The Sunday Oregonian. (Portland, Ore.) 1881-current, December 21, 1919, SECTION SIX, Page 6, Image 80

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    THE SUXDAT OREGOXTAy PORTXAND. DECEMBER 21. 1919.
TRUCK TO COMPETE
IN RAIL LONG HAULS
EIGHTY SACKS OF WHEAT IN THIS TRUCK LOAD.
TRUCKS NOT CAUSE
en
33
OF
That's Prediction of Good
year Factory Chief.
Opposition on That Score Not
Based on Facts.
STREET CARS TO GO, TOO
WIDE TIRES CUSHION LOAD
And Solid Truck Tires Will Be Ob
bolete in Three Years More,
Declares Seiberling.
Truck Here to Stay as Factor in
P Modern Transportation, Despite
the Efforts of Opponents.
Ill
- 8 SiHifBfi''11'"8 aWBA
DAMAGED
ROADS
That solid tires for motor trucks
will be obsolete within three years,
Street cars will soon be replaced by
motor buses and freight care will get
close competition from motor trucks
on long hauls, were predictions made
by P. A. Seiberling, president of the
Goodyear Tire & Rubber company,
and P. W. Litchfield, factory man
ager, at a banquet to the Detroit and
Cleveland sections of the society of
automotive engineers in Akron re
cently. More than 200 of the foremost de
signers heard Mr. Seiberling's proph
esy that within the lifetime of those
Blresent the United States would be
ri.xs-crossed by great highways of
solid foundation to withstand any
wear, and that highways of less than
16 feet width would be unknown. He
asserted that the ultimate tire Would
be the cord that there would be no
fabric or solid tires.
China as the future big market for
tires was predicted by the speaker,
who declared that the numerous post
roads of stone would be excellent
foundations for modern highways. He
quoted statistics to show that 50 per
cent of China's 400,000.000 are em
ployed in transportation, against 10
per cent In the United States, and
predicted a celestial kingdom of mo
tor transportation. Railroads cannot
be built because of violating Chinese
traditions in crossing burial places
with the right of way.
Mr. Litchfield declared that the
trolley must go, asserting it has
reached a point where it cannot com
pete with the motor bus. For finan
cial reasons extensions are impossi
ble, so the street car must give way
to the gas-driven vehicle that can
aid development of suburbs without
heavy investment In franchises and
equipment.
Increase in traffic has sounded the
death knell of the trolley, according
to Mr. Litchfield. Streets cannot
easily be widened to give more track
room, but continuous traffic move
ment is imperative. Therefore, the
whole street service must be utilized
by a carrier that can go to the curb
to take on or discharge passengers,
and the trolley must go underground
as in London if it remains in ex
istence, he said.
The Goodyear factory manager
nointed out the immobility of freichW
cars and delays necessitated in wait
ing to make up trains for Biven des
tinations. In contradistinction he in
dicated the mobility of the motor
truck and predicted that with perma
nent highways and cord tire equip
ment the motor truck will replace the
freight car on long hauls.
Mr. Litchfield asserted that the war
had put Europe 50 years ahead in
transportation and with this future
for the industry in mind, asked the
visiting engineers to design large
capacity carriers to replace the street
car and prophesied that a multiple
wheeled ' truck would give competi
tion to the railroads on long hauls.
THAT MAKES THE LOAD TOTAL 130 POtSDS MORE THAN FIVE TOSS, THOUGH THE TRUCK, A GARFORD,
IS ONLY A TWO-TON MODEL,
Truck manufacturers discourage overloading by truck owners, but Paul
La Grande, slipped one over when he hauled this five tons of wheat several
ton .Garford.
Welch of the Welch Auto company,
miles to shipping point in his two-
CLEVELAND DN LONE RUN
NEW SIX ON 32 59-MILE TRIP
ACROSS CONTINENT.
Mettle of New Light Auto Proved
on Test Tour Over Some of
Country's Worst Roads.
L. S. Cobb of Fresno, Cal.. recently
completed a drive of 3259 miles in a
Cleveland light six from the factory
In Cleveland, O., to his salesrooms
in Fresno, and on this trip drove a
large part of the way over desert
sand, . tortuous mountain trails and
every condition of highway.
On this trip Cobb also made what
he declares to be a stock car record
between Chicago and Fresno, his time
for the run being nine days.
Pri&r to this trip the Cleveland six
had not been driven any except the
this rather prosaic report to Sid Black
at the Cleveland factory:
"Arrived Fresno 6. K. nine days
from Chicago. As far as we know, is
best stock car record. Roads all but
impassable. Covered 3259 miles. Car
in excellent condition."
Cobb's trip proved to the satisfac
tion of the factory and its dealer or
ganization that the makers of the
Cleveland six have built into the car
the elements that make for efficiency
and durability of the highest order. It
is the first trip of its kind ever made
in a Cleveland and the car survived
the test without mechanical difficulty
of any sort and, as well, showed econ
omy in operation.
TARKINGTON HUDSON OWNER
Noted Novelist Driving Third Hud
son Super-Six.
Booth Tarkington, author of "Pen
rod," "Seventeen," "The Gentleman
From Indiana" and other famous nov
els, recently purchased his third Hud
son super six. Tarkington is some
thing of a motoring bug. He makes
usual riistan,- rennirert in final fac- I lon drives inrougn uie country anu
orv- testing The r- made a remark- finds in them relaxation and inspira
J - D I . 1 4
COLD HARD ON BATTERY
MOTORIST SHOULD KEEP
FULLY CHARGED.
IT
When Battery 1m Exhausted It Will
Freeze at Zero, but Not
When It's Charged.
The . cold snap that hit the north
west and caused Portland thermome
ters to drop with a resounding thud,
besides biting cheeks and hands, hit
pocketbooks of many motorists who
bad let their battery charge run low.
A full charged battery, says
Charles S. Harper, of the Willard
battery service, "will not freeze even
at 50 degrees below zero. But an ex
hausted battery will freeze at zero
weather. Freezing will ruin a bat
tery. It is always wise to have a
battery tested periodically by an ex
pert. Short circuits sometimes do not
reveal themselves until they have ex
qhausted a battery.
"A generator overcharging will also
exhaust a battery. These faults
should always be corrected imme
diately, especially in cold weather,
before costly repairs are necessary.
The hydrometer reading of a fully
charged battery will indicate 1.276
to 1.300. When hydrometer readings
are 1.175 to 1.225 a battery is less
than half charged and should be re
charged at once. Hydrometer read
ings should be taken before adding
water to cells."
able economy showing on fuel and
oil consumption, and arrived in Fres
no as fresh as when it left the Cleve
land factory.
Cobb, who is a member of the firm
of Cobb & Evans, Cleveland distribut
ors in Fresno, left the factory of the
Cleveland Automobile company Sep
tember 5. His itinerary included Ak
ron and Toledo, O. ; Detroit and Battle
Creek. Mich.; Chicago. III.; Clinton.
Cedar Rapids and Council Bluff, la.;
Omaha. Neb.; Cheyenne, Wyo. ; Salt
Lake City, Utah; Carson City, Nev.;
Lake Tahoe, Sacramento, Madera and
Fresno, Cal.
This being the longest test of its
kind ever made in a Cleveland light
six, Cobb's trip was watched with in
terest and dally telegrams to Sid
Black, vice-president of the Cleveland
Automobile company, kept the factory
informed of events en route.
The log of Cobb's trip would make
interesting data for those who are
now doing their utmost to bring about
a nationalized, improved highway sys
tem. For days the Cleveland struggled
through mud, deep sand and over
mountain trails.
After his speedometer recorded 845
miles at Clinton, la., Cobb wired the
factory: "Gasoline average 16 miles
per gallon; road conditions unusually
bad. Car has remarkable power on
high. Riding cannot be surpassed."
Again Cobb wired from Salt Lake
Clty his chief complaint being that
the roads were nearly impassable. He
also stated that he was maintaining
his average of 16 miles to a gallon
of gasoline aver the extremely bad
roads encountered, and added: "Cleve
land six has withstood all this abuse
without once wavering."
Leaving Salt Lake, Cobb started
over what is known to transconti
nental tourists as about the worst
stretch In the United States that sec
tion of desert and mountains between
Salt Lake and Carson City, Nev. Here
the motorist battles with the desert,
spreads out canvas strips over the
sand to get traction. Is continually
concerned over the prospect of a boil
ing radiator and suffers himself from
the relentless sun and the white heat
of the desert. Scarcely has the car
passed the terrors of the desert near
the Nevada line than he begins to
climb over or drive around mountain
range " after mountain range, and
these are encountered with disheart
ening frequency until Carson City,
Nev., close to the California line, is
reached.
However, Cobb detailed little Of
these conditions in his dispatches. In
stead, at the end of the trip, he wired
tion for his literary work. His pre
vious Hudsons gave him perfect satisfaction.
CAR KEEPS PHDNE WIRE OP
DORT USED FOR ADVENTURE
IN SNOW DRIFTS. 1
tfOGLEB FEARS RAILROADS
MOTOR TRUCK CONSTRUCTION
TO BE FOUGHT, HE SAYS.
Dealer Cites Suit by Nevada Road
to Stop Hauling of Freight
by Truck Lines.
Long-Distance Service Maintained
Between Portland and Salem
Through Car's Aid.
Hqw an automobile saved the day
for the Pacific long distance tele
phone between Portland and Salem is
told by J. W. Jones, Dort dealer at
Salem.
The blizzard had played havoc with
the wires, no phone connection being
possible. The Salem manager of the
telephone company had made three
attempts to get his repair men out
but each time the snow was too much
for his car. Otto Buff, service man
for Jones, took a 1920 model Dort
with two linemen and about 200
pounds of wire and repair equipment
and made the trip to Woodburn.
It was a case of blazing a trail
through deep snow drifts, in some
places more than two feet deep. No
speed laws were broken, despite the
fact that motorcycle officers were
hugging the fireside at that time. It
took two hours to make the 18 miles
and three sets of chains were com
pletely worn out on the drive.
The Dort plowed through the snow
without a mishap, the linemen re
paired the wire and long-distance ser
vice was maintained between Port
land and Salem.
F. W. Vogler, president of the
Northwest Auto company, forsees a
possibility that the railroads will at
tempt to put a crimp in the hauling
of freight by motor truck after the
rail lines return to private owner
ship. He bases his belief on the fact
that in California legislation is pend
ing that, if adopted, would seriously
handicap, or entirely eliminate the
carrying of freight by motor truck.
In Nevada, moreover, declares M,-.
Vogler, the Virginia & Truckee rail
way has brought suit against Ginoc
chlo Brothers, who operate a fleet
of freight trucks in competition with
the railroad. If the Nevada rail
road wins, he believes railroads in
other states will also bring suits.
"On the outcome of this suit," says
Mr. Vogler, "will depend to large
extent, whether the people will have
the right to use the public roads,
which their millions have constructed,
for their benefit and convenience as
they see fit, or whether, through
onerous legislation fathered by the
railroads the use of the most modern
and efficient methods of transporta
tion, thatTOf motor trucks, shall be
so hampered and stifled as to be put
out of business.
"Vested rights is one of the rail
road contentions to the exclusive
privilege of carrying freight. They
were given the right years ago to
haul freight and claim that competi
tion should not be permitted.
"Impairment of invested capital is
another defence of the railroads. The
Nevada railroad contends that the
truck company should be compelled to
establish and maintain freight and
passenger stations as the railroads
are compelled to do so."
NEW ROAD INTO ABERDEEN
Gateway Rebuilt at $125,000 Cost
Is Now Ready.
TWITMYER TAKES NEW POST
Peerless Official Goes to Plant of
New Stevens-Duryea.
NEW YORK. Dec. 20. Following
closely on the culmination of far
reaching plans for expansion, Stevens-Duryea
announced the appoint
ment of George E. Twitmyer as gen
eral sales manager. Mr. Twitmyer
Is well known In the motorcar Indus
try through his long services with
the Peerless Motor Car Co. He took
up his new duties December 1.
ABERDEEN, Dec' 20. (Special.)
Completion of the east end entrance
to Aberdeen on the Pacific highway
will mean much to the cities of the
harbor as the road is the main high
way from the east end of the county
and from the country towards the
sound. The rebuilding of the road
has meant roundabout traffic and
considerable loss to the harbor cities
of valuable trade. The cost of the
improvement will be $125,000, which
was provided for by voting of bonds.
The road will also be valuable in pro
viding for late traffic from Monte
sano during the trials of the I. W. W.,
which will overtax the hotels of the
county seat. The overflow must come
to Aberdeen by the east side viaduct.
Another old story repeating itself
This is the way ship-by-truck advo
cates characterize the opposition de
veloping in some quarters to the use
of highways by the motor truck. This
opposition cloaks itself most often.
they say, In the assertion that heavy
traffic will break up roads which
have been laid at great expense. Re
plying to- this contention, the shio-
by-truck advocates point out that the
manufacturing engineers have seen
to it, for the sake of road protection.
that the size of a truck tire and It
road surface contact shall increase
with the capacity of the truck. No
injury is done to the road, they as
sert, so long as the truck Is not over
loaded.
They point out that every great ad
vancement or improvement which his
tory aiscioses nas had to buck up
against vigorous opposition, but that
Inevitably progress wins.
They bring forward the fact that
when the first important English rail
road was being considered by the par
liament or tnat country strenuous
objections were made against tb
granting of the charter. It was al
leged that the introduction of the
railroad would destroy the value of
landed estates, that It, would disturb
game, that the Bmoke of the locomo
tives would blight vegetation, that
hens would cease to lay. that the
value of real estate In the vicinity of
railway stations would be depresses
that it would be extremely dangerous
to ride at the terrific rate of 30 miles
an hour, and that, in general, it wou
be much better for the people if they
would be content to ride in stage
coaches and canal boats.
"When the first German railroad
was being considered, so much oppo
sition was developed that the question
of the influence of travel on It was
submitted to a distinguished medical
authority," writes F. A. Cannon,
executive secretary of the Good Roads
association of Wisconsin. "This gen
tleman after due consideration sub
mitted a report In which he expressed
it as his opinion that the probable ef
fect of railway travel would be ex
tremely deleterious to the health of
those who look on as well as ride in
moving trains.
"The disease which he believed the
introduction of the railroad would
spread he designated by the term
delirum furiosum. He thought that if
people would Me foolhardy enough to
ride in cars they might be deserving
of little pity if they should contract
this terrible disease, but, in his Judg
ment, it was the duty of the state to
protect the onlookers, and, with a
view to affording this protection, he
recommended th construction of a
high and closely fitting fence on both
sides of the track.
"The Illustration is particularly
pertinent as showing how this means
of transportation, the railroad, which
Is today absolutely necessary to hu
man life, one might say, was in the
beginning opposed. But how the
march of progress has changed
events.
"Applied to the opposition to the
motor truck, this illustration of the
changing attitude of mind invites the
prophecy that throughout the country
this vehicle, at an early date, will be
the common means of transportation
for the short haul.
Necessity is the mother of inven
tion, and the inability of the railroads
to care for traffic and their unweildi
ness and the fixity of their range
have made inevitable the development
of this new means of transportation.
Don't let the weight rest on a de
flated tire. Jack up the wheel or
remove the tire.
Motor Truck Not Limited.
"The range of transportation of the
railroad is fixed by steel rails. The
range of transportation of the motor
truck follows the highways, and the
highways interlace the whole country.
The case of Wisconsin is an illus
tration. The railroad mileage in this
state is 12,000 miles. The public high
way mileage is 77,000 miles. The
gaps between the producers on these
77,000 miles and the stations on the
12.000 miles must be filled up, and the
motor truck is the means of filling
these gaps.
E. . Farr, chief of the Firestone
ship-by-truck bureau at Akron. Ohio
declares that already the motor truck
is beginning to revolutionize trans
portation methods.
"Objection to It on the assumption
that it breaks up the Improved roa
The Season's Finest Closed Cars
Five-Passenger Sedan
Four-Passenger Coupe
THE new Mitchell closed cars are the
season's most impressive offerings.
They were designed to establish new
standards in all-season cars qualities
which only the Mitchell offers.
Never before have comparable bodies
been offered on other than extremely
high-priced cars.
There is unusually sturdy construction.
The frames are of rock maple and white
ash. The joints are re-inforced. Corner
and door posts are solid. Metal panels
cover the entire surface of body and
doors. All panel joints are welded.
Unusual Comfort and Beauty
Head room is ample but clever propor
tioning gives a low, rakish look. Seats
are as wide and deep and leg room as
great as in the touring car.
Upholstery is highest grade velour in
a soft gray tone with silk curtains and a
high-pile Wilton rug to match. Lights,
as well as other fitments, are of oxidized
silver in a delicately chased design.
But a few of the numberless items of
distinction can be mentioned here. You
must see these cars to. appreciate the
lengths to which Mitchell builders have
gone in developing elegance and quality.
These splendid bodies are mounted on
the new Mitchell Victory Chassis. A
truly remarkable car is the result a car
we urge you to investigate.
You'll find these new-type Sixes better
in scores of ways. Over two years have
been spent by Mitchell engineers in re
vising Light Six standards. May we be
given the opportunity to show you these
betterments?
S-Passenger Tomrtng Car S1&90
M20-Incn W(w..? 40 h. p. Motor
3-Passenger Ruaaster. same prior
S-Pas.
4-Pas.
Sedan S2HOO
Coupe S2SOO
7-Passrnger Totting Car SIS7S
127-Inch WheeUtase48 n. p. Motor
AM Prices 1. o. o. Factory
MITCHELL MOTORS COMPANY, Inc., Racine, Wisconsin
Mitchell, Lewis & Staver Co.
BROADWAY AT OAK
q:
can hardly be taken seriously," he
writes, "since its wheels have air
cushions or solid rubber road pro
tectors that make it no more liable to
damage the highway than is the
heavy passenger car.
Even IT utilization of the high
ways by the motor truck should re
sult in Increased road maintenance
charges, the community served by the
motor truck could afford to pay extra
for keeping up its roads. Those who
pay these charges will benefit a hundred-fold
in added contentment ano
prosperity through the service the
trucks afford."
BONUS GIVEN TO EMPLOYES
William I.. Hughson Company Re
members All With Check.
Portland employes of the William
L. Hughson- company were surprised
last Tuesday night, when -Manager
Del Wright handed each and every
one of them a check for a substan
tial bonus on their year's wages. The
William I Hughson company has
done a large year's business, and this
method of rewarding employes for
thglr part in making the programme
possible was taken by direction of
Mr. Hughson. whose headquarters are
In San Francisco. The bonus applied
to all six branches of the company.
A bonus also was given last year.
Mote Closed Cars Planned.
KOKOMO. Ind., Doc. 20. Fifty per
cent of the automobiles produced next
year by the Haynes Automobile com
pany, Kokomo, Ind., will be closed
styles, according to plans recently an
nounced. The other 50 per cent will b
open models.
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j Automobile Accessories
MiiiiimuniiiimiiiiitmimiMiimimn
We have a complete stock of
high-grade automobile acces
sories, acceptable Christmas
gifts for your friend the autoist.
At Your Service,
ARCHER and WIGGINS
.TlllinilillHIHItUIIIIHIIfniMllllllltlll'MllltlllHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIUHllllllillHIIII
Sixth Street at Oak
lllllinilMllllllllllllllHIIIIHIIIIIHlinililimiMtHIIIIIIItHUIllilMIHtllHHIIIIIIir
1
s Rain Out
Aw:i vXVxfv dressing
Keep
You don't have to suffer the inconven
ience and humiliation of driving with a
leaky mohair top.
You can make the old top absolutely
waterproof by applying
Waterproof
Mohair Top Dressing
Also improves the appearance many fold by
dyeing- the top a uniform black that stays black.
Leaves material soft and pliable. Won't streak,
gum or rub off.
Get it from your dealer in cans Pints, $ .75;
Quarts, $1.25; Half Gals., $2.35; Gala., $4.50.
For renewing leather and imitation leather
tops, curtains and cushions, use
Leath-r-nu
Dries in fifteen minutes a rich, lustrous black.
Does not stiffen material. Unaffected by heat,
cold, water or gasoline. Also fine for touching
up body, fenders, traveling bags, kodaks,' etc
At your dealer s in cans Half Pints, $ .50;
Pints, $ .90; Quarts, $1.50; Half Gals.,
$2.75; Gals., $5.00
If jour dealer ham 't these ivonderful prod
ucts, let us tno-w, and tue tvili see that
you are supplied.
Nu-Back Mfg. Co . Dept.
1 14 N. Commercial St.
St. Louis, Mo.
YOUR car drives up hill easier coasts
farther rides more smoothly always
on Portage Cord Tires.
Portage Daisy Tread Cords on the rear
wheels and Portage Ribbed Cords forward
make a combination for endurance and
speed you will appreciate. And they will
materially reduce your gasoline consump
tion all of which means more value for
your money.
Ask us.
Pacific Tire & Supply Co.
331 Burnside Street
Portland, Oregon
Portagelires
3
ii
All
Oversize
DIAMOND
X
-the
nation s
freight
car
Ask
J as. B. Jones
567 East' Pine St.
What he thinks of
Diamond T Trucks
and Service.
Diamond T Truck Sales Agency
89-91 NORTH NINTH ST.
PHONE BROADWAY 476