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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.
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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
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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.