THE SUNDAY OREGOMAN, PORTLAND. DECEMBER 21, IJHO.
FEDERAL
ARE MORE
ROAD LAWS
FLEXIBLE
Amendments Increase the
Amount Available per Mile.
HOUSTON MAKES REPORT
Secretary of Agriculture I'm m- Out
.That Few Mulu Roads Now Are
Not Eligible for Aid.
and want good trucks. The farmer
have had enough of these fly-by-night
machines that do not last. They
are now willing to pay real money
for real value and they are doing
It."
Amendments to the federal aid road
act passed last February, have greatly
facilitated the work of putting the
country on a good roads baals, in the
opinion of David F. Houston, secre
tary of agriculture. Theae amend
ments. In brief Increase from $10,000
to $20,000 per mile the amount of
federal funds that may be expended
by one road and considerably broaden
the definition of what constitutes a
rural post road. The act. as it now
stands, says Secretary Houston, in his
annual report, places only three limi
tations on the type of road which
may be built, as follows:
"That the roads Bhall be 'substan
tial in character.' This means that
the road must be so constructed that
tt will carry the prospective traffic
with such maintenance expenses that
the total annual charges will repre
sent a reasonable expenditure for the
public service rendered by the high
way. It la to the interest of the
states that the roads on which federal
funds are used be substantially con
structed, because the law requires
hem. or their civil sub-divisions, as
a prerequisite to receiving further
funds, to maintain properly all roads
butlt with federal aid. There is noth
ing in the law which restricts types
ot construction between narrower
limits than those established by sound
finance and good engineering prac
tice. Substantial Roads Favored
' "That the amount contributed from
the federal treasury In connection
with any road shall not exceed B0 per
cent of its cost or $20,000 a mile. The
main thing is to build a road that
will stand the traffic in the particu
lar section of the country where it
is constructed. The conditions in cer
tain regions may require a heavy
comparatively high-cost type of road,
while in others a lower cost type majj
meet all the requirements.
'Sentiment is growing throughout
ttie country, even in the newer sec
tion?, in favor of more substantial
roads. The people are beginning to
realize that the expense of main
taining the lighter traffic types under
heavy traffic is unbearable.
"That the road must be a "rural
jjbst road' as defined in the act as
amended; that is, 'any public road a
major portion of which is now used,
or can be used, or forms a connecting
!ink not to exceed 10 miles in length
of any road or roads now or here
after used for the transportation of
the United States mails.' Under the
Original wording of the law, federal
funds could be expended only on
roads upon which the United States
mails 'now are or may hereafter be
transported. ,
"This feature was the most trouble
some to the highway departments of
the various states. It required a def
inite determination In each case of
the" actual post route status of the
road, which necessarily involved de
lays in many instances.
Few Hondo Not Kligible.
"Under the new definition, very
few important roads, if any. will be
debarred from receiving federal aid.
if all the other requirements of the
act are met."
"Following the amendments to the
Met, the regulations governing its ad
ministration and the standards for
0ans, specifications and estimates
were modified, and one of the most
successful former state highway en
gineers in the country was placed In
charge of the federal aid road work.
He has at his disposal a large staff
of local and district engineer aids,
and no pains will be spared to pro-
Vide any further federal assistance
that may be needed.
"An advisory committee, composed
of representatives of the state high
way departments, selected at the re-
Quest of the department, by the Amer
ican Association of State Highway
Officials, with due regard to ge
ographic considerations, also has been
appointed to work in intimate touch
with the federal bureau, meeting with
Its officers at stated periods and at
such other times as may seem de
sirable."
Secretary Houston believes that the
federal government should continue
Its present policy of participation in
road building operations by the an
propriation. if the financial condition
of the nation permits it, of $100,000.
000 for at least each of the four years
beginning with the fiscal year 1921
to be expended under the terms of ex
isting legislation-.
l ! BJCFORE LOCOMOTIi i;s
Motor Cars Legislated Off Roads
or Kngland in 18S0.
The automobile, which history pre
sents as the father of the railway
locomotive, was legislated off the
roads of Kngland In 1)430. Its wheels
were breaking down the highways.
The situation Is quite different to
day. Its wheels are building up the
highways making hard roads of the
type that will endure for many gen
erations. The passenger car came and the
farmer desired good roads as an aid
In breaking down his social isolation.
Finally, now that the freight truck
and the express truck are coming
Into their own, the farmer, the busi
ness man and the ultimate consumer
are demanding good roads in many
sections of the country as a means of
breaking down the last economic
transportation barrier between pro
ducer and consumer.
Incidentally, It may be interesting
to know that the reason the automo
bile with Its steam engine, outlawed
in 1830, was able to come back upon
the highways with a gasoline engine
NOT MUCH HOPE FOR
MORE
MOTOR
CARS
Shortage Declared Certain to
Continue Next Year.
PACKARD MAN TELLS WHY
Sales Manager of Big Company De
clares Cost of Production
Prevent Lower Prices.
With the existing labor difficulties,
the scarcity of the proper, types of
railway equipment to haul the raw
material to the factories and to trans
port the finished product from the
plants and the unprecedented demand
is a marked shortage of many vital
elements that enter Into the composi
tion of motor vehicles, and the pro
ducers of those materials are suffer
ing from the same handicaps that
motorcar manufacturers suffer. Then,
again, the motorcar manufacturer Is
faced with the same problem that all
large manufacturers face who manu
facture goods suitable for export.
"There is a big export field opened
to American products on account of
the war and now Is the logical time
to cultivate it. as we have at least
a year's start on the European manu
facturers. To properly cultivate this
field and gain a strong foothold, a
larger percentage of manufacturers'
products will have to be exported than
before and this supply will have to
be taken from the supply that would
ordinarily have gone to United States
consumers.
"So far as meeting the demand, we
will not be abla to catch up with
that for years, for there Is a potential
demand for motor vehicles all over
the world.
"In the United States alone there
are Six men who are able to own and
operate cars or trucks to every one
who owns one. Thers Is a very small
percentage of our roads improved to
such a stage that automobiles could
be driven over them economically, but
with the rapid extension of our good
roads systems in every state, a de
mand will be created that will more
than offset any Increase for years.
"As to prices, I do not see how any
NOW
COMES
SEASON
OF WET PAVEMENTS
Drive Slowly is the Only Safe
Rule to Follow.
SPEED IMPERILS OTHERS
DELIVERING UNCLE SAM'S MAILS WITH A FORDSON TRACTOR
n
TRUCK BUSINESS GOOD
SO DECLARES COAST MANAGER
FOR WHITE COMPAXV.
Oregon and Washington Said to Be
Among Best Trnck Markets,
in the Counlrj.
IT BROKE RURAL DELIVERY TRAILS WHEN AUTOS AND TEAMS COULDN'T GET THROUGH.
HARRISBURG. Or.. Dec. 20. (Special.) Rural mall was delivered on route No. 1 last Monday for the first time
since the big snow storm. It was a I ordson tractor tnai made man aeiivery possiDie. i ne picture snows xne
tractor with C. E. Booth at the throttle and W. P. Duncan, rural mallcarrler. in the cutter. This route of 2a
miles was covered in about four hours by use of the tractor, and 115 patrons were served. Most of the roads were
entirely unbroken, and snow averaging from a foot to 18 inches deep.
. , A
three-quarters of a century later was
that a process had been discovered
by which rubber could be vulcanised.
This means a layer of protection for
both between wheel rim and built-up
highway.
The development of the giant pneu
matic cord tire and Its use by motor
express and freight operators, who
want it because It means a quicker
trip and more protection to the goods
hauled, has taken away the last pos
sibility that the motor vehicle will
injure the road more than does any
other means of road transportation.
It was the army's experience in
France that caused the American peo
ple to awaken to the possibilities of
motor transportation combined with
good roads.' It was only because of
the splendid web-work of hard roads
in France that the fighting army of
America was fed by a wonderfully
efficient system. These Improved
roads gave the big army trucks an
venue of approach.
'Meanwhile, in America the railroads
found themselves very much over
worked. The trucks came to the res
cue here as they had on the battle
front. They relieved the railroads by
carrying freight long distances In
those sections of the country where
there was need and stretches of good
highway could be connected up. Be
cause speed was highly essential and
demand required even the gleanings
of production they also acted as feed
ers of the railroads.
WOMEN CAREFUL
DRIVERS
Kansas Police Chief Says More
Men Violate Laws Than Women
LAWRENCE, Kan., Dec. 20. Chief
of Police Monroe does not cling to the
prevalent belief that men are the bet
ter automobile drivers. In fact, he Is
positive that the men are not and
backs up his statement with the dec
laration that for every woman
brought into the police court here
for violation of the traffic ordinance
or speeding. 50 men appear "on the
carpet."
for motorcars from all parte of the
United States, the present shortage
of automobiles will be extended for
months to come.
In ail parts of the country there has
been a clamor for cars and the ques
tions, "when will the motorcar fac
tories be able to produce a sufficient
quantity of cars and trucks to meet
the demand? and when will prices
be reduced?" have been asked every
visiting factory official and every
dealer who has made a trip to the
automobile manufacturing centers. In
most instances the replies have been
unsatisfactory because of their vague
ness. But now comes Harry Lansdale.
sales manager of the Packard Motor
Car company of Detroit, well known
in automobile trade circles, with a
straight-from-t he-shoulder statement
that predicts no early relief from the
car shortage.
In a review of conditions in the
motorcar industry, Mr. Lonsdale says:
"No one can accurately forecast the
time when dealers will be able to ac
quire surplus stocks of vehicles such
as will enable them to make imme
diate deliveries. The Industry, as a
whole, has never been overstocked,
but, on the contrary, has always been
oversold; and if no new owners were
added to the present list of users of
motorcars and trucks there would be
just enough produced this year to
take care of the replacements of cars
worn out or traded in on later models.
Factors Trying Hard.
"There were 6.000.000 motor vehicles
in the United States last January, by
official figures and. according to the
records, the average length of time
for a man to own a car Is three years.
"With a production of 2.000,000 cars
for this year, one-third of the present
owners can be supplied with new cars,
leaving none for new buyers, if the
law of averages for renewals holds
good.
"Every large motorcar manufact
urer is striving to increase produc
tion and reach the volume attained
before we entered the war. but prog
ress along that line is "slow, due to
many conditions beyond the manu
facturers' control. For instance, there
Taking a Chance Is Main Cause of
the Many Automobile Acci
dents in Big Cities.
Now that the rains have started,
a little advice is In order pertaining to
the matter of driving In wet weather.
It Is Just as easy to drive when tt is
wet as it is when the roads are dry.
comparatively. The only difference Is
one of speed. If you drive carefully
and do not try to speed on wet roads
and streets you will have no trouble.
When streets and roads are wet,
skidding Is easy If the car Is driven
rapidly and the brakes applied sud
denly. It Is a great deal better to
make haste slowly Do' not try to
turn suddenly, or there Is certain to
be a skid. In fact, do everything de
liberately and you and your car will
last a great deal longer.
It Is easy to stop a car when It is
slippery If the brakes are applied
gradually. If you Jam on the brakes
and lock the wheels the rear end will
awing around.
In fact. In the operation of a motor
car the first rule to remember Is to
do nothing suddenly. Make all your
moves with coolness and decision. Be
sure that you are right, and then go
ahead. When you turn, give the man
behind a chance to get out of the way
by warning with your arm. or If you
have a closed car use a signal.
When you stop, let some one else
besides yourself know about It. Don't
stop in the middle of the road, a habit
that too many people have. This Is a
dangerous practice, especially If you
do it suddenly. When you start from
the curb. If you have your car parked
on a down town street, take a look
round and see if anybody is coming.
Don't swing out and then curse If
some one nearly rams you.
The streets of the cities are slip
pery when it rains. There Is always
a film of oil on the streets, which
adds to their slipperlness, so do not
take chances.
The average American is very prone
to take a chance. We all do It, and
are noted for it. Take all the chances
you want with yourself, but not when
you are driving an automobile. You
may escape yourself, but damage
some one else.
Be careful and do nothing suddenly,
are two good rules of the road. If
they are followed there Is very little
t chance of accident. If more drivers
followed these rules driving would
be a lot pleasanter for all ot us.
decrease can take place for a long
time, but do anticipate a still further
advance of price.
Price Based On Production Cost.
"The decline in prices of motorcars
which began some years ago still con
tinued after the world war started
because the increase of output and in
creased efficiency of manufacturing
methods more than offset the in
crease In price of most other com
modities. Even when the tide turned
and prices of motor vehicles began to
advance the climb waa not so sharp
as shown in nearly every other line
of manufactured products. The ad
vance was due. at first, to decreased
production, resulting from the de
mands of war on the motorcar fac
tories and while we are swinging
back very rapidly to the volume of
two years ago we are using elements
in the composition of motorcars that
have advanced much more sharply In
price than the finished products; In
creased efficiency tends to offset this
somewhat.
"European and other nations are
bidding strongly for the same prod
ucts which this nation desires and
they will continue to hold the market
up until they can get into production
themselves or get surplus stock on
hand and It is impossible to say just
how many weeks or months that will
take.
"From the Packard point of view
and I would add from all viewpoints,
it would be wise for every man who
can use a motor vehicle to advantage
to assure himself delivery of such
vehicle at the earliest practical date,
for he is buying on a rising market
and a delay of a few months even
will require f larger investment in
automotive transportation than at
pre'sent."
EUROPE TURNS TO SIXES
MA XV OF THIS TYPE OF MO
TOR AT PARTS SHOW.
Adoption by Europeans Indicates
Faith in Correctness of the
Six-Cylinder Principle.
The trade representative sent to the
Paris automobile salon by the Mai
bohm Motors company of Sandusky.
O., has jnade some interesting predic
tions concerning the future of the slx
cylindered car. This design was agreed
upon five years ago by the Maibohm
engineers for the same reasons now
manifesting themselves at the Parts
show.
"This is the first exhibition of its
kind held in Europe since the out
break of the war." said A. M. Beaver
of Portland, who has received ex
cerpts of this report, "and for that
reason is full of significance to the
student of the automobile market
here and abroad. It reflects the gen
eral tendency of - design which has
been influenced by four years of the
hardest test ever given to any me
chanicaL product.
"For this reason It was to be ex
nected that a great lin provement In
design and construction would be no
tlceable and this has been the case.
"It was also expected that the four
cylinder engine would predominate
at the Salon, but the great surprise
of the show was the fact that six
cylinders were used In the great
majority of the hish-class cars. for
the European makers, backed by
centuries of economical tradition, to
take this stand shows an unlimited
faith In the proper performance of
this type of motor. Eight and 12
cylindered cars were poorly repre
sented, i
"Of course it remains to be seen
what facts the New York and Chi
cago shows will bring out, but we
feel sure that the salient principles
of the 25 Maibohm sixes turned out
each day by the Sandusky factory
will be embodied in all the first-class
designs of American cars."
COLORADO HAS BIG ROAD TAX
Citizen- -scss TliemselTes Total
of $6 Each for Highways.
DENVER. Dec. 20. Recognising the
value of good roads to any state, the
taxpayers of Colorado have pledged
themselves to contribute the sum of
approximately $6 for each resident to
improve the bridges and highways
of the state. This will mean a total
of $5,000,000 for this purpose. The
money Is to be raised by direct taxa
tion during the coming year, the
average per capita expenditure bein
figured in excess of $5 a person, to
gether with the gasoline tax and the
license tax. which will Increase thle
to about 16 for every man, woman
and child in the state. This amount I
is based upon reports received from
36 counties of the state by the office
of the Colorado tax commission.
That this will place Colorado in
the front rank of states for gootf
roads and that it makes the state one
of the first to attempt the direct taxa
tion method of securing so large a
sum for road Improvement Is the be -
lief of the commission. Most of the
other states, the commission asserts,
have resorted to large bond Issues to
build bridges and improve their roads.
Don't read letters or books when
crossing the street. Don't talk to
tour friend, but keep your mind on
the fact that you arc crossing a
street.
IMIIIMIIHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIlllllllliiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiMiMMIIUIIMIIIIIIIIIIilliny:
When you need a little
extra Power, what a
grand and glorious feeling
to know it is "there" when
you step on the throttle
of your '
imitnHitumiMiHiiimimimimiMniiHiiHiiiiimiMiiiiniiiniiiiumiHiiiiiiiH miiiiiMmiriiinmimmmiiumiHiiim niiHiniinniin jj;
' Oregon and Washington and for
that matter the entire northwest lack
sufficient transportation units. They
riecd more motor trucks.
This it, the assertion of G. A
Urquhart. Pacific coast manager
Hie White company, who recently
was in Portland, following a visit to
Tacoma and Seattle.
- The demand for trucks is enor
Otous." said .Mr. Urquhart, "and there
seems to be no end to the demand
This la especially true of the new
dotiblo reduction gear drive White
heavy duty trucks. Our dealers here
are swamped with offers of trades.
Men who have other trucks want the
White after they have seen it work.
"Portland iR doing her best to cor-lu
Mil all the business in Oregon. The
Shipyards are making good and arc
sill working; that Is, the sted yards.
Grain crops have been large this year
and hundreds of farmers who In
years past used horses to get their
crops to market are using trucks
this year. They can afford to make
the change now that prices are high,
Ad tlioy are making it.
"We are enlarging our service sta
tions In Portland and Seattle. In
Seattle we have just moved Into a
large new building and In Portland
we are making changes, enlarging
the plant and making it easier to get
in and out.
"The truck industry of the Nnrth
5ffpt compares frvorabij with tint of
California. lu want trucks, here
mmiiiiiiiiimiiiiiiMimiiiMHHiitmiHmii n. iiHinifitiitiiHiHii iiiiiniMMiuiiititiM mtmuimmi iiiiuntiimiiHiM
Power to spare is only
one of the predominant
features of the Peer of all
light cars. Ask us to tell
you more.
W. H. Wallingford Co.
Oregon and Southern Washington Distributors for the
"Briscoe" and Liberty Six"
Sixteenth and Alder Phone: Bdwy. 2492
MORE EVIDENCE
BRUTE STRENGTH
That prime necessity in a motor track is built right into the
.1
"Also Buys a Master"
W. T. Sleep
Fruit Grower,
Koseburg, Or,
TRUCK
1 y2, 2, 3y2 and 5
Tons
INTERNAL GEAR
TIMKEN WORM
Two Drives
Oregon Motor Car
Distributors
BROADWAY AT BURNSIDE
Co
nmuniimuiHiiiiMiiHimiiHimmiiimiiiiimmimHmmimmimmmiHmimiv
MORE EVIDENCE
PERFORMANCE COUNTS
Open Your Eyes
to Motor Trucks
AN OPPORTUNITY now is being
offered everybody interested in
motor truck construction to see for
themselves.
You no longer need remain in the dark
ness of ignorance. Quit groping.
You long have wondered how one truck
can be any better than others. You have
heard what salesmen have to say but you
have not seen the reason for yourself.
You Can See It Now
Call at our salesroom and inspect the MACK
truck chassis turned over on its side. Every
working part is exposed to view and all are in
operation the same as when on the road.
This is a spectacular method of impressing
your memory, yet it is practical and educational.
The MACK is the most thoroughly engi
neered truck on the market. It is a completely
manufactured unit. It is built of many parts,
each designed by MACK engineers with the
idea in mind of its relation to the complete
truck. In this it differs from the assembled
truck, which is cobbled together from parts
chosen indiscriminately.
You can see the results in MACK
performance. You can see how
these results are accomplished by
inspecting the chassis now on
display.
International - Mack
Corporation
Tenth and Davis Sts.
Broadway 691