TIIE . SUNDAY OREGONIAN, PORTLAND, JANUARY 23, 1920
DR VERS
UGENSED
UNDER LATEST LAW
Each Motorist Must Step Up
and Get His Card.
FEE 25 CENTS PER YEAR
ESSEX ESTABLISHING WORLD'S LONG DISTANCE ENDURANCE MARK.
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Law Supposed to Help Prevent Ac-
' detente, but Provides Xo Ei
anxln aton for Drivers.
There is a wide diversity of opinion
as to the true merits or the bill passed
at the special session requiring the
licensing: of all persons who drive
automobiles. While many assert that
the newly enacted law will play a big
part In curbing the ever-increasing
number' of automobile accidents,
others are just as strong In the be
lief that the main benefit to be
derived from the law is the additional
revenue of about $25,000 which will
ai-rrun to the state highway fund.
The bill was framed in Portland
and born of a desire to prevent care
less and reckless driving, and to out
ward intents and purposes will -give.
peace officers a closer check on ail
persona who drive macnines.
As a matter of fact, close examl
nation of the bill shows that it can
be ot real benefit if the . secretary
of state, who Is delegated to admin
lster the law. hews closely to the
line, but that If the least leniency
is shown, there can be no hope of
reducing the number of accidents.
Bis Examination la Required.
Briefly, the law provides that every
Ternon who operates a motor vehicle
in Oreson must be registered and li
censed. The bill requires no qualifi
cation to show that such a driver is
competent, other than he or she must
have had at least five days' experi
ence and must be physically and man
ijiMv sound. No examination is re
quired. Moreover, the secretary of
state is empowered to grant special
licenses to persons with, oui one arm
or one eye, or who might be other
wise maimed, if in his opinion sucb
person Is capable of driving a motor
car. Undir no condition, can a li
cense be given to a person, under 16
years of age. -
The law further provides that the
secretary of state may. In his Judg
ment, revoke the license f any such
operator. There is no provision as to
how many times an operator must be
arrested or convicted, or of how reck
less or careless the operator may be
proved to be. This part of the law
is left entirely to the discretion of
the secretary of state, and he is to be
the sole judge. A man could out
Sorenson Sorenson, and get away with
it, if the secretary were unable to
resist pressure of influential friends.
Another provision is that the driver
cf a motor car must give a definite
eignal as to whether he is to go
ahead, come to a stop or make a turn,
and the blame, in case of accident, is
placed on the leading machine. Tet
the kind of signal is not specified.
This is the sole provision of the bill
which attempts to reduce accidents.
Fee. as Cents a "If ear.
As originally drafted and present
ed to the legislature the bill provid
ed that a license fee of $1 should be
paid by all persons operating a mo
tor car. This license fee later was
Teduced to 25 cents and the bill was
passed and made a law with the fee
remaining at this amount. The law
becomes effective on July 1. Every
person in Oregon who drives a motor
car must have procured a license by
that date.
Sam A. Kozer, deputy secretary of
ci at u now rjreoaring a form of li
cense which he will have printed and
reariv for distribution in ample time
before the law becomes enecuve. me
license card will be of about the same
size as the draft registration card and,
can be easily carried in a card case.
The names of each such licensed oper
ator, together with age, place of resi
dence and general physical descrip
tion must be affixed to the card.
Under the present law. the state
may revoke the automobile license of
any driver who is found to be an
habitual violator of state or city traf
fic laws, while it likewise provides
sufficient fines and Jail sentences for
such violators, if the courts would
stand firm in imposing the penalties
now provided.
The new law to license operators
does not provide any form of punish
rue-nt except for failure to procure a
license, although those favoring the
measure eay it will give peace offi
cers an opportunity to keep a much
closer check on all persons who oper
ate motor cars.
till CJiance for tbe Sokdmm.
It is possible that the new law may
assist in keeping down accidents, and
if it does none will say that the small
license fee of 25 cents is excessive.
But there have been other laws on
th statute books for years which
provide heavy jail sentences for reck
less drivers, yet the number of acci
dents has increased, not decreased, in
1 hft nnst vear or two.
If the legislature had provided for
an examination of all operators to in-
siita thev are capable of handling a
motor car before beincr granted a li
rense. the law might do that for
which it is intended. But the require
merit of five days" experience means
little or nothing at all.
In this connection a "learner's'
temporary license Is also provided for
as a part of the measure. II an ex
perlenced operator desires to drive i
machine he takes out a temporary
learner's" license which he carries
for the five days before applying for
the resrular license.
Oreson in the present year will li
cense something over 100.000 motor
vehicles, and will add approximately
J2&.000 to the highway fund through
the operators' licenses. But of this
' amount, approximately $10,000 must
be f-pent annually in administrative
costs. The secretary of Ktate is au
thorized to employ three field agents
at a monthly salary of $150 to assist
in enforcing the act, while the cost of
the licenses, together wilh additional
administrative costs in the secretary
of state's office will add to the total.
Senate for Candy Gas.
The law may possibly do some good.
Tt was this possibility which inspired
some of the more skeptical law
makers to vote for its passage.
The legislature, however, slipped nn
when it killed the bill providing for
a repeal of the "131 9 act. which re
quired a specific gravity test on, all
gasoline shipped into or sold in the
state of Oregon. As a result. Oregon
motorists must pay 1U cents a gal
Ion more for gascline not a. bit bet
ter than that sold in other states.
The fault for this costly faux pas is
the senate's, for the house passed the
measure killing the antiquated old
law. only to have some senate con
eervatives come to bat for the extra
114 cents charge.
Spring Shackles.
Co not neglect the7 lubrication of
the spring shackles. Rust often clogs
no the small vents and keeps out th
oil. By using common kerosene oc
easionally Uiese boles will be kept
I - ; t , ; K w
l i , , ,- s 4JUstaS- s.w
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Essex Sets World 24-Hour
Road Mark of 1061 Mil
Unmatched Endurance Proof Made by Stock
Essex Over Snow-Swept Iowa Dirt Roads
Doesn 't It Settle the
FIRST PICTURES OF CAR THAT MADE HKMARKABIK HI'V OF 303T M1I.ES I BO HOURS UNDER A. A. A.
. , SUPERVISION, ON CISCIXNATI SPEEDWAY.
In the first official test ever made of a car driven at top speed for 50 hours! an Essex stock chassis recently set
a new world's mark at the Cincinnati speedway of 3037 miles in 50 hours, with the temperature most of the time
below freezing. The same Essex actually traveled 5870 miles in 94 hours 22 minutes driving time. The reason for
this was that "on the first attempt a blinding snow storm forced the car to stop at the end of 27 hours 58 min
utes In the 1790th mile. A second start was made three days later, but this time a pouring rain caused the A. A. A.
officials In charge to stop the car again after it had run 16 hours 25 minutes, and covered 1042 miles. The next
day the weather cleared, another start was made, and this time the car ran the desired 50 hours without hindrance
from the weather. The car in this 50-hour run covered at a speed of more than 60 miles per hour a distance greater
than that traveled by the average automobile in a year's time. The speed maintained throughout the' run is
equaled only by the fastest express trains, and then only for short stretches. The Essex used was a stock chassis
under the constant observation of the American Automobile association. The upper picture ehows the car Just
before the start. The lower picture is a snapshot of it on the Cincinnati speedway.
OLD RAIL GRADE 15 USED
IiLVCOLX HIGHWAY ROUTE I3i
WYOMCfG READT-SIADE.
Advantage Taken of Early Ixcation
of Union Pacific Railroad,
Since Abandoned.
all-year road which will not be
blocked by snow in the winter or af
fected by heavy rains. Every effort
Is being made to eliminate as far as
possible all grade crossings within the
state, and it is hoped that by the end
of next year there will be but eight
grade crossings remaining on the Lin
coln highway in the state. Eight
crossings in 450 miles is considered
as safe a .route as that provided by
any equal distance on the Lincoln
highway.
FLEET IS SELECTED
CHEYENNE, Wyo.. Jan. 24. At the
close of the present year construc
tion totaling close to $50,000 will have
been planned and largely accom
plished on the Lincoln highway since
March 1 last, upon which date the
state highway department as now op
erating was created by the- legisla
ture. This record is considered re
markable by those who have carefully
considered conditions along the route
and especially in the western counties
of the state, where for many miles
the highway traverses practically a
desert. At least another half million
will be expended upon the Lincoln
highway in 1920 as tentative plans
are now in preparation for additional
extensive improvements on all sections.
In Laramie county arrangements
are being made with officials of the
Union Pacific railroad for construc
tion of two under-crossings at dan
gerous points where the highway
crosses the right or way. .
Completion of the telephone canyon
road in Albany county from the east
of Laramie city limits has just been
accomplished. The section just com
pleted and the one now under con
struction will provide one of the fin
est stretches of road along the entire
highway between Chicago and Salt
Lake City, as this section is on the old
Union Pacific railroad grade and is
entirely of graveL
In Sweetwater county extensive im
provements are planned for next year,
not only the entire desert section be
tween Tipton and Point of Rocks, but
the section west of Green Kiver, now
in bad condition, also will be rebuilt.
The new road will proceed north
from Green River for a distance of
about four miles and then turn west.
crossing .the Union Pacific railroad;
near Bryan, which will be the last
crossing of the Union Pacific for west
bound traffic in Wyoming.
The new relocation provides for an
TRUCK SAVED ENGLAND
RAILROAD. STRIKE FAILED TO
STARVE OCT XATIOX.'
ACASOX
Contractor on Big Job Picks One
Truck "With Good Head. !
What is said to be the largest indi
vidual truck fleet order ever placed
in the south has been accepted by th"e
Acason Motor Truck company of De
troit, which has the contract for fur
nishing a fleet of trucks to the At
lantic Salvage company, a concern en
gaged in purchasing and salvaging
southern army camps and equipment
from the war department.
J. C. Bonner of the Bonner-Acason
company, Newport Jews, v a., nego
tiated! the contract.
The fleet will be known as the
"Yellow Fleet" and will be in service
wherever the Atlantic Salvage com
pany operates. The fleet will be com
posed of a large number of Acason
trucks of 2 tons capacity. The per
formance of Acason trucks in gov
ernment service ana at tne aog lsiana
shipyard was a big factor in the se
lection of trucks to be used by the
Atlantic Salvage company.
GOODXEAR PROSPERS SORTH
Reason Was Good Roads and Sub
stitution of Motor Trucks
for Railroad Trains.
as an example of what motor
trucks can do, one finds food for
thought in the fact that motor trucks
broke the back of the recent British
rail tie-up." says F. M. Leeston-Smlth.
manager of the Oregon Motor Car
company, local distributors of Master
trucks. "An expression from Lord
Northcliffe says 'the motor truck is
at least th equal in efficiency of the
locomotive and the cars that travel
along fixed rails.'
"During the British strike the motor
truck made possible on the wonderful
English road system the delivery of
foodstuffs and products without
which the population of the cities and
commercial centers would have
starved and all the wheels of industry
in England have become clogged. The
Already driven more than 12,000 miles,
an Essex stock touring car has established
a new world 24-hour mark of 1061 toaM
miles, over frozen, snow-bound, dirt roads
of Eastern Iowa.
Not a stop was made for repairs or ad
justments. Running day and night, Essex
completed the gruelling test without a halt
except for fuel and oil. Not even a tire
change was made.
The average speed was 473 miles per hour.
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Essex Also Holds the
World's 50-Hour Mark
An Essex stock chassis also holds the
world's 50-hour endurance mark of 3037
miles, made under A. A. A. supervision,
on the Cincinnati speedway.
In three starts, the same Essex ran a total
of 5870 miles in 94 hours, 22 minutes,
actual driving time, averaging more than a
mile a minute.
Light Car Question?
Prior to Essex, light weight in an eutr
mobile meant principally moderate price
and perhaps gasoline and oil economy.
Light cars had no distinction of speed ox
power. Buyers did not expect fine appeaw
ance and performance. .
The coming of the Essex changed thatbj
It brought fine car quality, speed, power and
endurance to the light car field. Its per4
formance was matched only in the largq
costly car class.
Is it any wonder that Essex has made eft
world's sales record of more than $35,000,-
000 paid for 22,000 Essex cars, in its first
year?
ye are already booking orders for spring
delivery. There is no possibility that all
buyers can be served. Now is the- time to,
make your reservation.
C. L Bess Automobile Co.
615-617 Washington St.. Portland
-
problem of transportation is not con-
cerned with such huge distances as
those of America. The distance over
which products must be hauled is
seldom more than 200 miles in Eng
land. "However, it is for hauls up to 200
miles that truck adherents have
championed American motor trucks
as competitors of railroad transporta
tion. America had an illustration of
the value of motor trucks as an auxil
iary to the railroads when war sup
plies had right of way to the exclus
ion of everything except the most
necessary freight.
"Secretary of War Baker had a tab
ulation made recently of available
trucks that might be pressed into
service if the coal strike became suf
ficiently acute to tie up rail service
completely. This shows wnat tne gov
eminent thinks of motor transporta
tion. Too few persons realize the
actual value of the truck. Lord
Northcliffe says:
" 'Labor was defeated In the strike
because most of the men directing
it were Just average men. They did
not realize the power and potential
ities of motor trucks, nor. did they
consider the finely roaded country
within the confines of Great Britain.'
"When the people of this country
begin to realize that motor trucks
are no longer in the experimental
stage, that they not only are the
equals of the railways for short haul
freight and express, but their supe
rinr then we may expect a much more
rapid expansion of motor truck ex
i.r9 und freight lines. Moreover.
when Mr roads are compared to those
r pnlTirt we may expect this
growth in motor truck freighting and
expressing to come automatically."
out of his way to
Canadian Company Increases Its
Capital Stock.
The statement that the rubber tire
industry is still in its infancy, despite
the numerous large factories now
turning out millions of tires each
year, gets added weight from the
announcement that the Goodyear Tire
& Rubber company, Ltd., of Canada,
will increase its capital stock from
$3,000,000 to $30,000,000, the present
preferred stock to be retired, learn
ings have grown from $91,070 to $111,
976,349 yearly. Flans for big exten
sions are being made at the Akron
and Los Angeles plants of the com
pany, -v
Simon's Dept. Store
!- v have added another ; . -
I GMC Truck
B ' ' to their fleet. ' Q
Another Truck-Owner Is
Convinced of GMC Quality,
Wentworth-Irwin, Inc.
9
Second St- Cor. Taylor, Portland, Oreeon
E
ANNOUNCING A
TRUSTWORTHY
TIR
oarney Oldfield
Fabrics Cords
After seven months of continuous selling BARNEY OLDFIELD
TIRES in Northern Oregon and Southern Washington, we are
now announcing to the tire-buying public that these tires are
unexcelled.
WE KNOW TIRES Selling tires has been our business for a
long time. We didn't rush into print telling you the qualities of
tliis tire until we had fully convinced ourselves that there was not
a finer tire on the market.
Moderate in Price, Splendid in Appearance,
- Superior in Quality
Ask your dealer for a BARNEY OLDFIELD If he cannot
supply you, see
FLETCHER & JAMES
Dealers Solicited in
Unoccupied Territory
Distributors
410 Burnside St,
Portland, Or.
i 1 " "
i If a man poes
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.
1(4
11
pick up the hat you l-st while driving
and returns it to yu. don't thank,
him. He will iot be expecting it, and
it mlgrht Jar his faith in mankind.
r-V--:
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F1
PERFORMANCE COUNTS
Transportation
Is Essential to
Business
The demand upon transportation. will
be greater during the New Year than
ever before in history not even except
ing 1918.
Are you equipped to meet this de
mand? If you, are not properly pre
pared, there is no question but that you
wall handicap your industry.
Your competitors are awake. They
have learned the advantage of highway
transport as represented by the motor
truck.
Mack Trucks
the Solution
By equipping 'with MACK trucks you can
safeguard your interests against possible
stagnation. You will be independent of rail
roads. Your trucks should be MACKS, because
MACKS are of proven quality. The MACK
of 1920 will be the same as the MACK of
1919, as the MACK of 1918 and 'previous
years. You run no chance of the truck be
coming antiquated. This will protect you in
building up a standardized truck fleet. It
insures your investment.
Macks Are in Six Sizes
Mack-International
Motor Truck
Corporation
Tenth and Davis Streets
Broadway 691
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