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About The Sunday Oregonian. (Portland, Ore.) 1881-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 22, 1918)
6 TTTK SUNDAY OKECOXTAX. rOTin.AND. PECEMRER 22, 1918. CRIPPLED WARRIORS CHOOSE AUTO TRADE Returned Soldiers Studying Motor Mechanics. CLASSES PROVING POPULAR United Stales, Canada, England, In dia and Germany Teaching Work to Disabled Men.' "Motor mechanics have proved a moat popular subject of Instruction for crip pled soldiers who are being retrained to become self-supporting, self-respecting workers," says Uouglas C. McMurtrie, director of the Red Cross Institute for Crippled and Disabled Men, New York. "In tact, the trade is almost too popu lar, say directors of Canadian schi jk in which hundreds of disabled soldiers are today being trained in new occu pations. '"Practically every Canadian soldier who is asked to choose from among the various trades in which classes are operated selects automobile mechanics. But most of the men have to be dis suaded from their Intention and are turned into other channels of industry. Otherwise every crippled soldier in the dominion would be looking for a Job as automobile mechanic after he had com pleted his course of training and the supply would far exceed the demand. "Canada, England, Germany and India are among the belligerents that oner training courses in motor mechanics to the disabled men of their own forces, and America, in line with the pro gramme of re-education that she has adopted, is teaching her wounded and disabled soldiers automobile repairing. At Fort McHenry, where the United States operates a large reconstruction hospital, one of the trades taught to convalescent soldiers is automobile me chanics. A one-armed or a one-legged automobile mechanic will not be a new thins- under the sun once the general public has been committed to the prin ciples of re-education. Repair Shops Equipped. "In British Columbia gasoline engine classes were organized soon after the -wounded began returning from over seas, Vancouver, Victoria, Eskuimalt and Westhaven provide instruction in motor mechanics. In victoria the mili tary " hospitals commission and the Hoard of Education together operate a fully equiDed motor repair shop, in which men 'who wish to become chauf feurs are taught. Men trained in this course conduct a well-patronized Jitney stand in the town. Those who wish a thorough course preparing them as mo tor mechanics are sent to Vancouver and later to the new workshops' at Es quimau and Westhaven. The military hospitals commission has made an ar rangement by which war cripples at Vancouver are taught driving at an ex cellent automobile school In evening classes. Then, too, through the gener osity of the owner of this school, any disabled soldier may attend his day classes free of charge. Several men from other parts of British Columbia are kept in Vancouver on a mainte nance allowance while receiving train ing. "There is a big field for workmen in this trade in Saskatchewan, as through all the West, and thorough courses are given for war cripples by the Univer sity of Saskatchewan. Another course is at the Provincial Institute of Technol ogy and Art at Calgary. Disabled men o trained compete successfully with the average sound mechanic. One sol dier, who lost his right arm, is prepar ing with his chum to have a small flour and grist mill in one of the centers of the Peace River district. His course in automobile mechanics and gas engi neering will enable him to take charge of the power plant (stationary gas engine) to run a wood cutting plant and to mend automobiles as a side line. His chum will attend to the milling proper. Complete Equipment Used. "While the wounds of English sol diers and sailors are healing at Queen Mary's Convalescent Hospital at Brighton and Roehampton they are af forded the opportunity of learning mo tor mechanics. The workshop at Roe hamptoii is fitted up as a model garage in charge of disabled men who, besides being skilled instructors, understand the special problems of the war cripple. A "Briton" motr chassis, working mod els of engines, three center drilling and turning machines, a drilling machine and benches fitted with the vises and tools needed in repair work are includ ed in the equipment. An electric motor frives power for the machines. The class has a 15-20-horsepower Darracq mo tor car for instruction purposes. "Germany, too, has excellent train ing courses for war cripples who take up motor mechanics. At Dusseldorf on the Rhine, by the co-operation of the provincial and city administrations and local welfare societies, war cripples are being trained in many skilled trades. Here the course in automobile mechanics was established at the re quest of the motor repair shop owners, who needed workmen and could not obtain able-bodied men. Within a very few months the pupils of the first class had successfully repaired 14 different types of motors whose mechanisms they understood thoroughly. "Even in far-off India the trade of automobile mechanics takes hold of the Imaginations of the natives. It must be a curious sight indeed to sea India's disabled sons repairing an automobile or studying the intricacies of mechan ics in the shops that are operated at Queen Mary's Technical School in Bom hay. These curly-bearded, olive-skinned warriors will not be left on the high roads to beg after they have served their country, but will be trained for useful trades in which their physical handicaps do not prevent them from competing with able-bodied men." way Traffic Association of the state of New York and reported that plans had been maO to keep the most traveled roads open every day this Winter. Of an appropriation of 11.000,000 made by New York State for maintenance of the routes used by Army transport trucks, $50,000 Is available .for-snow removal. In Connecticut the cost of snow re moval on 1000 miles of highway aggre gated about $50,000 last Winter, or approximately $50 a mile. , "The- establishment of rural routes and the increasing use of trucks and passenger cars for essential business command the attention of highway en gineers." said Charles J. Bennett, High way Commissioner iof Connecticut, "and the snow removal problem becomes a vital issue to be solved at once." Pennsylvania last Winter set an ex ample in keeping the mountain routes open for Army and commercial traffic "It should no longer be an optional matter with the road officials in charge of our highways," said George H. Bliss, Deputy Highway Commissioner for the state, "for when we consider the enor mous Winter traffic, on some of our roads, argument' is unnecessary- An actual traffic census taken on one of our highways when the temperature witg 2a degrees Deiow zero . snowea that more than 2000 vehicles passed over the road in 12 hours." The United States Weather Bureau has made plans to furnish daily re ports of the depth of snow or ice on the roads and their general condition to the automobile clubs in Pennsylvania this Winter for the benefit of truck and AIR COOLING LIKED BY EXPERTS ABROAD War Gives Impetus to Demand for Lighter Weight. , BIG FUTUREAFTER THE WAR European Automobile Engineers In terested in Features of Frank lin Car, Cooled With Air. Otto Kahrs, a prominent importer and automobile dealer of Kristiania. Nor way, . on a recent visit to the United States, gave some rather illuminating ideas as to what the war is uncovering In the matter of automobile efficiency. Mr. Kahrs says that in European ROUPS TO BE KEPT CLEAR EASTEKX STATES WILL INSURE WINTER TRAVEIi. Higlmays Will Be Kept Free of Snow to Facilitate Truck Freight, Alail and Express Traffic. Concerted action to keep highways open following snow storms during the lominK Winter is being taken by the Highway Commissions of the Eastern states and some of the Central states. The importance of transportation by tnotn- truck and the overland delivery of thousands of Army trucks to Atlan tic ports last Winter emphasized the need of keeping the main highways open for travel through the Winter, htm! IJastern State Highway Commis sioner believe that with the estab lishment of many rural motor express lines and parcel post routes there will be continued heavy truck traffic during the coming Winter. Highway Commissioners, or their rep. resentatives, from New York, Connect icut, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and Delaware recently met .with, the High- TRACTOR DOES YEOMAN SERVICE ON FARM NEAR GRESHAM. J - - zZi"" VAi Stability This Cleveland Tractor, Sold by the MeNeff Tractor at Auto Co., Plttoek Build ing:, Wan Snapped la the Act of Pulling; a Six-Foot Tandem Cut-Away DUIC and Slx-Foot Tandem Packer, passenger car drivers. Forecasts of ap proaching storms will also be supplied daily to the superintendent of highttfays at Harrisburg, who will Instruct his snow-fighting forces accordingly. FUTURE UP TO TRUCKS THEY" MUST GUARD AGAINST TRAFFIC CONGESTION. Official of Federal Motor Track Company Points Out Duty of Business Men. . Preparations in America for the traf fic difficulties that are bound to arise is urged by W. C. Rowley, of the Fed eral Motor Truck Company. Mr. Row ley was for 30 years general freight agent for the Michigan Central Rail road and is a thorough student and au thority on railroad traffic conditions. Mr. Rowley points out that when American ships now being built begin operations the strain upon the rail roads will be far greater than It is now and that some definite means of relief must be devised. This means, obviously, is the motor truck. The performance of American motor trucks throughout the war, and particularly the work they did last Winter during the serious railroad traffic tie-up, show positively that trucks are the agency to settle this problem. Agricultural production such as never has been dreamed of in this country is demanded for 1919. Ships to be built and launched the coming Summer will carry greater cargoes of American products abroad -to soldiers in France, and the people of England and France particularly, than ever be fore. This means that the railroads will have to carry more goods to the Atlantic seaboard and that they will be overwhelmed with work. The motor truck must come to tlxe rescue and the American public must make prepara tions to meet the great transportation demand. The trucks have proved con clusively that they can relieve the rail roads of much of the short-haul traffic and that many kinds of freight can be transported on long hauls with great success and at a reasonable cost. "The Federal Motor Truck Company is now turning out "the heaviest pro duction in its history," says Mr. Row ley. "Federal distributors In all parts of the country are impressing pur chasers and prospective purchasers with the necessity for them to rely upon trucks rather than upon railroads, particularly for short-haul work and deliveries. "The railroad tie-up of last Winter was not merely a temporary affair. The volume of goods to be moved will not grow less there is every reason to believe that it will greatly increase. It is not so likely that there will be a serious fuel shortage the coming Win ter, inasmuch as the American people learned a very serious lesson. countries, the direct air cooling; system for automobiles is arousing consider able interest, and that it is quite freely predicted that after the war there will be a goodly number of firms manufac turing air-cooled cars. For a long time European papers have reflected the growing tendency toward air coolln'g'' People over there who are interested in automobile de velopment. being in close proximity to actual military operations have had splendid opportunity to observe the present types of cars under the hardest conditions. From the observations thus made, it is quite clear that future developments must be along the lines of lighter weight, greater flexibility and more economical operation. The fact that di rect air cooling is, particularly adapted to these requirements undoubtedly ac counts for its growing popularity among European automobile engineers. "There are many features about the system of direct air cooling that have tremendous appeal," says Mr. -Kahrs, "but none are of more importance than the greater simplicity and lighter weight possible with this type of en gine. In view of the difficulties en countered in getting sufficiently large quantities of gasoline and tires to Europe. It ' is Imperative that cars be used which make the most of what can be had. And the air-cooled tyoe gives splendid results in this respect, as can be shown right liere in America with the Franklin air-cooled car, a number of which are in operation 4n my country. "War has also disclosed how im pervious are air-cooled cars to the ef fects of extreme temperatures, both hot ana cold, because with the eleminatlon of water, is also removed the danger of freezing or overheating. That freez ing is a very serious condition- will be recognized by the fact that there is a rule in the French army which goes into effect each Winter", demanding that all water be drawn from the radiators when cars are to stand idle for any length of time. "When one considers the time neces sary to refill a radiator, the difficulties the car drivers must contend with In the face of a quick call can readily be seen." Fan Belt and Dust. In fan assembles that have V-shaped pulleys for tho belt, it is well to ex amine this location for accumulations of dirt, and any such deposits should be carefully cleaned out. Further, it is good practice to give the belt a brush ing with a stiff brush and then wipe it off with a cloth dipped in neatsfoot oil. Thin Enamel With Alcohol. Ordinary turpentine 1s a satisfactory medium for thinning enamel or varnish, as most motorists know. Some varnish manufacturers supply a special thin ning liquid, which should be used in this instance. When- it is desired to produce a quick-drying enamel, try us ing alcohol for thinning. Our prices have been revised in keeping with present reconstruction requirements. Prospective motor car purchasers, in this uncertain period, will welcome the certain assurance that t6days attractive prices on Oldsmobiles are guaranteed by the factory up to July first, 1919. SIXES Model 37 Touring or Roadster $1495.00 Model 37 Sedan or Coupe $2100.00 EIGHTS Model 45A Touring Car Model 45A Pacemaker $1900.00 $1900.00 Never in its twenty-one years history has your purchase of an Oldsmobile represented a sounder investment than right now. Beauty Power: The first requisites that discriminating people look for in a car, are borne out in every detail of the Olds mobile, whether your choice is a Six or an Eight. We are as glad as we are proud to demonstrate these cars. Come in. or phone for an appointment. All Prices F. O. B. Portland 1919 Sedans and Coupe Have Arrived the OLDSMOBILE Co. Broadway at Couch OF OREGON Phone Bchvy. 2270 el 45 A, 8-Cylinder, Pacemaker SOLIO TIRES HEED CARE EVEN LARGEST ONES REQUIRE SOME ATTEXTIOX. Insert months. new piston rings every It Truck Tire Expert of Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company Gives Advice to Truck Drivers. How can I care for a truck tire?" This question Is seldom asked by truck drivers these days, according to It. R. Wilson, manager of the truck tire de partment of the Goodyear Tire & Rub ber Company, of Akron, O. To hosts of truck drivers," says Mr. Wilson, "solid tires are apparently nothing more than chunks of rubber fastened to the wheels what can hurt them? .They will wear out In course of time anyway, so why bother to look after them? It is true that these big tires look so sturdy and rugged that they do not appear to need any special care. But ideas like this have cost ' the motor truck users of the country a vast sum of money In the aggregate. The sever ity of the performance demand or a non-pneumatic truck tire usually more than makes up for its lack of delicacy so that reasonable care with a truck tire is just as essential as with an automobile tire. "Overloading is one of the great abuses visited upon truck tires. In many cases overloading is Intentional, but in the majority of instances the practice is carried on unknowingly or carelessly. But the result is the same in either case. The overstrain soon MANY DODGE CARS REQUIRED "OVER THERE." '- lr...:. .. . h 2.'u?T . t,' ' ' ...... i- i ... . . g. ?c OXE DRIVKAWAY OP CARS FOR THE ARMY LEAVING DODGE BROS.' FACTORY AT DETROIT. The photograph gives a faint idea of the number of motor cars required by the Army for service in the United States and in France. It represents one convoy of 120 Dodge motor cars about to leave Detroit for the Atlantic Seaboard. Cars at the right are business cars, with special fittings for the Quartermaster Corps. The remainder are the regulation touring cars. This was one of many such drlveaways. breaks down the tire before its ap pointed time. -"The sturdiest machine, of whatever character, has its limitations. A fly. wheel can run so fast and no faster. It has a critical speed which, if ex ceeded, will tear It to pieces. A loco motive can pull so much and no more. "Likewise a solid truck tire will en dure a certain strain and not a bit more. When rubber is compressed to a certain point, its compressibility ceases, and any pressure beyond that point causes the rubber particles to crack and separate from each other, and the tire is weakened so that it be comes more susceptible to common in juries. The life Is crushed ouT of the tire and it will never resume its former resiliency. Overloading, of course, is only one of the abuses to which truck tires are commonly subjected, but it is the most prevalent, and this Is why we are em phasizing care In loading trucks only to recommended capacity. "Overloading Is bound to Increase the cost of operation greatly, and while the tires are wearing away abnormally, the truck Itself is depreciating at an un reasonable rate. So our advice, based on experience, is, if you must overload your truck, equip it with oversize tires when your old ones wear out. They win be far mora economical In the end. atlons before goinr to powerful ma chines that force the housing tubes into the ends of the bell. At this point the assembled bell and tube are placed on a conveyor which passes between double rows of lathes set backs to gether. The lathe operators take these assemblies from the conveyors as needed and perform several operations, after which the assemblies are placed on the conveyor, where they pass to another point, where the brake shoe assembly, and other parts are added in turn. The assemblies, for the most part, pass in quick succession from one machine to another as different parts are needed and operations performed. At about two-thirds of the way down the line the practically completed housings are met by V. axle shaft assembly, which comes via conveyor from the fifth floor of the building. This assembly is then installed in the housings and the assembled drive shaft and housing, radius rods, hub brake pull rods, etc., are duly added as the assembly steadily progresses on a con veyor. During these various processes the assembly has progressed to a de partment, where it is given the fin ishing touches and then the finished rear axle assembly is swung onto an other conveyor which carries it to the side of the building and thence down a craneway to the loading dcks, where It Is placed in cars for shipment. FORD AXLES QUICKLY BUILT Progressive System of Assembly Is Shown at Ford Plant. One of the best places to observe the Ford system of progressiva manufac ture and assembly is the rear axle de partment of the Ford faotory at ! troit. Mere the rear axle housings are started in the process of manufacture at one end of the department, which covers SO bays,' and are finally brought together with other parts to make the finished rear axle assembly at the other end. At the extreme east end of the de partment is an Immense pile of "bells, as they are called. These bells, two in number on the car, are bolted to gether. Joining the right and left-hand sections of the rear axle housing. They inclose the bevel drive gears, through which power is transmitted to the rear wheels. When the bells are taken from the big pile they pass through a few oper- VESTA SPARKLETS, NO, 2 By "Doctor Spark" The patented Impregnated Wood Mats in VESTA BAT TERIES prevent "treeing." The fiber of the wood is im. pregnated with a chemical that positively prevents the passage of metalic lead through it; acting as a pre servative and prevention, of shorts." . GIBSON ELECTRIC GA RAGE & STORAGE BAT TERY COMPANY 12th and Alder Diamond T Trucks In the Service of 'the Largest Users of TRUCKS T Service MOTOR Diamond Proved by Re-Orders The Diamond T Track has an unusually high re-order record. Those concerns who first tested Diamond T quality with small trucks and are today using them in fleets would never have re-ordered unless Diamond T. service had been all they could expect A real service of continual value Helping them to keep down running costs;- This service has been one of the big reasons for no Diamond T having worn out in usage. This Diamond T standardization and keeping up of quality not only gives the truck user absolute protection against mechanical troubles it insures him against pos sible trouble in getting new parts. Every part in a Dia mond T Truck is marked by our factory number. This corresponds with the parts makers' number, so you can replace parts any place in the country. Made in 1, lVt 2, 3V and 5-ton capacities. We can make immediate deliveries. Aggressive agents wanted- Diamond T Truck Sales Agency of Oregon, Inc. 330 BURNSIDE ST.