THE SUNDAY OREGOXIAX,' PORTLAND,' SEPTE3IB ER 23, 1917.
ROADS TO SALEM
TOPIC OF DEBATE
AUTOMOBILE SALESMEN FIND IDEAL HILL ON WHICH TO
TEST CARS FOR EVERY KIND OF PERFORMANCE WANTED
Louis Von Klein, of Oakland Agency, Arranges Demonstrations on Upper Washington Street to 'Show How Machine Can Be Adequately Demonstrated
Without Going Out of City's Confines Grade Is Used Extensively by All Men Who Sell Motorcars.
AUTO DIRECTORY
CHANDLER
4-pass. Rdstr, $1745.00 7-pass. Touring
All Chandlers are equipped with Bosch magnetos
TWIN STATES AUTOMOBILE CO.
64-66 Broadway. Phone Broadway 512.
CAR
Heavy Motor Traffic Expected
During State Fair Week on
Run From Portland.
ROUGH SPOTS ARE NOTED
Consensus of Opinion Seems to
Favor Regular Pacific Highway,
Though Some Repairs Are
Just Being Completed.
With the annual Stat Fair on. the
tapis at Salem this week the roads
leading to the fitate capital are certain
to be called upon for heavy travel not
only because a large number of the
visitor will drive their cars to the fair,
but also on account of the fact that
virtually all of the automobiles to be
exhibited in the auto show in Machin
ery Hall, as well as the demonstrating
cars that are to be used in connection,
will be -d riven overland.
Previously the railroad1 company has
shipped all of the exhibits to and from
the fair grounds free of charge, but
this year the automobile dealers have
been notified that the gratis arrange
ment cannot remain in force this year.
In the mind of Portland motorists
who expect to attend the fair, on one
or more days the foremost question, at
the present time is Vhich- is the best
automobile road from Portland to the
fair grounds?"
;If a Jury of 12 veteran- road drivers
were to be sent over all of the roads
' connecting Portland with Salem, - in
cluding the Pacific Highway route
along the east, side of the river, the
"West Side Highway to New-berg and
Xayton, with the option of crossing the
river either over the Wheatland ferry
or over the public ferry at West Salem,
and the shortest route to Falem via
Tualatin, the Wilsonville fery and to
the connection with the Pacific High
way at Aurora, the vote of the majority
would probably favor the main Pa
cific Highway, which has been recog
nized during the past touring season
as the most popular route between
Portland and Slem.
Some Stretches Bad.
Since the time that construction work
was commenced on the Pacific High
way in the vicinity of New Era and in
and about Aurora, especially at the
time of the recent heavy rains, motor
ists have complained that the stretch
going over the New Era hill, which Is
beinK eliminated by the new grade, and
the stretch on the Marion County side
of Pudding Kiver near Aurora, were
exceedingly muddy and almost Im
passable. The latest reports, however, are to
the effect that the improvement work
along this strip has been completed or
sufficiently so to guarantee comfort
able and uninterrupted travel. If driv
ing rains came this week these roads
as well as others that do not come
within the category of paved or hard
surfaced highways, are bound to suffer
but. barring unforseen developments,
there appears - to--be - no--reason- why
motorists should not continue to use
the main Pacific Highway route, pro
viding it is their choice.
"The road work on the Pacific High
way Just within and without the city
limits of Aurora has been completed."
says N. C. Wescott, correspondent for
The Oregonian at Aurora, in a letter
received by th automobile editor on
Thursday.
Poddlaff River Grade Reduced.
The work on the small hill on the
Marion County side of the Pudding
.River consisted of the reduction of the
grade to a 5 per cent rise and a three
foot fill Just outside the city. Both
the fill and the new grade have been
surfaced with a thick coating of gravel,
which has already packed into a good,
hard covering and the road is in Just
as good condition for State Fair travel
as it was before the work began.
"Work of cutting down some of the
lde streets that enter the Pacific High
way Is still going on, but interferes
now in no way with the traffic over
the highway and this will all be done
PORTLAND MOTOR CAR DEAL
ERS PROTKST AiAI5T
SALES TAX PROPOSED
11 V CONtillKSS.
At a special meeting held In
the rooms of the Portland Cham
ber of Commerce last Wednesday
noon, the members of the Deal
ers' Motor Car Association of
Oregon framed a protest against
the proposed 3 per cent tax on
gross automobile sales, which is
now pending in Congress, Copies
of the protest were sent to mem
bers of the Oregon delegation
and to the chairmen of the
finance committees in the re
spective houses.
A tax of 3 per cent on their
gross sales would not only be
excessive, but absolutely de
structive to their business, auto
mobile dealers say. The sug
gested tax of 1 per cent on cars
in the hands of owners Is more
equitably founded, they state in
their protest.
before the State Fair opens, anyhow.
"Anyone contemplating a trip through
'Aurora over the highway need have no
apprehension as to the condition of the
Aurora section of the highway."
Information obtained last week by H.
. Berkman. of Canby, at the request of
The Oreponian. tallies with the report
of Mr. Wescott as to the condition of
the road at Aurora and also gives as
surance that travel over the New Era
hill will not be interrupted during fair
week.
Roada Reported Good.
"Both the New Era and Aurora hills
are now in very good condition," re
ports Mr. Berkman. "The New Era
hill has been graveled in the main part
and Is easily passable without chains.
At Aurora the grade between the two
bridges is all graveled and the hill
put in such condition that it would take
exceedingly heavy rains to make it
even difficult.
"In case unusually heavy rains should
make the New Era hill bad during
fair week, teams will be provided to
help such machines as might be stalled.
But In any case, means will be pro
vided to make travel on the hill abso
lutely safe. At present there is no dif
ficulty." Bacause of construction work that Is
Tinaer way on Island Hill, Just beyond
Milwaukie on the popular Kiver road
via Sellwood and Milwaukie to Oregon
City, the best route to Oregon City
from Portland at the present time is
the road via East Eighty-second street.
Gray's Crossing, Clackamas and Glad
stone. This route is longer than the
river roads on either side, but virtually
ail of It is paved.
Oiwcgo Road Roch.
The west sMe road via Oswero Is
passable all the way, but it affords
- . V ; ' -
' x V-;r-rx iu , . j'r-. afi,t. .... .
Tkm Oakland Cara Prntlna; . Thrtr "W orth on Popular Demonstration Area at TJpper End of Waahlngrton Streeti Mr. Von Klein la at the Left, Climbing
Imnerlal Helehtai Mr. Tan Dei-sal Is In the Center With an Oakland Roadster, Going Through a Turning Radlna Teat, and Mr. Ely la at the Rlsht,
- Commencing the Climb to Arlington Heights. The Viewpoint Is Down W ashington Street.
IF all the money that has been
"spent" at one time or another for
automobiles that have been suc
cessfully demonstrated at the "turn
table" testing ground on upper Wash
ington street was massed in one heap
of gold it would probably loom up high
er and larger than any of the famed
pyramids of Egypt.
In the early days of the automobile
industry, when prospective purchasers
were anxious to ascertain how fast the
respective makes of car would travel,
it didn't matter much where the cars
were demonstrated except that a
straight road was desirable as well as
immunity from arresting officers. If
the "prospect" wanted to see the car
climb a bad hill the demonstration was
probably staged en the notorious Ban
croft Hill of South Portland or on one
or other of the roads leading to Port
land Heights. Motors and gear ratios
were not made in those days to shove
cars over sharp grades on the high
gear and for that reason high gear
work on hills was seldom attempted,
much legs accomplished.
Speed Not an Issue.
Today, thank goodness, trie buyer of
& motor car does not ask to be shown
how fast this and that car will go. He
knows well enough that all cars now
are nble to travel faster than the sur
face of Oregon roads and the speed
laws will allow and he doesn't fancy
the idea of being frightened nearly to
death by some death-defying driver.
Instead of inquiring about speed, the
buyer now likes to know how a car
pulls in the high gear, he wants tc
know how much space it needs to turn
around in, how easily the gears may
be shifted and how often he is to be
obliged to make the shift.
It Just happens that all of these tests
may be conducted within a small area
at the upper end of Washington street,
where tne carlines turn to make the
climb' to Imperial Heights and Kings
Heights on the right hand and to Ar
lington Heights on the left hand, 'or
south. Here the motor car may be put
through all of its various paces and its
speed . may be tested by steep grade
work where it isn't necessary to go so
fast as to scare a man and make the
danger end of the trip the foremost
thing in his mind. When a man is
preparing to die. you know, his mind
isn't dwelling upon the gentle practice
of writing out a good-sized check and
after a salesman has frightened him
once he Is apt to seek another auto
mobile store where he - may breathe
more contentedly.
Oakland Demonstration Arranged.
To prove to a group of his friends
that a large number of Portland-owned
automobiles are "sold" on the turn
table at the head of Washington street
and that all -attributes"Of a machine
can be tested in that nelgnborhood.
Louis Voh Klein, one of the four pro
prietors in the local agency for the
Oakland car, arranged for a little Oak
land demonstration one day last week
with E. D. Van Uersal driving an Oak
land roadster and Norman A. Ely and.
himself handling Oakland touring cars.
While Mr. , Von Klein was in the act
of proving his point.. and giving The
Oregonian photographer an opportunity
to snap the Oakland cars In one typical
demonstration formation, no less than
eight different makes of automobiles
came charging up Washington street,
demonstration bent. The cars which
appeared during the few minutes were
a Winton, Dodge,' Paige, .Pierce-Arrow,
Hudson, Chalmers, Chevrolet, and Har
mon. Almost without exception these
cars were driven by salesmen who were
busily engaged in telling customers of
the qualities of their cars.
Grade Is Deceptive.-
"The average man does not appre
cire at first sight how steep the gradr
of upper Washington street is from the
turn at Twenty-third street," remarked
Mr. Von Klein. "That grade is mighty
deceiving to all except the motoring
public of Portland.
"Speaking for ourselves, we feel ex
ceedingly proud of the fact that we can
start the Oakland car at the foot of the
grade on high, gear and go 'over the
hump without dropping down to
lower gear. By ..taking a run at the
grade we can "maintain a lively speed
and hit the top at 40 miles an hour.
..-Demonstration Hill or -Park Hill,"
some choose to call it, has grades that
range all the way from 1 per cent up
and there Is never, any -danger of col
lision from cross . traffic for the reason
that, no side streets empty into Wash
ington that far up.
Salesmen Find Ideal Place.
"If a man wants to test the turning
radius of his car he can swing around
to his heart's content in the broad cir
cle formed 'by the car company's turn
table; if he wants to test springs on a
rough ride he can drive straight ahead
out the cemetery road, or it he wants
to try steep hill-climbing he can swing
to the right over the notorious grade
leading to Imperial Heights or King s
Heights or to the left and climb up to
Arlington Heights.
"In former times automobile sales
men were willing to drive a man all
over the country on a demonstration.
but today the long trip is not consid
ered . necessary, and .inasmuch as the
testing ground at the upper end of
Washington street, close at hand, fur
nishes an opportunity for any manner
of test, it is now being employed al
most exclusively by the motor car sales
men of Portland.
little pavement and embraces consid
erable rough going. Those wishing to
take the river road on the East Side as
far as Milwaukie and then detour in
order to avoid the new work can use
the Oatfield road to the left out of Mil
waukie. "
The Pacific Highway route from Ore
gon City via New Era, Canby. Barlow
and Aurora embraces much road that is
rather rough, but it is In fairly good
shape for travel. The fact that it leads
directly past the fair grounds, which
are a few miles this side of Salem, also
gives it a dibtinct advantage over the
roads that approach Salem from the
west bank of the river, as fair-bound
motorists using the Pacific Highway
need not drive into Salem until after
they have paid their first visit to the
fair.
In the hope of finding a suitable west
side road that would avoid entirely the
reported road difficulties, Lee L. Gil
bert, sales manager for A. C. Stevens,
Winton, Elgin and Harroun distributor,
drove an Elgin Six on Thursday over
the Wilsonville route and the west side
Wheatland ferry route to Salem. Of
the two routes Mr. Gilbert says ' he
would advise the road leading through
Tualatin. Sherwood. Rex. Newberg,
Dayton and across the Wheatland ferry
to the Salem side of the river.
Construction Under Way.
Even though the motorist does, how
ever, make the detour through Tualatin
and Sherwood in the hope of missing
road work on the main highway be
tween the end of the Multnomah Coun
ty pavement and Tigard and Rex, he
ia bound to bump into a few miles of
construction, as well as some rough
road this side of Rex. The remainder
of this road, that 1s, from Rex through
Newberg and Dayton to the Wheatland
ferry, is said to be in fairly good con
dition. In order to prepare for the extra
heavy travel expected for fair week the
proprietor of the Wheatland ferry ad
vised Mr. Gilbert that he was planning
on a second ferry and that each of his
two ferries could handle three automo
biles each trip. The charge here is
25 cents a-car. (
Announcement was made recently in
Salem that the temporary bridge across
the Willamette River connecting with
West Salem and Polk County points,
would probably be ready by this week,
thereby relieving motorists who fol
lowed the west side road all the way to
West Salent of the -necessity of using
the rather unsatisfactory public ferry,
which carries traffic . from the West
Salem to Salem, but latest advices are
to the effect that all hope of having
the temporary bridge ready for fair
week has been abandoned.
Tualatin Road Rough.
The principal objection voiced by
motorists to the shortest route to Salem
via Tualatin, Wilsonville and Aurora
is the limited ability of the Wilson
ville ferry to handle cars. After taking
the left-hand road at Tualatin for Wil
sonville. Mr. Gilbert reports that there
are about six miles of rough road,
which also serve as an argument
against this route.
The ferry at Wilsonville can handle
two machines at a time and. in view of
the fact that the approaches to this
ferry are rather steep, congestion and
delay would probably result if the bulk
of the Salem-bound travel was sent by
the Wilsonville ferry.
As usual, each motorist is entitled to
his own view of the situation, but the
bulk of the testimony seems to be in
favor of the East Side route via Gray's
Crossing. Clackamas. Gladstone, Oregon
City. New Era. Canby. Barlow and
Aurora. This is the route that is be
ing r-commended by the officers of the
Oregon State Motor Ao :- i -i.
CITY DRIVE CHARMS
Mount Tabor Trip Apeals to
Dr. Charfes Loeding.
CREST IS VANTAGE POINT
and stretches of land where there was
not even a trail were part of the ex
periences of J. W. Johnson, a road en
gineer, In his Kissel Kar, while laying:
out new roads and charting; trails
deemed worthy of consideration for
possible roads or highways, "some
where between Salt Lake City and San
Francisco."
CUT-OUTS WILL GO
Beautiful Vision Reveals Itself as
Top Is Readied Valley, Foot
hills and Portland in
Panorama.
Not every Portland motorist knows
that one of the most beautiful scenic
roadways in the city is the Mount Ta
bor drive, which lies along the crest
of Mount Tabor, surrounding1 the park.
Although the course along the top of
the mountain is not extensive, it makes
up for distance in its scenic superb
ness. Dr. Charles Loeding, who owns a
Hudson speedster. Is one of the city's
most enthusiastic exponents of the
beauties of his home city, and often
takes his friends to this vantage spot
to enjoy an optical feast. Er. Loed
ing declares- that there is no other
place where the atmosphere of ro
mance and peacefulness is so alluring.
To reach the mount, perhaps the
most simple way . is to drive along
Hawthorne avenue to its eastern ex
tremity and then follow the road hack
of the reservoir, where it as-jeuds to
tne summit in a series of gentle curves.
As the car wind around on its way
to the apex, through the dense foliage
and tall pines, one may glimpse ome
of the vision which reveals itself a&
the top is reached. Here, bursting into
full view, is a panorama which is a de
light to contemplate.
To the east, as the summit is ap
proached, stFetches the valley in tho
foreground, with its clusters of gar
dens and farms, dotted with cottages,
beyond which the wooded hills blend
with the further outlines of the foot
hills of the Cascade Mountains. Far
to the east. emerging majestically
from the haze, stands Mount Hood in
all its glory, and he who visions it for
the first time sits enrapt.
Then, as the gaze is shifted to the
north, through the broad expanse .of
terrain, the waters of the Columbia,
flowing imposing, onward to the sea.
greet the eye. Here and there in the
distance are the painted houses and
barns of the dairy farms, and one in
stinctively looks for the outline of the
Columbia River Highway.
As the western edge of the summit is
reached, through a break in the foliage
almost the entire city of Portland can
be seen, with the heights in the dis
tance. But below and in the immedi
ate foreground are the Mount Tabor
reservoirs, with their fountains play
ing In the breezes. At this season of
the year, also, when the leaves are be
ginning to turn, the impression is par
ticularly gratifying.
To arrive on the scene in the eve
ning about sundown and watt for the
lights of the city to appear adds a
touch of fantasy to tbe setting.
Kissel Finds New Roads-
LONG MOTOR TRIP IS MADE
Hood River Autolsts Return Prom
Journey to Chicago.
; HOOD RIVER, Or., Sept. 23. (Spe
cial.) Tr. and Mrs, W, A- Schaffner, ,
of this -city, have returned from the
most ambitious automobile trip ever
undertaken by local .motorists.. They
traveled as far East as Chicago, having
been on the trip for two months. The
journey Hast -was made over the Lin
coln Highway through Idaho and
Wyoming. Returning Mr. and Mrs.
Schaffner ' took the. Yellowstone Park
route.
"The roads of Idaho," says Mr.
Schaffner, "were fine, but those of
"Wyoming were exceedingly rough. The
best highways we traveled over were
found in Iowa, where much money has
been spent in laying paving."
Automobile Chamber of Com
merce Votes Unanimously. -
UNNECESSARY NOISE CAUSE
PORTLAND JAN ..NAMED
CHESTER II. STARR BECOMES "VVIL
LARD REPRESENTATIVE,
University of Oregon Graduate Suc
ceeds J. P. Schiller, Jr., In Pa
cific Northwest Field.
A former Portlander and University
of Oregon graduate, Chester H. Starr,
has been named Pacific Northwest dis
trict manager for the Willard Storage
Battery Company, according to an an
nouncement made last week by S.
Harper, of San Francisco, Pacific Coast
representative for the "Willard com
pany. Mr. Starr has recently been
serving as district representative for
the Willard Storage Battery Company
in the Inland - Empire district, with
headquarters in Spokane.
J. P. Schiller. Jr., who has visited
Portland many times as Northwest dis
trict manager for the Willard. has been
transferred to the Northern California
territory and will operate hereafter out
of San Francisco.
Under Mr. Schiller the Willard has
occupied an enviable position in the
battery field of the Northwest, and
Mr. Starr's record in the Inland Em
pire gives promise that this position
will be maintained.
Resolutions-Call for Elimination of
Muffler Attachment Operated .
.' From Seat or Driver In All
- Cars Beginning In 1018.
As the use of muffler cut-outs is be
coming' a nuisance, the members of the
National Automobile Chamber of Com
merce have voted unanimously for
their .elimination on the cars they
build in future, so far as they can be
operated from the driver's seat.
With more than 4,000,000 cars in use
and supplying a great service in the
transportation of the individual and of
materials, the use of muffler cut-outs
is unfair to the public and adds an un
necessary noise to American life. Cars
have ample power so that the slight
increase in speed which may come from
the use of cut-outs is of no importance.
There may be times in adjusting mo
tors where a cut-out is useful, but in
such cases, it can be operated from un
der the car.
Almost half of the 110 makers in the
Chamber do not fit muffler cut-outs to
their present cars and all makers voted
that they should be eliminated in the
new products. The -directors at their
meeting in New York recently adopted
the following resolutions:
"Whereas, Members of the National
Automobile Chamber of Commerce are
opposed to the attachment of muffler
cut-outs to motor vehicles and do not
fit them to the cars and trucks they
manufacture, or will discontinue doing
so on their product for 1918; and,
"Whereas, The use of the cut-out
is unnecessary, annoying and .danger
ous to other users of the highways and
objectionable to residents along them;
"Resolved, That the board of direct
ors recommends that all members of
the National Automobile Chamber of
Commerce refrain from attaching muf
fler cut-outs to their cars for the sea
son of 1918 and thereafter, and that no
cars-be sold ty them after January 1,
1918, with cut-outs attached, or that
wher. cut-'outa are attached they be
Franklin
LIBERTY SIX
offers more of "what you actually need and want in
an automobile."
BRALY AUTO CO.
Main 4880. A 388L , 19th and Washington Sta.
TVia m r whirh saIIr Kst in rfiriar. rnmnnrisnn
with others. j
AllTHKL. & WALLINGFOKD, 522 ALDrJK
Mack & Saurer
MOTOR -TRUCKS
Capacities, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 5, 6. 7
Tons. Complete Stock Repair Parts.
F. C. ATWELL, Sales Agent.
Washington at 21st. TeL Mar. 440
SIXES
' New Light Six, $1250, Factory
Mitchell, Seven-Passenger, $1525. Factory
MlitHELL, LEWIS & STAYER CO.
First and East Morrison
Oldsmobile
Distinctive High Grade. Light Weight.
OLDSMOBILE CO. OF OREGON.
Broadway and Couch.
Phone Broadway 1640.
The car with an aluminum motor. High-grade con
struction throughout. A car for particular people
MITCHELL & WALLINGFORD, 522 ALDER ST.
PREMIER
CAPACITY IN TO.N.
1 IV4 3
81020 1325 S1600 S2035
frlcem Delivered at Portland.
ROBERTS MOTOR CAR CO. Park and P-Ianders Pts.
S2950
Sraith-Form-a-Truck
BAI.IiOU & WRIGHT
Broadway at k.
Distributors for Oregon,
Borne unoccupied territory
open. Writ for proiKmitlon.
Truck
Moreland Distillate
s
Main 9019.
ton to & ton. Vim delivery, Yf
ton capacity.
M'CRAKEN MOTOR CO,
445 Stark St.
Tbe "Blltvrell" Series HrprrarnM the Latest and llest
. - la Motor Cars. New Value at Medium Prices.
D. C. WARREN MOTOR CAR CO.
GS-60 North Twit7-TUld Street. Phone Mala TSO.
0AKLAN1
Oakland Motor Co. of Oregon
344-50 Burnside, off Broadway.
Phone Broadway 80.
AUTO ACCESSORIES
Archer and Wiggins Company
Prest-O-Lite Batteries
Diamond Tires
SIXTH STREET AT OAK
BOWSER
GASOLINE and OIL TANKS
storage: systems for public AND PRI
VATE OARAGES. S. D. Stoddard, Ulntrtct Supt.
Salem. 71t-2U Corhett Bldg. Main 1478.
SATISFACTORY
. MOTORCAR
REPAIRING
COOK & GILL CO.
Phone Broadway 26.
409 Davis Street.
A. B. C. Starter for Fords. The only Starting: and L.lfcht
iuo; SrKtem approved by the Ford Company. Let us demon
strate It to too.
ELECTRIC SERVICE AUTO CO.
' SOI OAK, BET. PARK AND NINTH.
STORAGE
BATTERIES
ELECTRIC STARTERS, MAGNETOS
GIBSON ELECTRIC GARAGE -AND
STORAGE BATTERY CO.
12th and Alder Sts.
Accessories
Oils and Greases.
We sell Michelin and Sllvertown Cord
Tires, Osgood Lens and the latest and
best in auto goods. Depot for Gas,
TALBOT AUTO SUPPLY CO.. 72 Broadway.
W fctoclt Thrm, We Repair
We Charge Them.
Free Advice and lnstpeetlon.
AUTO ELECTRIC EQUIPMP.XT
Sixth and Barn wide Street.
made inoperative from the driver's
seat."
Arsenate of lime may be used In
place of the more expensive arsenate
of lead, but should not be used on
plants with delicate foliage, such as
the stone fruits.
MOTOR CARS
The Builder's
Name
There never was a time when the
Stearns standards and style were not
associated with the best that America
made.
Five years ago, eight years ago, to
day, the Stearns car carries with it a
distinction and known name for quality
through every part that makes it always
a car for those who demand a car that
is better than others deem necessary.
We are showing several beautiful
models of the Stearns four, with the
Stearns Knight motor. Added to the
superior points of the Knight motor is
Stearns counter-balanced crankshaft.
You should see this car by all means.
MAKE YOUR FORD START EASY
We . have just installed apparatus for recharging Ford
Magnetos without tearing the car down.
LEAVE THE CAR ONE HOUR
JOHN A. WALTER CO,, Inc.
Sixth-Pine to Ankeny
The Northwest Auto Co.
Portland, Oregon
F. W. Vogler, Pres.
Broadway and Couch
C M. Menzies, Manager