THE SUNDAY OREGOXIAN. PORTLAND, DECEMBER 28. 1919.
5
HARD-BOILED TRUCK
DRIVERS IN SOUTH
Robert E. Smith Relates Cali
fornia Impressions.
PILOTS HOG WHOLE ROAD
Former Executive of Liberty Loan
Says Oregon Should Profit and
" Build Wider Highways.
There is tremendous tourist traffic
in California. In motoring from San
Francisco to the Imperial valley by
way of the coast route and returning
by way of the valley route, recently,
Sirs. Smith and I found a continuous
string of automobiles with license
plates from practically every state In
the Union. On the coast route sev
eral of the unpaved stretches are now
paved or are in process of improve
ment. There are about a half dozen
detours, but most of these detours are
in good shape. In fact, we were not
compelled to use chains on the entire
trip, and within the next few weeks
the paving will be completed, and
there will be no detours unless it be
one at Orcutt, Cal., where they have
Just begun the improvements.
All the coast route is now paved,
with the exception of Qaviota pass,
about 30 miles north of Santa Bar
bara. Here there is an 18-mile stretch
of detour, but most of it is graveled
The road from San Diego into the
Imperial valley Is in very fair shape,
and by next year it will be entirely
paved. The Spreckels railroad, run
ning from San Diego to the Imperial
valley, has been completed, and trains
are now operating on it. It is the
crpokedest and one of the most scenic
railroads in the United States.
The valley route from Los Angeles
to San Francisco i3 getting pretty
rouBh'. This has been occasioned par
ticularly by tHfe use of heavy trucks
during warm weather. Oregon will
be millions of dollars ahead if it will
profit by the experience of California
and make stringent regulations for
truck loads and width of tires.
Truck Driven Hard-Boiled.
The false economy of building nar
row paving is demonstrated on the
valley highway. North of Bakersfield
these stretches of narrow paving have
been widened out, but is a more or
less unsatisfactory job, as the edge
of the paving was broken down ey
heavy trucks.
Truck drivers on California high
ways are vicious in their treatment
of automobilists. It is nothing to be
crowded off the paving, and when you
undertake to pass one of these trucks,
as a rule they refuse to give you any
road at ell. There Is, however, a
gravel stretch from four to eight feet
wide on either side of the highway,
so it is possible to pass trucks with
considerable ease, although they ram
ble along at from 20 to 30 miles an
hour. The California highway per
mits a speed of 35 miles an hour,
though you are required to slow up
at cross roads or in meeting vehicles
traveling in the opposite direction. If
you stop for any reason you must get
completely off the paving, your inside
wheel not being permitted to be with
in 18 inches of the paving.
The Ridge road, running north from
Saugus for 55 miles. Is now completed.
It is a wonderful piece of engineering.
It crosses the Tejon pass on an easy
grade but an elevation of 5000 feet
is reached. Although it is extremely
crooked, the sides of the cuts are cut
back so as to make the far end of
the curves visible. In California they
call them daylight curves. A tremen
dous amount of money has been ex
pended in this way, but they make au
tomoblllng safe, as you do not have
to hug the Inside of the curve so
closely, and by being able to see a
considerable distance ahead are able
to maintain a fair rate of speed on
the grades.
Just north of this crooked stretch
of road there is a stretch of 30 miles
with but one jog. This Is on the
Mojave desert just south of Bakers
field. Jay Walkers In Los Angeles.
I think Los Angeles has a greater
disregard for traffic regulations than
any other pity I have ever been in.
Automobiles turn around in the mid
dle of a block, people jay walk every
where and the man on your left takes
just as many liberties with the right
of way as the man on your right.
The streets are full of people, who
pay absolutely no attention to keep
ing to the right side of the side
walk. In fact, they spend most of
their time looking in store windows
and "parking" themselves on every
street corner, until the sidewalks
are almost Impassable. A boy selling
mechanical tin monkeys on a string,
or a blind man playing a phonograph
will attract crowds of hundreds of
people.
The hotels all through uanrornia
are crowded to the limit. Fortunately
we wired ahead for reservations, so
had no trouble, except one night
when we stopped at four different
towns and were unable to find a bed
in any until finally a good woman
took pity on us and took us up to her
house.
California has a better system of
turning signals than Oregon. In
turning to the right the driver in sig
nailing from the left side of car
crooks the arm upward from the el
bow. If turning to left he' crooks the
arm downward. If stopping, the arm
Is held horizontal.
California has it on us on roads
and perhaps a few of the southern
coast towns have a better climate,
but house yards generally are with
out flowers, they have no real holly,
and they make lemon pie with crust
on the top instead of' a meringue.
And they have to come to Oregon for
apples, Christmas trees and nine-foot
sheets.
If you are going to California, here
are some things to remember:
Triangnlar Siena Official.
Speed limit is 35 miles per hour ex
cept at intersections and when pass
ing vehicles moving in the opposite
direction. Pay no attention to signs,
excepting the official highway signs,
which are triangular in shape. On ap
proaching a town you will first find
a green triangular sign reading, "City
Limits 20 Miles." Later you will find
a red triangular sign reading, "Con
gested District 15 Miles."
Many towns still have standing
their old signs, but motorists should
pay no attention to any sign unless
it is a triangular one. Signs reading
"Slow School Children" refer to the
rate of speed of the automobile and
not to the character or the intelli
gence of the pupils. In turning to
the right, signal by crooking the arm
upward from the elbow. In turning
to the left, drop the arm from the
elbow. In stopping, hold arm hori
zontal, the same signals as required
by Portland city ordinance, but not
observed.
If you have to stop on the highway
for any reason, car must be entirely
off the paving, your inside wheels at
least 18 inches from the edge of the
pavement. All towns have warts at
intersections. Be sure to turn to the
right of the wart or you will be in
trouble.
Look out for truck driverei they
are "hard-boiled eggs." You can pass
to the left of street cars when stand
ing, or eight feet to the right when
receiving or discharging passengers.
Look out for bumps on bridges on
the valley route north of Fresno. Tel
egraph for reservations in all Califor
nia towns at least two days in ad
vance. Gasoline ranges in nrlce from
21 to 23 cents. Parafine bust, mirin.
oil is 30 cents. Garage storage ranees
from 60 cents to $1 per night.
SQUEAKS OFTEN DI E TO RIMS
Owners Frequently Blame Rattles
to Loose Spokes.
Many automobile owners are aware
that something Is wrong when a rat
tle or loud squeak is emitted, by one
of the wheels. Quite often a loose
spoke is given as the cause, but In
90 per cent of the cases it is caused
by a loose rim, says Motor. The rim
when In this condition is permitted to
move over the felloe and the constant
slapping not only is offending but
more often gives indication of lack
of safety. If the rim is loose merely
because the lugs are not tight, it is
a simple matter to tighten them, but
if It Is caused by the lugs being worn
or the rim slightly oversize, it will
mean much work to keep the rim In
place for any length of time. The
FIRESTONE OFFERS
BUREAUS TO NATION
Data on Motor Transport of
Great Value.
MANY TRUCKS AVAILABLE
Expert Sees Lesson In Experience
of England, and Necessity of
Preparation Here Also.
AKROX. O., Dec. 27. Information
showing location, type and capacity of
practically every motor truck in the
United States has been made subject
to the call of the government in the
event railway freight service becomes
REO SPEED WAGON RUNS MACHINERY AT FACTORY DURING
COAL STRIKE.
The
Extends You
And Well Assure You That You Will Have One by Driving
MOON SIX
H. S. Co.
Happy New Year
99
Victory Model
This splendid post-war "Victory" model is the counterpart in
every essential of the best-known Moon Models. A special
Continental six-cylinder "Red Seal" engine makes it a
triumph in economy and scientific weight. The Moon Com
pany has never withheld the money necessary to obtain de
sired results.
Quality, Not Quantity
The smart individual appearance of the Moon "Victory"
model immediately places it in the class of the "custom built"
car. Moon models are known to set the styles for body build
ing. In the exterior finish, the interior tri-upholstering and
cushion work, the car testifies to careful manufacture by
men who strive for the niceties in motor car construction and
performance. Built by
Moon Motor Car Co.
St. Louis, Mo.
S.-60
The Sturdy Car
99
65 n. 23d st The C. H. S. Co.
Distributors
Mar. 1428
Built with the same specifications or foundation as its prede
cessor, but with more power, finer finish and many other
refined features.
Every operation in the manufacture of the Dixie 4 has been
highly specialized. Every unit is tested for strength and
service. Any falling short of the rigid Dixie standards are
rejected.
And back of the new Dixie was a fixed vision. It was our
purpose to build a car that the man of wealth would be proud
to own, and yet a car that the man of moderate means could
afford to buy and operate. We have obtained this unusual
combination in the new Dixie. Built by
The Kentucky Wagon Mfg. Co.
Louisville, Ky.
65 N. 23d St The C. H. S. CO. Mar. 3540
Distributors
LIGHT TRUCK MOTOR
OPERATES ALL,
SHAFTS,
MACHINES OX FOUR LINE
writer obtained fairly good results
for short periods by driving wooden
wedges between rim and wheel near
the points of lug attachment and also
by shimming the lugs. It is not like
ly that the rim will come off even if
the car is driven for hundreds of
miles, but the sound Is very annoying
and in the remote event that the
wheel receives excessive side thrust,
it may damage the rim permanently.
WOHWftYlSTRUCKMflRKET
GERMANS NOW ARE STROXGLY
AFTER BUSINESS.
Large Purchase of Acason Trucks
Made by Business Man
From Cliristlania.
Speculation has practically been
stopped in Norway and that country
is in the market for a big supply of
other countries' goods. That in sub
stance is what Q. Bergstrom, sales
manager for Rolf T. Bjerke of Chris
tinla, Norway, tells H. W. Acason,
president of the Acason Motor Truck
company, Detroit.
Mr. Bergstrom is in Detroit placing
large orders for American-made
eroods. One order for Acason motor
trucks alone calls for 100 models. Mr.
Bergstrom is also buying passenger
cars, light delivery trucks, tires and
automotive accessories.
"We need motor trucks," Mr. Berg
strom said. "The war showed Europe
their necessity, now there is a big
demand for them. We use them to
haul merchandise, carry timber out
of the woodland and as passenger
busses. No, we have not seen their
advantage on the farm as yet, but it
will come.
"England, France, Germany and
America have their salesmen in Nor
way. England and France cannot
make deliveries. We do not know
how they do it, but Germany is after
our business strong and is able to
make fair deliveries. There is a won
derful opportunity for America in
Norway. There will be competition
and if America wants this business
she must go after it and hold it when
she gets it,"
Mr. Bergstrom says that directly
following the war everybody was
speculating, there were big fortunes
made and lost; but now the govern
ment has stepped in and wild specu
lating is prohibited. This has helped
bring the country near to healthy
normal conditions.
Don't blame the tire if It "blows"
after standing idle in a warm garage
all winter. Tires don't thrive on a
hibernation diet of heat, oil and
grease.
60 curtailed for any reason as to
make it necessary, or desirable, to
supplement it with motor truck
service.
This information. now available
through lists on file in the largest
cities of the United States In which
it has branches, has been offered to
the federal fuel administrator and
to the director of railways by the
Firestone Shlp-by-Truck bureau, at
Akron, through F. Farr. director of
the bureau, who also has proffered
the services of the personnel of the
bureau in perfecting a supplemen
tary service whenever and wherever
it might -be required.
According to Mr. Farr, approxi
mately 400,000 medium and heavy
capacity motor trucks, with drivers,
could be pressed into an emergency
service. Included in the number are
those owned by 6000 operators reg
ularly engaged in city and intercity
hauling on fixed routes and sched
ules. Rail Strike Possibility.
"It is not outside the bounds of
possibility," said Mr. Farr, "that the
railroad men will strike and even
without this eventuality our gov
ernment ought to have a complete
record- of all supplementary transpor
tation systems. It might become
highly desirable for gasoline to shoul
der as much as possible of the freight
carrying burden, to reduce to a mini
mum the coal burning requirements
of the railroads so the needs of do
mestic users may be taken care of.
"England gave motor transport a
thorough test as a freight carrier
during the recent railroad workers'
strike. In fact, England's cities de
pended almost entirely on motor
transport for food necessities. How,
well the trucks succeeded in this big
Job Indicates in a way what they
might be expected to do in an emer
gency in this country.
"The big immediate problem Eng
land had to solve was the feeding
of London's 8,000,000 inhabitants, just
as the feeding of the people of our
larger cities would be the big prob
lem in this country. Towns and vil
lages are near enough to the source
of supply to take care of themselves
In a satisfactory manner.
"The trucks proved that London can
never have a serious food shortage
through lack of transportation so
long as the highways are kept open
to motor transport.
London's Food Suffered.
"London, It waa found, required
12,000 tons of food and 250,000 gal
Ions of milk dally. During the first
day of the strike about one-fourth
the necessary supply was delivered.
On the second day half a supply was
brought in. On the third day and
every day thereafter a full supply
was carried into the city. Because
of reserves to carry .the city through
the two days of organization, there
was no perceptible shortage of food
during the 10-day strike.
"One thousand trucks were used
in gathering the milk from the coun
try surrounding London. Altogether
23,000 trucks were employed In gath
ering and distributing food in the
districts affected by the tleup.
"Of course what was England's
problem presents only on a small
scale the problem that would be ours
if our cities had to depend entirely
on motor truck service for food sup
ply. But it is not probable we will
need more than to supplement the
railroad service. And we have more
than 10 times as many trucks as
England. In round numbers there are
800,000 commercial vehicles In the
United States. About half of these
probably could be turned Into effi
cient carriers of food In case of emer
gency. They could be of enormous
value."
GOODYEAR MEN PKOMOTEi)
Marshall Morris Assistant Sales
Chief of California Factory.
Recent promotions in the Goodyear
Tire & Rubber company will be of in
terest to the tire industry all over the
country. W. D. Schilts, former chair
man of the board of control, has been
made assistant secretary of the com
pany and Marshall E. Morris, man
ager of the sales department at Ak
ron, has been chosen assistant gen
eral sales manager of the new Cali
fornia Goodyear company. Mr. Schilts
advanced from stenographer to his
present position in Just 14 years after
he Joined the company, abandoning
the practice of law for a commercial
career. Mr. Morris Joined the com
pany In 1912 as head of the carriage
tire department, but his skill for or
ganization won him rapid promotion.
'Watch the Strainers.
In care having pressure feed and
using exhaust gases to obtain the
pressure, It is necessary to keep a
careful eye on the feed strainers and
other cleaners through which the
gas passes on its way to the tank.
The dirt accumulations In these
strainers are likely to be very heavy.
NEW USE FPU HEP TRUCK
SPEED WAGON KTJNS MACHIN
ERY AT BIG FACTORY.
Commercial Car Engine Handles
Big Overload When Coal Sup
ply Is Cut Off.
THERE ARE 316 APPLE BOXES ON THIS ONE AND ONE-HALF
TON SPECIAL ATTERBURY TRUCK.
i- i.i . ,W,i,in(i rn.i,,,,, i i , ' "
The fuel shortage which made it
necessary to shut down all the in
dustries of Michigan was responsi
ble for the discovery of a new use
for the Reo speed wagon. Practical
ly the entire Reo factory was closed,
the only departments remaining open
being those which did not require
power. It became necessary to use
the machines in the sheet metal de
partment and It was decided to re
place two 20-horsepower electric
motors by one speed wagon.
The speed wagon has an S. A. E.
rating of 27.23-horsepower, yet was
able to turn over all the machines
on four line shafts, which had pre
viously been run by the two motors.
Not only did the Reo truck provide
for the entire department, but it also
won praise from the workmen, who
declared that speed wagon power
was more dependable than was that
from electric motors.
The speed wagon was blocked up
under the main line shaft and belts
run from the rear wheels to the
drive pulley. The power was trans
mitted to the rear wheels of the truck
in the usual way.
Officials of the Reo plant derived
great satisfaction from the showing
of the truck and have decided to run
other departments using speed wagon
power, until such time as the city of
Lansing is able again to furnish
electricity. The sheet metal depart
ment presents an unusual problem, as
the machines, which consist of buf
fers, shearing machines and metal
hammers, work intermittently. At
one time the line shafts run almost
' idle and the next minute they have
a peak load.
The speed wagon was set to run at
J 20 miles per hour under an Idling
I load. It is noteworthy that at the
peak load the speedometer was
slowed down only one mile per hour.
The ability of the speed wagon
to furnish a steady source of power
is indicated from the fact that during
a working day of eight hours the
speedometer registered a distance of
1&4 miles. The speedometer is con
nected to the propeller shaft and
had the machine been going forward,
it would have fallen six miles short
of traveling 20 miles per hour for
eight hours. When these figures
were taken, the speed of the engine
was set early in the morning to in
dicate a speedometer speed of 20
miles per hour and at no time during
the day was the engine speeded up.
It is also interesting to note that
during the entire day,' when the
engine was developing 41 per cent
more power that its rating, it con
sumed but ten gallons of gasoline.
This was equivalent to 15 miles per
gallon, when the speed wagon Is car
rying an overload of 41 per cent.
Verdigris Remover.
The verdigris that forms on brass
may be removed by the following
treatment: Mix a good metal polish
in equal parts with wood alcohol.
Apply with a brush and allow to dry.
When dry rub with a clean cloth
and the verdigris will come off, too,
leaving a clean, smooth surface. After
this the brass may be polished in
the usual way.
AUTO
TOWING
i BOftP SOWCE
i ri i
These boxes are empty, but this same truck has been hauling- 170 fall boxes,
welshing 7365 pounds, nearly- roar tons, to the load. The truck Is oirned
by C K. Benton, orchardlst, of the Hood River valley, who bought It from
the Atterbnry Truck Sales company, through S. L. Stewart dealer at
Hood River.
The Garford Motor Track company, Lima, Ohio
Motor Trucks of all Capacities
Distributors and Service Stations in all principal cities.
Garford Trucks for Low
Cost Ton-Mile
An adequate stock of parts
USERS KNOW
Garford Oregon Motor Sales Co.
Eighth and Davis Sts.
State Distributors
Portland
Wholesale and Retail
Why We Are Distributors
of the
Eight
Standard
A Powerful
Car
I
T was" the practical certainty of Successful Business that
led to our selection of the Standard Eight as the car
that would best express our ideals of value, service and
permanence.
In the first place, the car itself is a Joy to drive.
Power that you never dreamed of performance that
as you describe it causes a look of skepticism flexibility
that makes you wonder why there is a gear-shift lever.
This Is the sort of car we have to sell and with it
Service backed by one of the largest industrial plants in
the world The Standard Steel Car Company of Pittsburg,
makers of world-famous steel railroad cars.
True to the principles that have made their success,
they are backing the Standard Eight to the limit.
Come with us and prove for yourself, with your foot on
the throttle, the splendid power and comfort of the Standard
Eight tested in the hills and mountains of Pennsylvania.
Lewis E. Obye Motors Co.
Distributors
BROADWAY AT COUCH
Phones Broadway 3327
Broadway 3308