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About The Oregon daily journal. (Portland, Or.) 1902-1972 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 19, 1920)
PORTLAND, OREGON, SUNDAY MORNING, PECEMBER 19, 1920. 'M .-0 " - " -' i -1 r - m ii- -i - .j u - - i i,. , l. i i.i . i - i. .1.1 - - . i i . i i i i -ill. .1 " 1 1 i i . ... .. - i.i .i .... ii i i i i Wv'M fib IK I! v H 1 ;a LS LIST OF NEW CHRISTMAS GIFT SUGGESTIONS For the Man and Woman Who Motor or Who Aspire to That Ex perience, Holiday Remembrances That Have to Do With the Car Are in Order. , By Frank A. Clarvoe Say what one will, things automotive are looming up as excellent gifts with which to dispense the joys of Christmas, show one's love and devotion .,v. ucuiuciB ui ine idiuii. ana ai.ine same lime pai me money 'where it will bf enjoyed.; Imagine an automotive Christmas, with all the gifts purchased smacking of a flavor of gasoline, figuratively speaking, of murse, and aimed to cTieer the tired chauffeur or smooth the line of dull tare from the brow of the honest millionaire. ' It would be quite simple to go about "it. First there is the motor car itself. If there were sufficient funds in the family stocking or the family bank, as the -as might be. imagine the pleasure one's mother fir wif n.'nnM Vi'j i-a u V. ttr. lb.. pink ribbon was unwound and a shiny vnupe or snappy chummy roadster would "come "forth, to be exclaimed over anil all that sort of thing. Naturally, only . Hie more wealthy could afford such a lasting token of affection. More con servative folks .would have to hew closer - to the line' of their financial capabili ties, their presents taking the form of - various and sundry embellishments with which the modern motor car i frequently" adorned. Some people give sweaters or ear muffs, when there is apparently no rea- sou'for that sort nf irift Rut at 9 rt Automotive Christmas such articles ' would be more than welcome. Karmuffs are the verv things with which tn e-rin a grease cup when doing the monthly ."turning down," and a sweater is the finest mantle in. the world to cover a shivering radiator. No need to' sub stitute other bits of merchandise for sweaters and earmuffs. Some people give. books. This year, Christmas 1020, is in-"fact a book year. "many si:hstiti;tes AVAILABLE ... ; Kbr an automotive Christmas, one could substitute a book of "Rules of the Jload," a jazzy little treatise on ."The Pedestrian ' and - His Habits"; "What Traffic Cops Do During a Gasoline ,sMiormRe i' or some ngni nine mono graph on "Stiueak Birds and How to Know Them." No library is complete without the8e: volumes, which, if they have, not as yet been printed, may in . e : . . .1 . . . . . . . t : . lime lulu iitrii i a j w : um uuui., iiuai Christmas pechaps. But aside from books, one could think of a score oV more substitutes which would' be tf inestimable value.' in more ways than one, should the public mind turn seriously to a consideration of a gasoline Santa Claus. Some men wake up to a 'snappy Tule - tide to find a gayly bedecked bathrobe hanging from the foot of the bed or to fy a yellow smoking jacket protruding ' from the top of a sock pinned, to the mantle. Why not a duster, gay in color even as the bathrobe, with high yellow stripes and something snappy in polka dots? Or a suit of coveralls, fashioned or gay pongee with cunningly worKea vale-stems on the collar, not to' mention ' initials in, pink silk on the pockets? Salad, forks, .as gifts, are not confined t v M in iiic5 uiau , c jrrjjirr nuu usnc wcu ding invitations seriously, and are some times used to fill out a Christmas list. , Why not, a pearl-handled monkey wrenph. a steel and nickle lug wrench with ebony handle, a real leather tool . kit. an engraved jack, or a hand-carved tire pump? Imagine the pleasure of a husband or father pulling a gold-plated valve-gauge from the toe of his hosiery. Women, who in normal times have the utmost repard and affection for their husbands, frequently are inspired to give cigars and cigarettes, invariably picking the wrong brands. Why "not divert this enthusiasm through safer channels, and, at an automotive Yuletide, take the money with which "The Weed" might have been purchased and procure an in ner tube or two to lay by the fireplace or on the breakfast plate? The Christmas cravat frequently leaves much to be desired, and shekels so spent might be utilized to rut another tire cover in circulation, snappily en graved with the initials or the monogram of - the donee. LOTS OF OTHER THINGS Santa Claus has in times past brought rugs to the house of some cheery family. Why not a set of seat covers? Consider . able pleasure could be given with the presentation of a set of windshield wings or a radiator cover. A hood blanket is considered by many to be aii ! i appropriate gift. This could serve as a hammock for the baby in warm weather. Who could improve upon a basket lunch kit, with all the necessary and at tendant utensils? ; When company is present in large quantities and no trip is planned the knives and forks could be pressed into service to swell the sun ply of family silver. It may be quite the thing in society, some day, to serve mock picnic luncheons In the boudoirs of the "400" while a storm rages with out. A set would be handy should the craze strike us. There are gifts Innumerable. All one has to dp is study the ways and habits of the intended victim, find out what he lacks that he should have, buy it, and give it to him Christmas morning. On the other hand, there are other ways in which one might express appreciation of friendship during " the merry Yule- tide. Suppose one has been in the habit of riding to work in the neighbor's car and has noticed a bad saueak in one of therear springs. Call him up Christ mas-eve somewhat after this -fashion: "I say, John, Merry . Christmas. By the way, that beastly squeak that has Deen potnertng us tor tne past montn ; go down and have that spring fixed and charge it to me. It's my Christmas present." JOHN -WOl'LB BE . BE LIGHTED! Or, perhaps, there has been a bad knock in the engine. Tell your friend to go down and have the blame thing looked into. The rain may have been leaking down your neck from a hole in r s - V 5? A 1 , i 'Have You Seen JOHN A. WALTER About That Partial Payment Plan on Falls Tires and Evergreen Tubes? JOHN A. WALTER TIRE CO; Stark St; Near 10th BDWT. 103S r' iSiH AS HESU LT 0 F CO 11 R II Highway Bond Issues of Six Counties Legalized by State Supreme Court in Decision of Momentous Significance to Road, Build- W '.! ing Campaign. . y A recent "decision of the state tsupreme court will add $6,000,000 to the , total available funds to be expended by counties in road improvement during the coming year. These additional funds are to be derived from bond issues which have been authorized by six counties and which were withheld by a former decision of thecourt declaring them to be invalid. .On a rehearing of the case a majority ,of the court reversed the former opinion and decided that it was not necessary to enact further' jeglslation to make effective the. amendment to the constitution raising the limit of -county indebtedness for roads from 2 to 6 per cent of the total assessed valuation of the county voted by popular vote in 1919. -j j I ' The six counties affected by the de cision of the supreme court and the amount of their respective bond issues are the following : -County Bond Issue. Lane Jll.oon.ooo Clackamas 17!W Union l.tM'w .lackson 500.000 Yamhill 420,000 Crook 220.000 Total ...J6.338.000 PLANS DI8ItRAXGED To a certain extent this bond money was to be used by the counties in co operation with the state highway de partment on the main highways, but in Lane' and Clackamas counties it was chiefly to be applied to the" county sys tem of roads. The effect of the early decision of the supreme court invalidating the Issues was to disarrange considerably plabs for construction for 1920. Another element was the inability of the counties to dis pose of bonds at par under the condi tions of the money market. Now that 'the bonds have been de clared leeal, it is presumed that ' the plans under which they were voted will be carried out next year,. ; In-Iane coun ty the ' bulk of the issue Is -to be used in grading and macadamizing a county system of roads, articulating with the state system. ' The Clackamas county issue provides for the general improvement : of the county roads and the paving of certain sections. It also contained an appro priation of 1100,000 which was to be used in the construction of a new bridge acrrss the Willamette 'river at Oregon CIV In cooperation with the state. Plans for this bridge have-not been definitely prepared. A tentative design! for a con crete structure was drawn up by the state highway department which it w estimated would ; cost approximately $450,000. Since the estimate ! was .made there has developed a. tendency to lower prices and it is possible that the cost could be materially reduced. iAs another alternative it is suggested that a cheaper type can be designed. The first decision of the supreme court declaring the Clackamas county issue invalid resulted in considerable compli cation regarding road money,' On the theory that the decision was final 'the county passed another bond issue at the November election provid ing $250,000 for the Oregon icity bridge cooperation. . Thl has now i become in valid by reason ot the net. mat tne issue would carry the indebtedness of the county beyond the 6 pe cent limit. In addition to this a number of districts in the county have special taxes for road improvement under, the- impression that the $1,700,000 bond issue was in valid. 'The situation may lead to a com plete revision of county plans. In Jackson county the bond issue is to be devoted mainly to ai cooperation With the state and federal government in ttnnrovlnc- the Crater lake road. Yamhill county's issue Is to pay ror the grading of the Pacific highway. The Crook county issue is to be de voted to the improvement iof the road up Crooked river canyon and between Prineville and the Ochoco forest boun dary, -j '. . - j i : ' Motor vehicle shipments from factories during the month of August were report? ed to be the heaviest in the history of the industry. I i I What to Do If She Stops Dead ? 9. 9. 9, t 9. 9, 9. 9, 9. 9, . 9. Probable Troubles Explained (Concluded on Pace Two. Column One) High Tire Tariff Halts Australia's Purchase of Autos Australian motorists are chafing un der the excessive cost of tires in that island continent and naturally wonder ing how soon a measure of relief will come to them. , The present 40 per cent general, tariff on tires and tubes is held responsible for the registration of only 60.000 cars In Australia, where it is claimed there should be 200,000 cars, figuring the same per capita basis that prevails in Kng land. The trade holds that the high tariff now prevailing is having a blighting ef fact on the industry. President Dun can of the Motor Traders' association declares the protection which' Australian Vire makers have enjoyed for 20 years is no longer needed. He says tires cost 80 per cent more in Australasia than in America. ' : 170 Trees Planted j On Pacific Highway ' Centralia, Wash., Dec 18. At a meet ing of the civic department of the Civic Club. Mrs. G. L. Hood less, reporting as Chairman Of the city beautiful commit tee, said more than 170 trees had been Planted through the efforts of this com mittee along .the Pacific highway be tween Centralia and Chehalis, the only Strip of highway in Western Washing ton which has been beautified in this manner. L Myrtle Point Asks Overhead Cro s sing . Salem.-Dec. 18. -The state highway de partment has filed with the public serv ice commission an application covering the construction of a crossing over" th tracks of the Southern Paoific iomnan at Myrtle Creek. By Mike De CIoco When the motor of Mr. Motorist stops dead, with or without the oc casional "fut! fut!" the first ques tion he usually asks himself, either in plain or profane language, or both, is "How did it get that way?" He may ask himself that, he may question his passengers, if any, or he may stop innocent passersby to get them into an argument. Sometimes he gets busy and finds the' trouble, thus answer ing his own question ;" sometimes he gets some good passing Samaritan to come and see why the wheels won't go 'round What every motorist should learn to do is diagnose his own car's ailments. The gas line from the tank to the, carburetor Is one great trouble-maker. Dirt, water and rust from the tank walls get into this thin line and cause all kinds of - worry before the actual trouble is discovered. When the motor stops from a stopped feed pipe, the only thing to do is to clean it out. But how? Suppose your engine quits . with some funny sounds from the direction of the carburetor. First, see that there is ras in the tank, and if there is, your trouble is a dirty carburetor or a clogged gas line. Open the pitcock at the bottom of the carburetor and see if gas 'is in the float chamber. No gas coming out? Well, disconnect the gas line leading to the carburetor and if gas comes out. the trouble is a clogged screen just in front of the line connection. Here is where many gas lines become clogged. To clean strainer, ynscrew plug and drop connection, remove dirt until flow is free and - then make connection again. If then the gas does not flow, the trouble js farther back, probably in the screen right at the gas tank, near the water pocket. Clean this out by disconnecting. Considerable trouble can be eliminated by draining the tank occasionally through the . pitcock . provided for that purpose, under the gas tank. Cars provided with vacuum tanks have another strainer on top the vacuum tank where the gas line connects. To clean this strainer make disconnection in usual manner, the loosened coupling and line discovering the business end of "the screen. If all strainers are clean and no gas comes, disconnect the line and blow through the pipe. Sometimes a mighty blast from compressed air is necessary to completely free the line of all dirt. A dirty gas line 'is seldom noticed, par ticularly oh cars with no vacuum tank, until one starts uphill. Then the motor spits like a cat. The line needs atten tion. On cold mornings a little atten tion to the carburetor; will prevent trouble. If, the engine spits and pops, adjust carburetor by. closing air valve lalf turn or opening needle valve one ighth turn. 1 The other reason for a sudden quitting of the motor is ignition, a case when the motor dies without murmur or a spit. Ignition trouble may be caused by neg lected connections, loose or exposed wires, toose fitting brushes, loose bat tery connection, or circuit breaker not breaking right. If ignition runs from the battery, te.t out system by stepping on starter and wktching dial on dash. If ammeter does not quiver and the starter does not kick 'er over, look, at your battery connections, particularly the ground wire, which can be found by "getting under the place where the bat tery is kept. See that these terminals are securely connected and free from corrosion. . The . battery should be re filled with distilled water every two weeks. Clean battery connections by unscrew ing plug on end of wire connection and scrape with a knife. Treat both connec tions this way. Another place to trace trouble is a loose wire connection on ground coil or distributor box. Some times trouble may be traced to the key connection. By workine starter and wiggling key around in its socket this can be remedied temporarily, although expert attention should be given the part as soon as possible; . ' When the car is equipped with mag neto, is best to leave the tinkering to someone who knows the business. The only remedy in case of a ground wire is to disconnect it. This can be found by tracing the wire running from mag neto to dash. If the magneto is damp or wet, the motorist will have a short in any case, and the only thing to do is wipe off magneto and dry with air from hand pump? Joint Conference of Officials May Be Held Here Dec. 20 Salem, Dec. 18. Approval of the. sug gestion offered by Secretary of State I Kozer for a. conference of state-officials on motor vehicle registration and traffic problems, is expressed by J. Grant Hinkle. secretary of 'state for Washington, in a letter received by Kozer Wednesday. Hinkle suggests the meeting be held in Portland on December 20, 21 or 22.' Sec retary of State Jones of Idaho has al ready expressed his approval of the plan, suggesting Portland as the meeting place on December 21 or 22. The secre tary of state for California is yet to be heard from before a definite date and meeting place is announced. Kozer's suggestion contemplated a con ference of not only secretaries of state but of the heads of automobile depart ments and traffic officials Built to Extend the Fame of a Good Name The Oldsmobile "4" is now ready for your inspection at our salesrooms. ;r , And it will pay you to approach this car with, an open mind and to, satisfy yourself as to its very, apparent better value. ' I So firm are we in our conviction that this addition to the Oldsmobile line crowns every previous idea of moderate-priced four-cylinder value, that we prefer to leavethe verdict to your personal inspection.. . ' . ' I.- -,; . See this car. Observe its evident virtues of permanent style, sane design and sturdier construe? tion. Note how it retains the same pleasing lines, the fame close attention tot body details that have always emphasized Oldsmobile beauty and comfort. ;.. v.ij. Ride in the car. Drive it yourself. Because when you actually drive the car yourself or ride in it you will appfeciiatethat these surface excellences are but outward signs of its unseen virtues, j In looking over the Oldsmobile "4" we purposely ask you to forget any preconceived standard you have. had of value. Because we believe the Oldsmobile "4" is going to sweep aside every precedent of; four cylinder ; goodness that you may have had of any car of like class. i a ' " . ' '" ' . : ' ".-. '-;" : " " - ! 1 We Will Stay Open Sunday and Evenings This Week So You Can See This Wonderful Oldsmobile ! THE OLDSMOBILE CO. of Oregon .. o:f tT nT Y. U. B. LANS1NU, MICH.