Is at Its Best Big Twin Six Is Luxurious Car to Ride in. TO BE DETERMINED Championship to Be Awarded F. C. Braly to Handje Scripps Booth Line and Oregon Oak land Company Gets Vims. by American Auto Associa tion on Point System. CONSISTENCY BIG FACTOR BOTH MOTORS RATE HIGH Companies Will Cover Oregon and lart of Washington In Sales, Portland Being Distributing Center lor Territory. Two new automobile agency connec tions were announced in Portland last week, when J. C. Braly, the veteran Franklin dealer, made known the fact that he had added the popular Scripps Booth line, and the officials of tha Oregon Oakland Motor Car Company announced that they had taken the agency for the Vim truck. Although never actively represented In this field, the Scripps-Booth car has been driven by several Portland own ers and the appearance of the little car has never failed to make a dis tinct impression. The Braly Auto Com pany will exercise selling jurisdiction over all of Oregon and. the southern counties of Washington. As yet none of the new cars has arrived in Port land, but a carload of six roadsters is now en route. Light Car la Luxurious. "The Scripps-Booth Company is the originator of the luxurious light car type." says Mr. Braly. "This idea aims to furnish to the big car owner a small car for individual journeys, built from a p rimary stand point of comfort 'and quality to make It a fit social floormate with the world's best big. cars. "This car has had builded about it by a series of advertising ideas an at mosphere of social and pride value equaled only by a few of the largest and most expensive foreign cars. "The quality of the car and its lux urious performance, taken with the tremendous social appeal of its idea, make it a car worth more than your mere consideration. Silent Operation Is Feature. "In announcing the new models, a four-cylinder three-passenger, roadster of new luxury and quietness, and an eight-cylinder four-passenger vehicle with a performance unequaJed by any other car ever constructed, the Scripps Booth firm takes an even bigger place than it has occupied in the minds of a certain distinctive class during the past year. "The four-cylinder has a new type motor with mechanism entirely en closed and wonderfully quiet. The eight is a high-speed V motor of the same general construction and fitted to a close-coupled ultra-sociable body, allowing an unusual amount of room, yet keeping the passengers in close proximity." Car Stands Severe Tent. "The Vim truck, with but two years of life, has already proved its ability so convincingly that many of the lar gest firms in the country are rapidly replacing their other delivery vehicles with Vim units," said E. A. Mitchell, of the Oregon Oakland Motor Car Com pany, yesterday. "The Bell Telephone Company, whose one watchword, as is well known, is efficient service at low cost, has tried and used delivery equipment of every description. Some time ago -a Vim de livery car was purchased by this com pany and was tested out under the most severe conditions. No part of the CADILLAC "8" BREAKS TRANS COSiTIJfEMTAL RECORD BY MORE TIIAX THREE DAYS. Howard M. Covey. Cadillac "8" distributor in this field, received word last week that E. B. Baker, the famous cross-country driver, and W. F. Strum, both of Indian apolis, had broken all records by' driving a Cadillac "8" stock road ster from Los Angeles to New York in the surprisingly short time of seven days, 11 hours and 52 minutes, which is nearly four days faster than any previous performance. " - To perform the feat Mr. Baker, who is said to have driven all the distance of 3471 miles, had to average a speed of '48 miles per hour running time and a speed of 36 1-6 miles per hour without deducting time for sleeping, eat ing and taking on supplies. The trip was checked at both ends by reliable newspapermen. It is said Mr. BakeT only re ceives 15000 for breaking the record, but an additional $9100 on the understanding that he would receive a bonus of $100 for every hour clipped from the for mer mark. year makes greater demands on such work than Winter, and it was during this season and in the worst possible territory, both city and country, that the Vim car was tried. , "Daily operating records were kept and after a certain period of service the engineers tore the car apart to determine-the wear on vital parts. The re sult is that this corporation has now adopted Vim cars as standard equip ment for every branch of their service throughout the country. Government Is Vtier. "The United States Government in several of its departments, including parcel post delivery, collection of mails, Indian reservation, radio service, com missary and Interior Department, is Me of the largest users of delivery equipment. "Hundreds of advisers, dozens of judges, volumes of specifications pref pared in the knowledge of engineering and from wide experience enter into the selection of every car purchased. Be sides which a bond insuring quality and performance is demanded. . "Ordinarily also competitive bids must be made to give the Government opportunity to obtain cars at the low est cost. Regardless of this last phase, however, the United States Govern ment has installed Vim cars in every on of the departments mentioned. This selection was made absolutely regardless of oost. purely on the merit of Vim performance." Two-Bagger Wins Auto. Fred Merkle, who gained fame years go as the man who failed to touch second, again made the keystone sack play a big part in a recent feat at the Polo Grounds. Several days ago Merkle hit a two-bagger which struck the C. T. Silver sign at the Polo Grounds. This sign contains a message that a new car . will be given to the -player who hits the sign. As a result Merkle was" called into C. T. Silver's office the rtther dav and presented with a $1145 six-cylinder Overlandf with a specially designed body, including extra Jhead lights, wire wheels, seat covers, etc. t" V " ' if'f WW L v I i ' VBti:' ' J' - rfTci!0car I -tktlmwkj- 2 !! 1 SfroaT J?irsrSf&tis-s Where "&rctf& ofOod'Was B1 CHESTER Aj MOOJI2S. THE motorists of Portland and Ore gon have a rare treat in store for them this Spring, providing they are willing to act on the recommenda tion that they make, the trip from Portland to Hood River and through the beautiful valley of orchards bear ing the latter proper name. . That such a trip is well worth two days of anybody's time, especially now when the wild flowers, verdure and or chards look their best, was thoroughly demonstrated a week ago, when Frank C. Riggs, the Packard distributor in this territory, was the host -on a Packard-Oregonian touring expedition com missioned by the touring committee of the Portland Automobile Club to com pile the official log of the Columbia River Highway and its continuation. Perhaps the writer will be too op timistic in discussing this particular trip, for it was taken under the most favorable circumstances. The day was ideal, the roads were in surprisingly good condition all the way. the crowd was congenial, Mr. Riggs drove at just the right pace. the. big Packard Twin Six behaved like a paragon at every juncture, and all outdoors appeared to be on dress parade. Packard Twelve Luxurious. , If you chance to set forth on this same trip during rainy weather when the roads are muddier than they were a week ago, when things don't go right aboard and when the clouded landscape makes faces at you every time you look aloft, don't, blame the writer for paint ing a false 'picture Nothing could be nicer, you know, than straddling bumps in a luxurious Packard Twelve. The same bumps and road depressions are considerably different when you are perched up on less pretentious automo biles. But, speaking for the conditions as they presented themselves a week ago. there was nothing on the road between here and. Hood River that should bother ny automobile with a few ounces of breath. And the drive up one side of the famous Hood River Valley as far as the Devil's Punch Bowl and also along the other side was superb. Loj? Completion Delayed. Because of the fact the Sandy boule vard route was not open to travel, the detailed log was not taken last week for the full length of the trip, and it will not be published until the com pleted log is made. Another temporary condition which discouraged the prep aration of a complete log was the fact that the figure-eight ' loop beyond Crown Point was closed for paving op erations. But a close record , was kept of all turnouts and points of interest from Latourell on, and an accurate-record of the road at this end can be added to the official record later on. Tt seemed that ever the . waterfalls were doing their best' to please the other day, for the water was pouring over the tall cliffs in greater quan tities than any of the party had ever before witnessed. This circumstance was gratefully appreciated because J. N. Gaither, of the technical service de partment of the Packard Motor Car Company, of Detroit, and A. K. Fischer, who recently left the California field to join the Frank C. Riggs . organiza tion, were on the highway for the first time to get an "eyeful" of scenery, as Mr. Fischer expressed it.- Koad Easily Followed. In making the trip to Hood River the motorist hardly needs .a tourbook since for almost the full distance there is only one road to follow and little chance of getting off the pathway even if one tried. The Columbia River High way is paved to a point beyond Stone, which is slightly beyond Warrendale, and about 41 miles east of Portland. It is just beyond this point that the only four or five miles"of rough road spread across both sides of the boun dary line which divides Multnomah from Hood River County. This ter ritory is within the National forest. and its wooded sections have kept a few portions of the road rather damp. although there was mighty little mud a week ago.' Road crews were busy near the end of the line In both counties, and all of the furrows and bumps caused by travel during wet weather may by this time be ironed out. Certainly any automo bile at all sturdy, and with a reason able amount of clearness, could have slid over the parallel ruts. Unless these road eruptions have been flat tened out, however, these four or five miles of road would present severe dif flculties during periods of heavy rain. Concrete Bridges Marvelous. There are two marvelous concrete bridges in this section that have been studied by few Portlanders, the unique Tanner Creek ' bridge and tha Eagle I : ; v--vsrX-.' -rVV-- . tv -V:-, fitSr' ' . ft-wwv.'. ,. ,- , ., ;.-.,..; iff - V- 1 1 - . v-. - - , t Creek - bridge, the latter being a won derful span of concrete covered with rock. There was less than a half mile of crushed rock on the road a week ago to cut tires, but this handicap may be worse as paving activities are pushed forward. Beyond the several mile stretch above referred to, there is nothing be tween here and Hood River, a total distance of 70 miles, that will bother motorists during 'the balance of the present season. Much of the road in Hood River County Is rather narrow, making fast travel dangerous in many places, but the surface of the road is for the most part satisfactory and everywhere there are evidences of the activity of the County Commissioners. The last few miles of the road Just this side of Hood River are of the character which most - motorists prefer to pave ment. The great scenic wonder at Mitchells Point, and the five-windowed tunnel through the rocky point, is difficult to comprehend, and even more difficult to describe, ae is much of the wild scenery at the upper end of the highway. Most Portland motorists already are familiar with the wonderful scenery of the Co lumbia Highway in tnis county, and SILVER. TROPHY IS POSTED FOR FIRST AUTOMOBILE TO REACH GOVEKMK.T CAMP. Over the long-distance tele phone yesterday L. H. Pridemore. proprietor of Hotel de Govern ment Camp, the famous rendez vous at the southern base of Mount Hood, advised The Orego nian that he will award a silver cup to the first motorist who drives a car to Government Camp. It is understood that a party of Portland motorists are planning to make the trip this week, but they are apt to have a difficult time, because Mr. Pridemore" re ports that snow still stances five feet deep at the camp. Any trip now will depend a great deal on the shoveling ability of the pas sengers. No car has been to Government Camp since the Jef fery-Orego-nian party made( a record-breaking ascent last 'November. The same party was also the first to reach Government Camp in 1915, arriving without particular dif ficulty on April 17. With Hans Fuhrer, a Swiss guide, Mr. Pridemore succeeded in climbing Mount Hood the oth er day on skis, a remarkable feat, considering the conditions. After making the ascent the early season explorers came down in "less than nothfhg." A new fad of fishing for trout from skis also has been intro duced at Government Camp. Some of the fishermen stood on. snow banks five feet high recently, but they got a nice string of fish. Just the same. Written zny they must also see the Hood River chapter of the highway in order to up-I prec'iate its wonders. It is of different character than the lower part of the highway, and hardly a,s alluring, but those who love to gaze skyward at tall crags that are "up stairs some," to steal Mr. Gaither's phrase, are certain to be fascinated. From the heart of Portland to the Hotel Oregon at Hood River, most speedometers record approximately 70 miles. Under present conditions this distance can be covered in three hours, but to enjoy the trip to the full, stop at the various "waterfalls, take pictures and pick flowers, etc., at least an addi tional hour should be given. A a matter of fact no motorists should make the round trip to Hood River within the course of one day. The bare round trip easily can be made in that time, but there are so many delightful trips radiating from Hood River that at leant a day and a half, or two days, should be allotted for the trip. By leaving Portland Saturday noon and putting up at Hood River that night, a full appreciation can be gained of the Valley the next day, and the return trip made to Portland that night. Tbe Dalles Road Good. There is a good road leading from Hood River on to The Dalles, and it is from a point not far distant from Hood River on this road that the motorist is afforded the best panoramic view of the Hood River Valley. By ferrying across the river to White Salmon, Wneh., the motorist can enjoy a de lightful drive to Trout Lake, at the base of Mount Adams, some 27 miles distant from White Salmon, or can con tinue east to Underwood and the Mary hill country. It is hardly yet advisable to attempt the drive south from Hood River to Cloud Cap Inn. but tho road has for some time been open as far as Mount Hood Lodge. where Homer Rogers holds forth all year long. This Mount Hood road, which goes up the west side of the river, is the one followed last week in going to the Devil's Punch Bowl. For all of the distance to Tucker's bridge, this highway is in splendid condition. Soon after passing the bridge, however, the - road for the Devil's Punch Bowl forks to the right, and then for a few miles the road is good and fair only. The Punch Bowl is a wonderful bit of scenery that few Oregonians appear to appreciate. In fact we didn't intend going there until we were within a few miles of it. and therefore did not keep an accurate log of the road. But ask anyone in the Hood River Valley how to get "to the Devil's Punch Bowl and you will never regret having made the trip. We found it a most delight ful place to eat picnic lunch. Barrett Road Suggested. After gazing a good long time at the Punch Bowl, or visiting at Mount Hood Lodge, it might be well to journey back over the Barrett road past the quaint farmhouse now occupied by Mr. and SJrs.' E. W. Birge.- -It -was in this old rr-ou?i JZmouzr TUnn?Z s f house that the famous book. "The Bridge of the Gods," was written. Before returning homeward, be sure you have seen the picturesque orchard country on both the east and west sides of the river. Perhaps the east side is the more beautiful. Almost all of the roads which pene trate the Hood River Valley are of first-class character, and the country everywhere resembles a paradise, at this time of year at least. Before starting our return trip to Portland, we enjoyed a wholesome din ner at the Hotel Oregon in Hood River, which is now managed by Henry Serr and his son, Ted Serr, who formerly operated the Hotel Gail, at Dallas. The lobby rooms of this modern hotel are covered with large, pictures of the Hood River country, which are enough in themselves to give the motorist an appetite for touring that almost meas ures up to six appetites that were sat isfied at Mr. Serr s dining board week ago. We learned, however, that it always pays well to take care of your Inner selves before setting forth on 70-mile tripe in an automobile that takes to the road like a bunny to green clover. WA.GIFFARD IS CAPTAIN FORMKK ACTO EDITOR OK ORKGOMAN PROMOTED. Reicarda Sent to All "Motor Row nor" and Hope for Early Return Statea Impresaed. In a letter received last week by tbe automobile reporter of The Oregonian. Walter Giffard. who made hundreds of staunch friends while covering the automobile beat for The Oregonian and who has been in the British army since soon after the outbreak of the European war. sends his kindest re gards to "all the boys along the row." "How are all my motor friends?" he asks. "As you toddle along the row remember me to all of "em Mel John son. Jimmy Clark and Frank Kl?ga Use Distillate! We equip any car to burn distillate. Now is the time to have your car given attention before . the Rose Festival and touring season begins. Bolton's Service Station 404 DAVIS Phone Broadway 10. SfrfcTi clr Jjz.- u and all that bunch. Harry Keats, etc., etc.. all too numerous to mention, but not forgotten nevertheless. "We've a devil of a lot of Americ cars and trucks over here now. Stude bakers for field ambulances. Packards, Peerless, Saurer and other trucks. We seem out here to have mostly Peerless, but they are all doing well. Whenever I ride on 'em I take great pains to ask the drivers and they all apeak well of em. "We are all here fit as flea-s ready for the Bosch or the Bulgar. the ruddy old Turk or anything else that shows up. Unfortunately they don't show much predilection for cofing on Just at present, so I guess we"ll have to go after 'em. Otherwise I regret I can not give you any news. ''The weather has changed to very fine, hot sun in the days and coo.l nights. The men are all as red or sun burned as berries and never looked bet ter. In fact it's nice and healthy ex cept for insects of all ports and sizes and air" raids, which, however, do no damage. "They've made me a full-blown cap tain. In fact. I've been one ever since last September, but didn't know it of ficially till a short while ago. I've also been adjutant of this lot for 18 months so have had my hands pretty full all the time. "At present It's not quite as exciting as Portland, but one could easily im agine that when the fun starts on this frontier it won't exactly be mild work. "Now I must clear. Wee off on a trek so Cherry ' ho! Hope to be with you soon. My address is 8th Oxford & Bucks Light Infantry Pioneers, Sa lonlca forqe. Kgyptlan Kxpeditionary Force. British Armv In the Field." AUTO DIRECTORY v.' it Velvet Rubber" Diamonds were run 80.000 miles per month, on ten factory test cars. In a f.: year they traveled 900,000 miles, almost two round trips to the J- -f moon. Did anybody say they had not been tried out? ;.' for sale: bv is at fair list prices always. ARCHER & WIGGINS SIXTH STREET AT OAK. Dim Your Lights Perrin's No Glare $1.00 Approved by Police Department Ballon & Wright Tl?. BOWSER DIAMOND TIRES Vulcanizing and Retreading R. E. Empty Honor of Former Days to Bo Supplanted by Ileal Title to Be Decided by Study of All Principal Baccs. Arrangements have been completed by officials of the American Automo bile Association for the annual award of a championship trophy to the auto mobile race driver who shows the most ability and consistency in the lsio season. The winner of the trophy is to De designated by the contest board of the American Automobile Association, ac cording to a point svstem. which has been worked out by Chairman Richard Kennerdell. The system as worked out calls for a variable table of points to be awarded in events which, accoro Ing to the cor test board, are of suf ficient Importance to be classed as championship events. The number of points to be awarded in each of these races is variable, depending upon tho length of the race.s the field entries and other Influences on the character of the competition. Consistency to Be Chief Factor.' Owing to the method of the point svstem. It is pointed out that consis tency will have more to do with de termining the season's victor than any brilliance. The point system will like ly result in a victory for the driver who finishes in pood position in a number of rais rather than for tho man who makes a few brilliant races In the entire year. Heretofore the championship title has been an empty honor, the award betng made hy individual critics, whole selections were based -largely upon sen sational performai.ces and whose ver dict ca-iled r.o backing from the Amer ican Automobile Association. It Is the belief of racing officials that the trophy will develop some of the best races ever held in this country. becHUse. irrespective of the prize put up by the promoters of the individual contsts, there is a big trophy, the coveted title it carries, and a god sum of money to be won at the end of the year. The winner of the trophy will have to keep moving through the. year and certainly will deserve the title of the American championship when tne season ends. Trophy Worth More Than IOOO. The trophy Is to be of solid silver and have a value of more than J1000. It will be presented to the winning driver with a cash prize of $2000. prob ably in Chicago during the week of the 1917 automobile shw. Here th complete list of automo bile races fo- the 1916 season: May 3rt Indianapolis. May :ttl Tacoma. May H1 Minneapolis. Mv : Klmlr. N. V. June 4 s?heeph-ail Bay. June HI "htciRO. June Ctilobunr. 111. June :'H-4 Chlrano. June -0 Des Moines. July 4 Minneapolis. July 4 Sioux '. Julv 4 Citur" d' Alene, Idaho. Julv 4 Visalla. .!. July 4 ISlmlra. N. Y. July l.'i Omahi. July 1.1 North Yakima. Wash. July 1,1 BurllnKton, la. August T Tacoma. AuKUKt ll-1J--HIUcHmb. pike's Peak. Colo. August 12 Portland, Or. August 1H-i: Klaln Road Race. - Aufrust "6 Kalamazoo. Mich. September -4- Klmtra. N. Y. September 4 Indianapolis. September 4 Le Moinea. September 4--1 pokane. September lt Providence, It. I. September 29 Trenton. September 30 New York. October 7 phl'.adelphla. October 7 Omaha. October 14 t'liicaco. October I'-1 Indianapolis. October 21 Kalamazoo. Mich. ri GASOLINE and OIL TANKS STORAGE! SVSTKMS FOR PUBLIC ANU lRI. VATK GtHAtES. S. D. Stoddard. IHalrlct Sunt, baleji. 4l5 torbrll Illds. Mala 14TO. BLODGETT, 29-31 North 14th. Near Conch. I'houe Main 700S.