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About The Sunday Oregonian. (Portland, Ore.) 1881-current | View Entire Issue (June 20, 1920)
tiie sxrrmAY oregotiax, foktlato, juste 20, 1020 TWO OF THE FAMOUS AUTOMOBILE RACING DRIVERS WHO WILL START IN THE TACOMA SPEEDWAY RACES JULY 5. .' EAST, IS OPTIMISTIC Tlorthwest Auto President Re ports Conditions Good. PRICES MOT COMING DOWN T. W. V$gler Declare There Will Bo Xo Drop Until Auto Mjikina; Costs Are Much lower. 4 yDBLER BACK FROM usa - - ft x - : ft at After a hurried trip to automobile factories whose lines his company represents, V. W. Vogler, president of the Northwest Auto company, re turned to Portland last week, bringing- word that conditions In the east are good and that automobile prices will not come down yet awhile. Costs of materials and labor continue high and automobile prices, he says, will cot come down while this is the case. "Industrial activity in the east is maintained at the same high peak," said Mr. Vogler. "Among manufac turers it is a mad rush to get raw material, get It to the factories by any means .and. paying- a high price for all kinds of labor, get it out to the consumer as fast as possible. These being the actual facts, the pub lic la only grasping at shadows in eocpecting lower prices in the near future. Reports of price reductions from the east have merely been created by merchants themselves, not Jay manufacturers. "This has been brought about by eorne merchants realizing that they -were carrying tremendous stocks and deciding to reduce them. To accom plish this they have been holding big fales, but as an indication of lower prices these are no more Indicative than a week-end sale by any of our local department stores. When they replace these stocks merchants have to pay the same prices as formerly, Po there is no valid reason for ex pecting a general reduction in living Oosla in the immediate future. Labor Still Hard to Get. "When automobile manufacturers fcre asked when prices are likely to come down they simply shrug their fhoulders and pass the question back ty asking when will wages come down. The whole situation hinges on that one item of wages, both as to agricultural products and manufac tured commodities. What farm help is available can only be obtained at high wages. It is just as difficult to Eet farm labor today as a year or two years ago and it costs the farmer just as much to plant his crops, har vest and transport them as it did for merly. Labor for industrial purposes Is on the same plane, so we are only ceiling on false hopes when we begin to count the weeks or months to the day of lower prices. "A statement that the federal re serve banks were refusing to accept automobile paper for discount from member banks gave rise to the belief this would soon force manufacturers to cut their prices to keep the indus try active. In talking with an offi cial of the national automobile cham ber of commerce I was informed that this statement was not true. It was reported as coming from the governor of the federal reserve bank at Kansas City, but the governor denies that he made any specific reference to auto mobile paper, his bulletin merely ask lns; the banks to use care in all loans. "As soon as this rumor reached of ficials of the national automobile chamber of commerce they got in conference witj the governor of the federal reserve board at Washington and' pointed out the disastrous effect any discrimination towards automo bile paper would have on the whole industrial structure of the country. Tha federal reserve board was more or less inclined to look upon the au tomobile industry as nonessential, due to the fact that during the war when the government was rationing Bteel to producers of war equipment and manufacturers of commodities for public use, automobiles were placed on the nonessential list. Bankers Overlooked Fact. "But the bankers overlooked the fact that there is a vast difference between conditions now and then. At that time automobile manufacturers were turning their factories into mu nitions plants, thereby providing em ployment for all the labor available. If any condition was brought about today that would force the closing of automobile plants it would result in the greatest panic ever experienced. "Last year the automobile industry rave employment to 300,000 people and the turnover was close to $2,000, 000,000. It can be seen from this that even if automobiles were- used solely for recreation purposes, any re striction in banking facilities to the Industry would be attended by serious Sonsequences. "The manufacture of automobiles ranks second to the steel industry; Its Jiroduct is now a necessity to the farmer, business man and the public frenerally. The demand for automo biles no longer comes from a mere desire to ride in a motor car. but fun damentally from increased efficiency to the individual, and this is what has built the automotive industry to its present . proportions. A desire for pleasure alone on the part of the pub lic could never have created the im mense demand for automobiles. Until the public slackens Its demand no re strictions can be placed upon the production and sale of automobiles without having a serious effect on the . 'x, ' -.-..v-y"!! X . ':'.: " ' f - t ;! 1-' If ! O ' pfet If . fa tl J . La w 1 WW'tl If 1 m I-." '- :Zr . -. 1 O LI , s ''iikzl! ' - Q rj Photos Copyright by Coburn. Above is Joe Boyer and below la Tommy Milton, both of them amono; the bent-known of racing- mtmrn. Both will be in the field of famoua driver atartlns In the Tuoni speedway race July O. Boyer led the recent SOO-naile race at Indlanapolla for the firnt 2KO mtlea. Milton haa the record for the faateat mile traveled in an automobile by any man on earth. In a Id-cylinder Dneaenberg; he made a speed of 154.04 milea on the beach at Daytona, Fla breaking the previons record held by Rulh OePalma. Tbe two cars la tbe illustration have piston displacement of 182 Inchea and comply with the l-t racing rule. i economic condition of the whole country." Referring to the gasoline situation, Mr. Vogler, while asserting it is a serious handicap at present, does not leek upon it as a cause for alarm in tbe future. He interviewed officials of several oil companies and authori ties in tne automotive industry. Keep City Clean, He I'rgM. The first leg of Mr. Vogler's trip east was by automobile. He led the Ad Men's caravan to Stockton and went east from there. Owing to con gested railroad traffic he was forced to make several automobile trips, which afforded him an opportunity of comparing road developments in the east with the west. The comparison, he says, is all In favor of the "west, for nowhere did he find as good roads as those in the west. For some unac countable reason, except that nobody has time for anything but business, people in the east, generally speak ing, do not take the same interest in local improvements and as a conse quence their roads are suffering, he says. Portland will get the biggest boost it ever received it the city is kept clean and visitors are treated cour teously this week, Mr. Vogler says. Everywhere he went he found great interest in the convention and he says there will be a wonderful attendance. If we can just furnish the contrast with most eastern cities by keeping our streets clean and free from litter and treat the visitors right, he de clares, we will make a lasting and fa vorable Impression on them. MAXWELL IS EASY OX GAS 127 Miles -Aberdeen to Seattle Is Made on 31 -Mile Average. ABERDEEN, Wash., June 19. (Special.) Driving a distance of 127 miles to Seattle in four and one-half hours on an average of 3H4 miles to a gallon of gas, R. C. Cole of the Mc-Dougall-Cole company of this city, dealers in Franklin, Liberty and Max well cars, believes he has set a new Harbor gas mileage record. Cole did not change gears except when coming to a stop the entire distance. The oil consumption for the trip averaged a quart to 250 miles. A Max well stock touring car was used. REMEDY FOR SAG IX FRAME Best War to Fit Truss Rod With Turnbuckle Under the Sag. It is common to find- car frames that sag in the middle, after a considerable period of service. Sometimes this con dition produces difficulty in clutch shifting and other mechanical opera tlons because the various parts have been twisted a little out of alignment. The proper way to cure a sagging frame-is to fit a truss rod, with turnbuckle, under-the sagging portion of the frame. If the car owner can not carry out the repair himself, any machine shop or garage can do the work. .i SPARE TIRE UN ASSET ATTEXTIOX . PAID TO EXTRA BIT OF EQUIPMENT PAYS. Emergency May Necessitate Use of New Road Gear Wlien Not in Condition. "It doesn't pay to be sparing in at tention to that spare tire on the rear of your car," says H. A. Githens, gen eral manager of the Federal Tire com pany of Cudahy, "Wis. "If the average motorist would re member that air leaks out of that spare tire in almost the same pro portion as it does out of the tire on the wheel, he would save himself a world of trouble. It is mighty ag gravating to get out in the country and find that spare tire in a squashy condition and your air pump missing or out of repair. "Air stations are numerous enough so that there is no excuse for such an experience. Keep that spare tire Inflated. It- represents a very con siderable Investment and you don't collect on that Investment unless the spare is given the same attention as the tire that is in actual use. , "It Is important, also, that the spare tire be securely fastened in its holder. Tires loosely held have been known to be practically ruined through un due wear at one point or "another Proper Inflation will have a tendency to overcome this evil. Remember, also, that tires deteriorate with age and exposure to the elements. Pro tracted service as a spare cuts down the mileage of that tire. Give the spare some service. Don't let It 'deadhead' on the back of your, car until it has lost much of its mileage. Also cover the tire and protect it. In sofar as possible, from the weather." AUTO HURDLES 65 FEET SENSATIONAL- JU3IP ACROSS STREAM IS FILMED. Stream 2 7 Feet AVido Is Leaped at Height of About 14 Feet. - Car Bucks Like Broncho. One of the most spectacular feats ever performed by a motor car was filmed recently near Xlglh, 111., when. as a result of a wager, C. S. Rieman, president of the Elgin Motor Car cor poration, caused an Elgin six, run ning at almost a mile a minute, to lump a stream 27 feet wide. The car -not only hurdled! across the stream at a point about 14 feet above the water, but covered a. distance of about 65 feet from the point where TRUCK MADE HERE ADDED TO COAL COMPANY'S FLEET. IV fifrift'WTTin.YfrwTiiinfl" MiiininiMiifcT3 v. ':dff ' it left the ground to the landing place on the opposite side. Even the seasoned moving picture men held their breath as the car ap proached the dangerous gap at such high speed, with certain death star ing the driver in the face if he failed to jump the entire distance, but the sturdy car a stock Elgin six made the leap for life safely and after a series of bounds that reminded the spectators of a bucking bronco, came safely to a stop. Notwithstanding the tremendous shock of almost a ton and a half of weight striking the ground at express train speed, there was no breakage of any part of the car, which was afterward driven back to Argo, where the Elgin factory is located. Mr. Rieman claims that the Elgin six is the "world's champion Jumper" and that such tests are often made at the factory in order to demonstrate the durability of the car. TWELVE AUTOS MISSING HERE'S POLICE LISTING OF STOLEN CARS. Auto Theft Season Now Ncaring Its Height, but Auto Theft De partment on Job. For three successive weeks the number of motor cars stolen and not recovered in Portland has remained at an even aozen. The list, however, has changed somewhat each week. several of the cars on previous lists having been recovered through the work of the new auto theft depart ment of the Portland police bureau. f This is the season of the year when automobile thieves get in their worst work, and the fact that more cars are not missing may be attributed In large part to the work done by tbe bureau. The following cars are listed as stolen and not yet recovered by Lieu tenant Harvey Thatcher, in charge of the auto theft department, who re quests that persons gaining track of any of these cars notify him at po lice headquarters: Buick, 1917 touring, Oregon license tags ' recovered, motor No. 365114. Chevrolet. 1819 touring, Oregon li cense No. 25120, motor No. C2318, black. Chevrolet, 1S20 touring, Oregon li cense No. 78244, motor No. C53915, black. Chandler. 1918 touring. Oregon li cense No. 82149, motor No. 54570, blue black body. Dodge, 1916 roadster?" Oregon li cense No. 47641, motor No. 146172. Dodge, 1918 touring, Oregon li cense No. 31678, motor No. 39905, black. Dodge. 1920 touring, Oregon license No. 82998. motor No. 509486, black. Ford, 1914 touring, Oregon license No. 73752. motor No. 121717. black. " Ford, 1919 roadster, Oregon license No. 15737, motor No. 3215614, black. Ford, 1919 touring, Oregon license No. 20146, motor No. 3042796, black. Maxwell, 1918, license number miss ing, motor No. 227941. . Overland. 1917 touring, Oregon li cense No. 47765, motor No. 31670. Harley -Davidson, 1919 motorcycle. aflMSMMMM Ml r M.Mmv. 'IfnTTlYl ITTtniT1f " T "1 " f -. :;v.V: : I X.V,..:; .v. S ,: . ....... C 1 ; . Wmmm 1 X- jr- I Closing Out Sale Trailers 2 and 4-Wheel Models 750 to 1500 capacity Camping and Commercial Trailers Write for prices NOW Our stock will not . last long Thin 2 Vi-ton Karavaa track, recently delivered fcy K. D. Tib Dental to the Diamond Coal company, la equipped with Sewrell eiiahloa waeela. 'I it nuanfactare of Ivaravan tracks la a nevr Portland induatry, tbe lvaravaa factory i , betu at the Ueaac-JMartls) Iroa W'orka on, tke caa aide. Air. Van. leraal la prcaident of the Ivaravan company, jl ' X he more miles you ride on a Goodrich p filuertown Cordlire the greater your wonder grows that so marry more miles of service are still left. (Goodrich THipc est in the Long Run X tte 2. F. Goodrich Kuhber Company, j1kron Oh it 1 LlJ-g!Bt7IUkJ Adjustment Zatist Silvtrtown Cerdst&oo Miles i Tabrii Ttru, 6000 Miles Oregon license No. H 65, motor No. L 19 A 22401. Recovered since last bulletin: Chandler. 1920 roadster, Oregon li cense No. 71997, motor No. 68570. Radiator Leaks. One cause of leaks in the radiator is that the vents In the filling caps and overflows become choked, with the result that steam accnmulates in the radiator and the pressure, seek ing an outlet, force an opening; at the weakest point. A little attention to the vent will remove the cause of the trouble. Our Repair Policy R e c h a r ging, repairs, testing these are part of our service. We have the training and equipment to do this work well, at the least price consistent with good work. Cheap work Isn't cheap at any price and would only lose us customers. But we regard this service as a part of our obligation to make W il ia rd Batteries last as long as possible at least ex pense. Another of our obliga tions Is to distribute for Willard a battery that will last longer and doesn't need so many re pairs the Willard Bat tery with Threaded Rub ber Insulation. It gives longer life with fewer trotrblea, just as a Cord tire does. Drop in and let as tell you its remarkable per formance record after over four years of service. Willard Service SIXTH AND EVKRETT, EAST BTTRWSIUE AMU (USVUMTE&MTH. PERFORMANCE VELIB charm and beauty and snap Slave won for Model 48 a national reputation as the Authoritative Style. The season has shown again, as in other years, that Velie Style is matched by Velie performance. The Velie takes the grades and all other hard gdtng with sure ness and ease that give you a new experience of motor capability. Every detail of construction and equipmentis far better than expected in a car of the Velie price Combined with all these advantages is the sav ing and satisfaction due to the Velie s internally heated vaporizer developing full power f romJow grade fuel. Six models, open and closed. Let us demonstrate for you. D. C. WARREN MOTOR CAR CO. DISTRIBUTERS 58-60 N. 23d Street VELIE MOTORS CORPORATION, Moline, Illinois , ' j I ' j'y aa' f - fjaii .y jv'P1 ------ 4