The Sunday Oregonian., February 25, 1917, SECTION FOUR, Page 7, Image 55

TITE SUNDAY OKEGOXIAX, rORTLAXD, FEBEUAET 23, 1017.
AUTOS CAN'T MAKE
GOVERNMENT GAMP
Road Beyond Toll Gate for 9
Miles Banked High With
Heavy Snows.
REO PARTY EXPLORE ROUTE
Car Gives Fine Performance in Run
ning From Portland to Rhodo
dendron in 2 Hours and 45
Minutes, Despite Obstacles.
SILVER TROPHY CUP IS POST
ED FOR FIRST AUTOMOBILE
TO REACH OOVERNMEXT
CAMP THIS YEAR.
Xt. F. Prldemore, of the firm of
Fox & Prldemore, proprietors of
Government Camp, informed The
Oregonian last week that he ha a
opened negotiations for the pur
chase of a silver cup to be award
ed to the owner of the first au
tomobile to reach the camp,
which stands at the southern
base of Mount Hood. The trophy
will be similar to the one award
ed last season to W. H. Doan, of
the Paige Motor Sales Company,
for the sensational dash of the
Paige car to Government Camp
following which the car ascend
ed the south side of the moun
tain for several miles, thereby
gaining National fame.
Judging from the depth of snow
on the road from Toll Gate to
Government Camp, a. distance of
nine miles, it will be some time
before the 1917 cup Is won. The
Paige made its ascent last year
in June, after cars had been bat
tling away at the job for Beveral
weeks. At the present time there
Is about six feet of snow at Gov
ernment Camp.
It will be a long time before an auto
mobile ascends the Mount Hood road
as far as Hotel de Government Camp,
according to the observations of C. M.
Menzies, sales manager of the Northwest-
Auto Company, who last Sunday
drove a Reo six rrom Portland to
Rhododendron, a point 10 miles below
Government Camp, where Mr. Menzies,
"a group of his salesmen and two Port
land newspapermen enjoyed a day's
play in the snow.
"Unless I miss my guess it will be
quite a while before the road is open
to Government Camp," said Mr. Menzies
as he plunged the powerful Reo
through the snow a half mile or so
beyond Toll Gate in search of a good
ekiing ground.
For a distance of nine miles, from
Toll Gate to Government, the famous
Mount Hood road is banked high with
snow ranging in depth from more than
a foot at Toll Gate to 75 or 80 inches
at Government Camp. Those who have
toured over the Mount Hood road since
Mr. Menzies trip a week ago report
that additional snow fell heavily dur
ing the last week and that the original
etand has been carpeted completely
with a considerable depth of fresh
enow.
motorcycle Explores Road.
An Indian motorcycle, guided by one
of the employes of Ballou & Wright,
explored the Mount Hood road well be
yond Toll Gate last week, but found it
impossible to get within Jeveral miles
of Government Camp.
Incidentally Mr. Menzies and his Reo
six hung up a near record last Sunday
by covering the 45 miles from the edge
of Portland to Rhododendron in the
rapid time of two hours and 4 5 minutes
total elapsed time, and the return trip
was made in approximately the same
time with a full load.
The performance of the Reo in con
quering all manner of slush and mud
opened the eyes of all in the party,
including "Bill" "Wallace and Roy
Hemphill, who have been through all
eorts of roads with one car or another
tluring their long experience in the
automobile business. On the run from
Portland to Rhododendron tire chains
were used for not more than two miles
in passing over the worst of the road
tietween the Minsinger place, on the
Marmot road, and the bridge whioh
crosses the river this side of Bright
wood to join the Cherryvllle road lead
ing to Mount Hood.
Reo Overcomes Obstacles.
Returning to Portland Sunday this
road was covered in rapid time without
the use of chains, yet the Reo was not
forced to halt once despite the depth
of mud and the slippery grades. And
the marvel of the whole thing was
that tho motor didn't grow a bit angry
or hot.
Motorists will not find pleasure in
driving the Mount Hood road beyond
Marmot these days, but those who are
obliged to motor in that vicinity will
perhaps be glad to know which route
is the best to follow.
On the basis of information gained
on last Sunday's trip in the Reo the
Test way to approach Mount Hood is
to follow the Powell Valley-Pleasant
Home road and avoid the Bluff road
by proceeding via Kelso to Sandy,
and then cut across on the good road
connecting Sandy with Marmot, or
Aschoff's, as it is often called.
The Marmot road is preferable to the
Cherryville road at this season of the
year, though the going is none too
Kood through the Marmot flats below
the Minsinger place. The passengers
in any car are certain to be scrambled
up fairly well through this section,
where sharp chuck holes are to be ex
pected often.
From Portland via Sandy to Mar
mot and from Brightwood on io Rho
dodendron the road is in surprisingly
good shape considering the season of
the year.
Many Have Nerve to Pay
$100 for Big Auto.
Gerlinger Company Proposal Is
Snapped Up by Man Engaged to
Paint Sign-Making Offer.
AH. KNAUS, manager of the Port-
land branch, of the Gerlinger
Motor Car Company, is a great Btudent
of human nature and a forecaster of the
future as well as being a kingpin dis
penser of automobiles.
About a week ago the following sign
was placed on a second-hand auto in
the window of the new Gerlinger store
in the Beck building, on Broadway and
Oak.
"This car belongs to the first person
who has the nerve to hand us 100 iron
men Monday A. if. No agents. Who
gets it?"
As one of the salesmen was placing
the tag on the car, a perfectly good
seven-passenger 1912 automobile, as
3 912 automobiles go, Mr. Knaus pre
dicted that the first chap to enter the
place Monday morning would ask
"What's the matter with it?" He fig
ured th?.t such a big automobile offered
for euch a paltry sum as $100 would
force passersby to the conclusion that
the car was strictly on the bum.
His prediction came true to the dot,
except that six people showed up soon
after the doors were opened with their
$100 wallets. No questions were to be
asked, however, and none answered.
The oar was to be accepted or rejected
strictly on its looks. It isn't necessary
to relate the name of the car, except
that it was not of the make handled
by the Gerlinger firm.
The man who got up the $100 first
was none other than George Webber,
the fellow who was hired to paint the
sign announcing the strange terms of
sale. He proudly drove the car home.
QUAIXT HINT GIVEX OAKLAND
Town Dissatisfied With Name Told
to Call Itself Chevrolet.
OAKLAND, Cal., Feb. 24. Some time
ago the Chamber of Commerce of Oak
land, Cal., sent out a request to the
towns and cities bearing the name of
Oakland, throughout the United States,
requesting that they drop the name of
Oakland, giving Oakland, Cal.. the ex
clusive right to be an Oakland.
This provoked, a storm of criticism.
The.. Chambers of Commerce in the
other Oaklands responded with great
promptness, asking Oakland. Cal.,
"Where do you get that stuff?"
Not a single community gave up the
name of Oakland in answer to the re
quest, but it has been suggested that,
so long as Oakland, Cal., is dissatisfied,
owing to the fact that there are so
many other Oaklands, that she drop Ihe
PORTLAND MOTORISTS EXPLORE SNOWTIELDS ON
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It
it J 'A Sit 7
s r-
REO SIX, WHICH C. M. MEJTZIES
name of Oakland and take the name
of Chevrolet.
The reason advanced for this sugges
tion Is that the name Chevrolet is bet
ter known than the name of the city
where the Chevrolet car is made and,
as there is not another city by that
name in the United States, the home
town of the Chevrolet factory on the
Pacific Coast would have the exclusive
right to the name.
TRUCK AGENCY TAKEN
W. B. DOAN TO DISTRIBUTE WILSON
CARS IV NORTHWEST.
Manufacturer for First Time Are to
Develop Outside Territory and
Enlarge Plant Capacity.
The distributing right on the Wilson
truck, a Ietroit product of recognized
excellence, for the entire Pacific Coast
field has been acquired by W. B. Doan,
of Portland's automobile row, present
distributor of the Paige and Saxon
cars in this field.
The Wilson truck has been manufac
tured for a number of years, but here
tofore all of the factory product has
been consumed in the states immediate
ly surrounding the factory. Never be
fore has the Wilson company employed
a sales manager, but now it is going
after more territory and is increasing
the output at the same time.
The Wilson truck is a four-cylinder
vehicle, built in one, two and three-ton
capacities. Mr. Doan expects the first
deliveries here in about three or four
weeks. He will establish wholesale
headquarters in Portland, from which
he will parcel out the Pacific Coast
territory.
VETERAN AIITO'MAJT LEAVES
I'. M. C. A. SCHOOL, FOR
HOOD RIVER POST.
Frank McDanlela.
After serving for five years as
instructor tn gas engine practice
at the Y. M. C. A. auto school in
Portland, Frank A. McDaniels is
leaving Portland for Hood River,
where he is to take charge of the
shop of the Hood River Garage in
its new building.
Mr. McDaniels was tinkering
away at gas engines in Minneap
olis before the automobile be
came a reality and he has been
engaged actively in automobile
work continuously since the birth
of the automobile. Before that
time he was employed in railroad
and electrical work "and under
stands all principles which gov
ern the modern automobile.
Among the students he trained
at the Y. M. C. A. auto school
during his work in Portland were
three Hood River young men,
who are to work with him in his
new position.
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CASCADES HIGHWAY
TO BE RE-OPENED
Old Pioneer Military Road Will
Be Improved for Auto
mobile Traffic.
SCENERY IS MAGNIFICENT
Forest Service and Iiane County Will
Work Together California
Run Will Be Shortened
Dy 80 Miles.
EUGENE. Or.. Feb. 24. (Special.)
Tho old military highway, the pioneer
road running through the Cascades,
which has virtually been abandoned
for many years, will be opened to mo-
.
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AXD PARTY TTSEO OT TRIP TO RHODODESDBOS AKD TOLL, GATE
LAST WEEK.
tor traffic- for the first time hts Fall,
offering a scenic highway unexcelled
for grandeur in the Northwest, accord
ing to an announcement made today
by Clyde R. Seitz, supervisor of the
Cascade National forest.
The military road, which is known
to the forest service as the Willamette
Highway, because it parallels the Wil
lamette River to its headwaters before
crossing the mountains, will offer a
route to California SO miles shorter
than the McKenzie Highway, and
about the same length as the Siskiyou
route. Its chief attraction will li in
the fact that it will be much easier to
negotiate than either of these north
and south highways which are now
used by motorists, because of better
grades for the greater part ot me ins
tance. Magnificent Vlewa Afforded.
The traveler on the military road
crossing the Military Summit will view
Summit Lake, pass near Odell and
Crescent Lakes, and get a magnificent
view of Diamond Peak, the Three Sis
ters and many other of the largest
peaks along the summit of the Cas
cades. Liooking west he will behold a
great panorama of the Willamette Val
ley, and on a clear day will be able to
see SaddleMountain and Mount Popo
catepetl, of the Coast Range, 100 miles
away. The highway also crosses a
good road to Crater Lake 10 miles from
the lake.
Supervisor Seitz ' stated that , but
three trips had .been made over the
road in 'motor cars, and that he took
his car over twice under great diffi
culties. "The cenery is magnificent, and
once the road is put into condition for
motor travel it is destined to become
a favoritet, he said. "The road south
from Klamath Falls is good. The work
which will be done during the coming
Summer by the forest service, working
in conjunction with the county and the
road supervisors, will put it in shape
for travel between Eugene and Klamath
Falls."
More than a year ago the forest
service began the work of "saving" the
military road. At one point the Wil
lamette River's swift current was
gradually washing its way into the
side of a mountain along the edge of
which the road passed. The cut was
gradually forcing the road higher up
the mountain and continually increas
ing the grade. The action of the water,
if continued, threatened to make the
highway impassable.
Supervisor Seitz and his forest as
sistants decided to change the course
of the river, which at that point was
more than 100 yards wide, and about
two feet in depth. Working at times
when there was no fire danger or their
services were not needed in other parts
of the forest they constructed a dam
across the river and diverted the
water over a peninsula more than a
mile in width. This work was com
pleted last Fall.
River Cuts New Channel.
The river has since cut a channel
along the new course and the road is
no longer in danger from the immense
volume of water .carried down each!
year in ue spring nooa.
The dam was constructed at a point
in the river four and one-half miles
above Oakrldge, near what is known
as Jap Hill's hill.
State aid was aked for the improve
ment of this road, which is a part of
the Florence to Klamath Falls project,
but aid was denied. The county and
forest service will open the road,
which, it is believed, will be of great
importance to Lane County, without
assistance of the state.
AUTO'S FUTURE BRIGHT
PORTLAND ESPECIALLY ATTRACT
IVE FIELD FOR INDUSTRY.
Road Bond Issue, Elimination of Ex
penditure for Liquor and Other
Factors, All Work Together.
H. C. Bradfield. factory advertising
manager for the King Motor Car Com
pany, Detroit, looks for a reorganiza
tion of the Portland automobile busi
ness in the coming year that will augur
well not only for this business but also
for the motor car owner, Mr. Brad-
field. who s better remembered in
Portland as advertising manager for
the Cole Motor Car Company, Indian
apolis, being responsible for placing
the Cole agency with Fred W. Vogler,
passed thiouKh Portland last week en
route from San Francisco to Spokane.
"There is a wonderful future for the
automobile business in. Portland," said
Mr. Bradfield. "With -the bond ssue
proposed for good roads., with more
money in the hands of the publio be
cause of the elimination of intoxicat
ing liquor and with plans that will ma
ture to boom this wonderful country,
nothing can prevent success built on a
proper foundation in this prosperity
that; is before this Northwest.
"The eight-cylinder King is not rep
resented in Portland. We are enjoy
ing a -healthy business at our factory.
Some day we will be in here, but we
are content to wait. We would, rather
remain out of Portland with our line
than to place it here in wrong hands.
"The whole world s drawing on
the United States for motor cars today,
and this is nothing to what will hap
pen should the war end suddenly, for
then we would have to furnish motor
cars to countries that now have em
bargoes on them. The people of the
United States are buying cars. Fac
tories' only troubles today are lack, of
shipping facilities.
"The man looking for a good future,
in a business that 1917 will make a
real business in Portland; should inves
tigate the motor car business. The
motor car brings success to the right
kind of a local merchant, stimulates
local advertising, brings the farmer to
the city, takes the city man to the
country, helps to quicken business by
MOUNT HOOD ROAD.
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making the day longer, promotes good
roads and does other things too nu
merous to mention." .
UNPAVED HIGHWAY SOFT
MOTOR TRIP TO HOOD HIVER IS
' FOUND STRENUOUS.
Three Bad Modholes Mark Columbia
Route and New Grading; Work
Hard to Pass Over.
Motorists will do well to avoid the
Columbia River Highway from the end
of the pavement to Hood River, ac
cording to Henry L. Mann, who made
the trip from Portland to Hood River
last Sunday in a Haynes Six.
"There was no .snow between here
and Hood River." said Mr. Mann on his
return to Portland. "But I found three
tough mudholes, one not far this side
of Cascade Locks and another just on
the other side, which made the going
pretty strenuous. A grading crew has
been at work up there and the fresh
surface is mighty soft.
"In another place on the other side
of Cascade Locks they have recently
placed fresh rock on a sharp hill, and
a fellow must put on tire chains in
order to get through. The notorious
Ruthton Hill was not as bad as I had
expected.
"The chances are that the fall of
rain and snow since Sunday has made
the roadway considerably worse than
it was when I passed over it, and I
would advise motorists to 'lay off on
this trip for some time to come."
WOMEN'S VOTES DECIDE CARS
Few Directly Buy but Influence
Forces Selection.
The motor car manufacturer is al
ways confronted with the important
problem of Just how much considera
tion should be given to the, woman
buyer in the design and equipment of
his product.
If absolutely accurate figures could
be obtained upon the sales of automo
biles during the past year, automobile
dealers and manufacturers alike would
be astounded at the major number of
times that the feminine portion of the
family made the final decision. Com
paratively few cars are actually pur
chased by women, but their influence
is far leaching.
In most families the purchase of an
automobile is a real event, even if a
trade is involved, and this happens Jn
approximately 50 per cent of the sales.
The respective merits of each car in
the class which is decided upon are
considered from every angle. And the
dealer who finally gets the order must
first create a firm confidence in the
mechanical worth of his car. then pre
sent those minor features which often
close the sale. It would take all the
supposed gifts of a clairvoyant, in
many cases, for the dealer to really
know why his car was chosen.
START MADE AS BOOTBLACK
Treasurer of Hudson Company
Proud of Humble Beginning.
F. O. Bezner, treasurer of the Hud
son Motor Car Company, like so many
other great men of the automobile in
dustry, had his modest beginning. Mr.
Bezner whisper it low; but it's no
secret, as the fact had been published
was a blacker of boots in a barber
shop down in an Illinois country town.
He studied and improved himself, went
to school and to .high scho'ol and be
came one of the staff of the National
Cash Register Company, at Dayton, O.,
as so many inspiring youngsters have
done. Mr. Bezner- graduated to the
automobile business in Detroit and
made his fortune.
Old-time friends in the country town
out in Illinois took up a collection and
purchased the blacking stand of the
boy of other days and sent it to him
in Detroit as a souvenir. Nor did Mr.
Bezner throw this valuable token' of
other days to one side. He placed it
in a conspicuous position in his Detroit
home and proudly displayed it to bis
friends, showing plainly that there are
men who have become great who are
not ashamed of a modest be sinning.
Another federal ! Federal Trucks Tarerpaidt luglicsll
"That is the best proof of Federal Qual- tribute Possible by their owners when
ity. Trucks, like men, receive recognition they say "Another Federal."
for faithful service performed. It will pay YOU to buyFEDERALSj
THE PACIFIC KISSELKAR BRANCH
Broadway and Davis St., Portland
San Francisco, Oakland, Pasadena, Los Angeles, San Diego Seattle
Bmm i a Ruinmanlulim FEDERAL JUct-
OumM hi Iht AforuUxTlhi Co. qf California
from an Actual Fhatofnpt
TIRE DEMAND HEAVY
$200,000,000 Business Fore
seen for This Year.
FIRESTONE MAN IS HERE
E. V. BoSaw Is Surprised That
Local Branch Has Shown Such
Great Increase in Business
Since Beginning of Year.
"With a total of 3,000,000 automobiles
running in the United States on pneu
matic tires, the estimated demand for
automobile tires during J917 will
amount to nearly 1200.000,000, accord
ing to K. rT. BeSaw. western district
manager of the Firestone Tire & Rub
ber Company, who will leave Portland
tonight for Seattle after a week's con
ference with Leland J. Sparks, manager
of the Portland branch of the Firestone
company.
For more than a year and a half Mr.
BeSaw, who was formerly manager of
the Firestone branch in Des Moines,
has had charge of all territory west
of Detroit and Columbus, embracing
24 branches, yet this is his first visit
E. W. BeSaw. Western District
Manager of Firestone Company.
M ho Passed Week at Portland
Branch.
to the Pacific Coast. He finds that the
volume of business transacted at each
of the Pacific Coast branches is grow
ing steadily and predicts that, it will
continue to increase in proportion to
the increase in the number of cars reg
istered. The figures for the business trans
acted by the Portland branch since No
vember 1, when Mr. , Sparks became
branch manager astound the district
manager. The month of November,
1916, showed an increase of 64.6 per
cent over the business done in the same
month of 1915. Last December re
turned business ' 40 per cent greater
than December. 1913, while last month
brought an increase of 240 per cent
over January of last year.
When Mr. BeSaw arrived at the Port
land Firestone branch a week ago he
discovered that the business for the
first 17 days of this month amounted
to 246 per cent more than for the corre
sponding days of the same month last
year. These figures prompted the en
ergetic district-manager to slap Mr.
Sparks on the back and reward him
with a "good boy."
"With its production problem prac
tically Nsolved by Immense factory ex
pansion during the past year the Fire
stone Company is now ready ' to give
more attention to its branch, service,"
said Mr. BeSaw. (
"Our aim is '100 per cent service,
and we have worked out plans that we
believe will bring this about."
At the conferences which Mr. BeSaw
held here, the company's policies, ad
vertising plans for the year and the
business outlook, in this section were
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discussed. Similar meetings are to be
held by Mr. BeSaw in other branch
cities in the western district.
The Firestone Company did $33.
000.000 worth of business last year, an
increase of more than 18.000. 000 over
the previous year. Fifty millions is
the mark for this year.
Increased Facilities Added.
New buildings at the Packard plant
erected last Summer provide room for
additional coach work and permitthe
manufacture of a wide range of both
open and Inclosed bodies for twin six
cars. The Packard is now making 21
different styles of bodies, all with the
exclusive Packard features and charac
teristics. LA GRANDE TO EXHIBIT
AUTO SHOW craze: sweeping
EASTERN OREGOV.
Pendleton Event Highly Satisfactory to
Portland Dealers Who Report
Good Business Results.
The Eastern Oregon and Eastern
Washington country has tae craze for
auto shows. No sooner was the "first
annual Pendleton automobile show"
terminated on February 17 than Joseph
M. Rieg. of Portland, manager of that
event, was rushed across to La Grande,
where a similar show is to be held,
probably between the dates of March 8
and 10. Furthermore, a big show was
staged last week at Walla Walla,
which is not far removed either from
Pendleton or La Grande.
The Pendleton auto show, staged in
the "Happy Canyon" pavilion was con
ducted in true Pendleton svyle, accord
ing to the many Portland automobile
men who returned from the Round-Up
City last week. They all admired the
show, conducted a good business and
came home happy.
There were 21 different makes "of
pleasure car, including 39 vehicles,
three different brands of motor truck,
embracing five vehicles, making 44
cars on display in addition to the wares
of tire and accessory houses. The
show was well .attended by motoring
folk, who drove in from Athens, Adams,
Milton-Freewater, Echo, Pilot Rock
and other points near Pendleton.
-srriSui M-f , 4 mf fist V gi'T ff.' J 1 I
THE POWER your motor generate it applied at the point of contact of
yoar tire with the road. Your power is produced for the sole purpose of
exerting a pushing- pressure on the road by your tires at this point of contact.
THE RESULT Your tires must bear the entire strain and withstand the
tremendous wear mcident to this delivery of your power.
RACINE COUNTRY ROAD TIRES arm 'especially constructed to
do this, and they do it to successfully a to insure greatest mileage with
5000 .MILE.
TO THE RECOGNITION of these
expansion of the
IMAGINE RUBBER COMPANY
RACINE, WIS CONS IK. U.S.A..
BALLOU
817 East Flke St.
Brattle. Wash.
Distributors (or
Aortkwcst,
AUTO SHORTAGE FACED
LACK OF SHIPPING FACILITIES IS
BEING FELT.
One Shipment Coming an Flat Cars
Covered With Canvns F. W. Vo ..
ler Planning Bnstern Trip.
Not a few of the automobile distrib
utors In the Portland field are suffer
ing from the car shortage situation in
the East and are complaining bitterly
that they are unable to get deliveries
on a sufficient number of cars to sup
ply the demand.
W. B. Doan, Paige distributor, re
ceived word last week that a shipment
of Paige cars is now on its way to
Portland on canvas-covered flat cars,
which illustrates pertinently the lack
of freight cars in the Eastern field.
Determined to persuade the factories
that he must have more cars, F. W.
Vogler is now bound for the automo
bile centers of the East, where he will
visit the Reo, Dort. Marmon and Cola
factories and demand that he get his
share of cars. During the past few
months Mr. Vogler has been instrumen
tal in having freight cars sent to the
Eastern autoomobile cities so that ship
ments might be made to Portland, but
he believes all the cars are not com
ing back this way and he is going East
to stay on the job, so that the manu
facturers will be faced with a "show
down." Incidentally those who expect to buy
cars early this season will do well to
place orders now, as they may find it
difficult later to get deliveries. If
they procrastinate too long they may
be entirely out of the running. Mean
time the trend of automobile prices is
upward.
Grant Factory Enlargl.
Officials of the Grant Motor Car Cor
poration., who during the last several
months have been driven to distraction
by the insistent calls of 1200 dealers for
enough Grant Six cars to satisfy a pub
lic demand that in two years jumped
1000 per cent, are jubilant over the fact
that the company is now In its new
Cleveland factory and will be able to
meet all production demands, even if
the demand should more than double
this season.
GUARANTEE.
facts by automobae owners uTdue the
& WRIGHT
Broadway at Oak:
Portland, Or.