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THE ST7XDAT OREGOXIAN, PORTLAND, JULY 27, 1919.
-I
HOT ALWAYS THAI
v THAT DOES DAMAGE
Sometimes the Motorist Runs
. Into the Cars.
SOME PERTINENT,, FACTS
Southern Paciflo Official Trges on
Car-Owners to Be More Care
taX at Rail Crossings.
"During the first four months of the
calendar year." said R. J. Clancy, as
j sistant to the general manager of the
Southern Pacific company, "our rec
ords show that of the 151 grade cross
ing accidents Involving automobiles 20
stalled on the crossing and were struck
fcythe trains; 68 attempted to cross
officers of the national automobile
chamber of commerce were re-elected
at the - meeting of the directors in
Buffalo July 16.
Hugh Chalmers of the Chalmers Mo
tor company is again first vice-president;
R. . Chapin of the Hudson Motor
Car company, second vice-president
(passenger car division); Windsor T.
White, the White Motor company, sec
ond vice-president (motor truck divi
sion); C. C. Hanch, Maxwell Motor com
pany, secretary, and H. H..Rice, Chev
rolet Motor company, treasurer.
LOX'R. SMITH "WITH MIDWEST
Bods Engine Sales Chief With An
other Concern.
INDIANAPOLIS, July 19. The Mid
west Engine company has announced
that Con R. Smith, sales manager of
the Buda company of Harvey, 111., has
been obtained as general sales and ad
vertising manager, and will take up
his new duties June 1.
"This," said John G. Wood, president
of the Midwest company, "is the final
step in building up our organization to
a point where Midwest engineering,
production and sales will keep abreast
of each other. We have an ambitious
programme ahead of us, and to carry it
out successfully have long recognized
that it would call for aggressive mer
chandising of a high order. Mr. Smith
comes to us with an enviable engineer
ing and sales record. In the power
field the man who handles sales must
HERE'S ATTRACTIVE
PLAGE FOR CAMPING
It's at Junction of Molalla River
and Its North Fork.
40 MILES FROM PORTLAND
Natural Park "Discovered" by Au
tomobile Men In Week-End Fish
ing Trip In Hupmobile.
A natural part at the Intersection of
the Molalla river and the north fork of
that stream was explored last week
end by a quintet of motor folk who en
jo&d every minute of the two-hour
run from Portland in two Hupmobile
cars.
In the party were Charles M. Menzies,
general manager of the Manley Auto
THIS, WE'LL SAT, IS MOST CERTAINLY THE LIFE!
7 ." it r . '
be!
If
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COUNTING THE! BABY AD ARTHUR, THE! POPULAR COLLIE, THERE ARE EIGHT TO THE VAUILY PAKXif
TOURING I" "OLD FAHHFLI-," THE OLDSMOBILE TRUCK.
A. O. Jones, Myrtle Creek farmer, decided to take the family and move to Argentina republic South Am Tic a, to
Join his brother on a big ranch there. He figured on driving to New York, camping at night and enjoying life, but his
Ideas of comfort didn't include stowing seven folks, one a baby, dog, grub, cooking things, clothes, household articles
and camping outfit in one touring car. Not for him. He was in a quandary when one day in Portland he sighted a new
Oldsmobile truck. Here was room a-plenty, with pneumatic tires and electric lighting and starting equipment. "Just
the thing," said he, and bought a truck from the Oldsmobile company of Oregon. Here's the result, snapped Just before
the party set out on their long trip a few days ago. You can spot Mr. Jones from the fact that he's holding the baby.
i
almost Immediately In -front of and
were struck by trains; 36 ran into and
hroke down the crossing gates lowered
to protect them from passing trains;
one skidded into the side of car or
train; one ran down . and injured a
crossing flagman; four ran into signal
posts; five were involved in accidents
of a miscellaneous character. Nine
deaths and 45 injuries resulted.
"Many of these accidents occurred
where there was wide range of vision
and all of them at crossings protected
either by warning signs, audible and
visual signals, crossing gates, or flag
Snan. "How and why do these accidents
eccur, you ask
How Do They Happen
"When during four months 33 auto
mobiles run Into and hit the train in
stead of the train hitting them, when
during the same period 16 automobiles
run into and break down crossing
pates lowered to protect them from
passing trains, when men with their
families drive in front of a fast ap
proaching train, I confess I do not
know.
"I know that engineers try to avoid
them for, apart from the danger of
derailment and possible loss of their
own lives, they do not want to Injure
anyone if they can avoid it. I know
that the management has and is try
ing hard to avoid them, for it is spend
ing upwards of $1000 a day for flag
men, has exp-nded large sums for in
stallation of crossing gates, visual and
audible signals, warning signs, and re
moval of trees, structures and other
obstructions to vision.
"Notwithstanding the attending facts
It is not inconsistent to assume that
drivers of automobiles, too, try to avoid
Accidents, for it does not stand to rea
son that a man with his wife and chil
dren, or with friends, or alone, would
Intentionally run into a train or at
tempt to cross the track immediately
In front of a fast approaching train.
Drivers of automobiles probably do
it realize that a train running 50
8es an hour requires less than a
fourth of a minute to run one-fifth of
e. mile. Then, too, the driver may have
his mind occupied with the operation of
his machine or may be conversing or
carrying on a conversation with some
other occupant of the car and with his
mind thus distracted proceeds to cross
the track without making any effort
do so safely.
Somebody Gets Excited.
"There are few, if any crossings
where the driver has not adequate
range of vision, but with nearly one
third of the total accidents occasioned
by automobiles running into trains and
running into and breaking down cross
lng gates it would appear that visibility
Is by no means a paramount factor.
Moreover an analysis of accidents dis
closes that they occuV proportionally
at crossings where vision is unob
structed as where restricted.
"Of course crossings in densely trav
eled districts, or crossings where con
ditions essentialize additional safe
guards, are protected by flagmen, gates,
wig-wags, lights, gongs or bells, in
addition to standard warning signs.
"Mistakes made in working levers
due to excitement or confusion, may
account for some of the accidents.
believe, however, that the primary cause
of most grade crossing accidents is
lack of knowledge of the danger or
lack of attention to essential duties
supplemented by indiscretion or lack
of experience on the part of the driver.
"With trains running at varying
rpeeds in both directions throughout
the day and night no driver should at
tempt to cross the track of a railroad
at grade witnout first making sure
that it may be done safely, stonninsr,
listening and looking in both directions,
when necessary. The management and
employes are doing and will continue
to do their utmost to prevent acci
dents but is this respect success in an
appreciable degree is conditioned on
earnest public co-operation.
OFFICERS AXIj RE-EXECTED
National Automobile Chamber of
Commerce Satisfied.
President Charles Clifton of the Pierce
ULrrovz Motor Car company and all the
be both an engineer and a. merchan
diser." The Midwest Engine company has
built every kind of engine, including
the internal combustion type used in
Holt caterpillar tractors, but no Inti
mation is given as to the company's
permanent attitude toward the latter
field.
SIMPLE TEST FOR TIRES
HOW TO TELJj OXE OF "LIVE'
RUBBER FROM DEAD.
Run Your Palm Over Tread, and if
Rubber Is Rough and Granular
It Is of Poor Quality.
There are almost as many mysterious
elements In rubber as in electricity.
We speak, and quite correctly, of "live
rubber," because the strange substance
really seems to possess life long after
t is mixed with chemicals and foreign
ubstances and manufactured into
tires and other commercial commodities.
Buyers and users of automobile tires
often ask: "How can I tell a live, fresh
tire from one that is stale and life
less?" The answer is: "By touch."
K may be that you will have to prac
tice; if so, take a tire you know to be
fully a year old. Press your thumb
down hard upon the surface as
though you were going to make a
thumb print. Do that several times
nd try to make the rubber move.
lou will eee there is little or no
response, according to the amount of
life left in the rubber.
Try to drive your thumb nail Into a
live rubber and the "come back" from
the substance will be so strong your
nail will scarcely leave a mark. A nail
pressed into the surface of a dead tire
will leave a scar according to th
amount of life left in the rubber.
How do you tell whether a used tire
is made of good rubber?" was a ques
tion recently put to J. S. McClurg, fac
tory manager of the new Carlisle cord
tire.
Mr. McClurg has been in the tire
business for 25 years and is considered
one of the leading authorities of the
United States. "One very simple and
sure method," he said, "is to wipe the
dust from the rubber end run the palm
of your hand over it. If the rubber Is
slick and shiny it is of good quality.
but if it 1 rough and granular you
may feel assured it is or poor quality.
A properly made tire of the best mate
rials, such, as we claim the Carlisle
cord to be, should, when bounced on
the floor, be as lively and nervous as
thoroughbred race horse."
ST. I.OCIS TO TRY STEW PLAN
company, Mrs. Menzies, H. R. Roberts,
western representative of the Hupp
Motor Car company; Mrs. Roberts, and
Fred Rutledge, territory man for the
National Motor Car and Vehicle com
pany. The route to the picturesque camp
ing sites along the Molalla river
passes through Oregon City, Elyville,
Mulino, Liberal and Molalla, the latter
point being about 29 miles from Port
land. ,
On reaching the "four corners" In
'Molalla, the left fork road Is taken east
to the banks of the Molalla river. Im
mediately after crossing this stream a
seven or eight-mile run is made along
the eastern bank of the river to the
mouth of the north fork of the Molalla
where there are numberless places to
pitch the camper's tent or lay out the
basket lunch.
All told the park at the intersection
f these streams is about 40 miles from
Portland and Mr. Menzies said last
week that the road Is In excellent con
dition for almost all the distance. After
crossing the Molalla river, a few miles
beyond the town of Molalla, be said,
the road along the river's edge has a
few grades, but he found It seldom
ecessary to pull his Hupmobile down
from high gear, despite the fact that
his trailer was hitched behind, loaded
to the guards with a complete camping
utfit.
Instead of approaching the Molalla
country through Elyville and Mulino,
motorists may, if they choose, follow
the pavement of the Pacific highway
to the northern edge of Canby and then
ut cross-country over a fairly good
road, connecting with the Elyvllle
Mulino route at the village of Liberal.
Under ordinary circumstances this
optional route is perhaps preferable.
due to the fact that there are a good
many uneven stitches of roadway in
the highway which leaves Oregon City
via upper Seventh street hill and
passes through Elyville on Its way to
Mulino, Liberal and Molalla.
'We thought at first that we were
discovering a new camping place but
before we pitched tent Saturday nirht
at least 100 automobile parties passed
us In search of shaded retreats further
up the Molalla," said Mr. Menzies.
There was a fine swimming bole at the
very threshold of our camp and plenty
of trout nearby. The big trout In the
Molalla river, however,' didn't seem
much inclined to bite and we could not
Licensed Watchmen to Look After
Cars That Are Parked.
Eastern cities, just as those on the
Pacific coast, are struggling to devise
ways and means of effectually check
ing automobile thieves.
There is a plan to be tried In St
Louis. It provides for licensing and
regulation of watchmen of motor cars
parked in publie places. Any person Is
forbidden to act as caretaker of a mo
torcar parked .where parking is per
mltted free of charge or to enter, han
dle or touch any part of the equipment
of the car unless he has been licensed
by the police 'department as a watch
man, or has been authorized by the
owner in writing to act as caretaker.
Licensed watchmen must wear uniforms
and display badges prescribed by the
police board.
Garage Floor Space.
In planning the home garage, rem em
ber that for a single car the minimum
floor space will be 12 feet by 20 feet if
you purpose doing any work on the ve
hicle in its shelter. Also these dimen
eions do not allow room for either
work bench or for storage cpace, they
are simply the Irreducible minimum
for the man who Intends to take care
of his own car,
VICTORY
SIX
7 - fej
FEW" FOR.
IMMEDIATE DELIVERY
After months of famine, we have received several
carloads of the new Victory Model Mitchell Six and
we have a few carloads on the way.
We have filled the orders of those who have
waited patiently and who would be satisfied with
nothing less than the Victory Model and we are
now in position to make immediate delivery upon a
limited number of new orders.
To understand and appreciate the unprecedented
demand upon the factory from all over the country
for the Victory Six you have but to ride in and drive
the new Mitchell.
A Happy
Combination
' A. GOOD car backed by an old, re
liable concern, maintaining effi
cient service stations and adequate
repair stocks in the principal cities
of the Northwest.
It is a car of un equaled riding: and driving: com
fort, due in part to the unique Mitchell cantilever
springs, the 120-inch wheelbase and the splendid
balance of the car throughout.
We feel safe in saying that the Mitchell is a PER
FECTED LIGHT SIX, perfected mechanically, in
body lines and in appointment. f It is our judgment
that the new Mitchell, more nearly than anything
else, represents that which people want in a light six.
If you would have one for use this summer, order
now.
Distributors of
Mitchell and
Jordan Cars for
the Pacific
Northwest
BROADWAY AT OAK, PORTLAND
cast our lines In the north fork of the
Molalla, due to the fact that that
stream is now closed to fishing."
COQTJIIXE TO GET BRIDGE
County Bonding Programme to Aid
Roosevelt Highway.
MARSHFIELD. Or.. July 22. (Spe
cial.) The proposed county bridge at
Coqullle, which will span the Coquille
river, is part of the county bonding
highway system and will tit Into the
Hoosevelt highway programme' of a
coast road through western Oregon.
The site has been decided upon and will
be located where tbe present ferry
serves travelers Journeying between
Coqullle and Bandon. A sufficient sum
of money was appropriated by the
county to be collected in three yearly
installments and the building will be
comnleted in 1920.
An appropriation from the bond money
is still due to be expended on the river
road between the county seat and Ban
don. and this work perhaps will start
next year.
Kerosene aa Tractor Fuel.
When kerosene Is used as fuel In the
motor tractor it will be found neces
sary in many cases to change the oil
In the crankcase after every 20 hours
of running. This Is because of the
tendency of kerosene to condense, when
It is not properly heated, whereupon It
mixes with the oil and 'destroys Its
lubricating qualities.
Watch Other Drivers,
To avoid accidents when cranking
the car by band place the thumb
against the Index finger and take the
hTiHl between the four finerers and
the palm of the hand. In this way the
hand opens readily If a back kick oc
curs. Also always crank up. never
down.
Twist to the Right.
In making a temporary battery con
nection the stands e,hould be twisted up
tight, forming a loop by bending over
to the right. Then the binding screw
will grip closely and hold the looped
wire in place. If the wire is bent to
the left the screw will have a tendency
to force the loop apart when the screw
is tightened, making an Imperfect connection.
Keep your car under control when
approaching crossings.
III - . Ill
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WINTHER 1
TRUCKS
ALWAYS DEPENDABLE
V2, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7-ton Capacities
Also Four-Wheel Drive
iy29 2 and 3V2-ton Capacities
Oregon Motor Car Co.
Distributors
PARK AND DAVIS STREETS
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P 0v fj m
EXTRA TEST
For Frictioning
"Friction ing" is the process by
which rubber and fabric aro
milled together. This extra, test
insures, by micrometer meas
urement, the exact thickness
and precise proportion of rubber
to fabric
T TpRE we reveal another of the extra tests
JLi that make Racine Tires better tires.
Each of these extra tests is vitally important.
Combined, they promise the utmost in mileage
for Racine Tire users.
Racine Country Road Tires
are specially built to resist the wear and tear
of country road service 5000 mile guarantee.
Let us show you this tire triumph.
Sold by Dealers Everywhere
Distributed in Northwest by
Ballon & Wright
Portland Seattle
For TToar Own Protection Ba Certain Erarf
Rmcinm Tin You Bur Bomrm Thm tfamm
RACINE RUBBER CO., Racine. Wisconsin