Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-16

having as much trouble as they had three
or four years ago
Sufficient was seen at the late Automobile
Club OF America show in Nav York to as
sure every one that the automobile is still
moving on its career of conquest; that the
demand for motor vehicles of all sorts is
increasing, and that 1t is destined to be all
peTvasive. II would seem that the mscel
laneous display of cars by the many new
firms that have sprung up has but excited
keener interest and whetted appetites for
the magnificent exhibit of the 1907 models
by the long-established and standard max
erS that Is known to be forthcoming in
Madison Square Garden during the week
of January 12-19 Even those who were
most optimistic are expressing surprise at
the strength and general reach of the au-
tomobile enthusiasm that is manifest this
winter.
Maj. Sylvester. superintendent of police,
has ordered all crossings policemen and
others located on near streets used a
great deal by automobilists to keep strict
lookout for autoists who may be exceed
ing the speed limit as prescribed by the
police regulations. The members of the
Automobile Club of Washington have
promised to cooperate to prevent viola
tons of the law.
So many of the enameled road signs put
up by the Automobile Club Of Southern
California to mark the highways in the
vicinity of Los Angeles have been destroy
ed. it is said, that the organization is now,
mar..ing the roads with signs of one-quar-
ter of an inch thick boiler plate, which
will stand the shots of the passing hunter.
The road directions are painted on the
iron. These signs have been placed along
the road to Santa Barbara, and are now
being put up on the Island San Diego road
by way of Pomona, Rlncon, Elsinore and
Escondido.
Secretary Flint of the Automobile Club
of Southern California says the organiZa-
ton heartily approves the recent action of
the Automobile Club of California of San
Francisco in trying to put a stop to the
recOrd-breaking runs between Los Angeles
and San Francisco. There is benefit
70 be derived from such running" Mr..
Flint says. 1T only arouSeS opposition to
the automobile and is harmful in the long
run"
Recently a paragraph has been going the
rounds of which this is an extract and the
keynote "Oil the fan bearing occasionally"
Many motorists regard the fan bearing as
one relatively unimportant, and give it lit
tie attention until it sticks and seriously
handicaps the radiator. no matter how good
the latter may be. A handicapped radiaor
is a source of sorrow. 1t may lead to the
spelling of what has promised to be most
delightful tour by the stalling Of the motor
from overheating. with its consequent road
side wait and tinkering until everything is
put back in running order again.
X x
Determined steps are to be taken by the
Automobile Club of America toward stop
ping several of the evils chiefly due to care
less automobilists At the first meeting of
the new board of governors Winthrop E.
Scarritt was requested to outline report
of probable procedure, to be submitted In
the near future. One of the evils that the
club hopes to eliminate is the practice of
emitting clouds of smoke from cars, In ad-
dition to foul odors due to burning oil or
exhaust gases. The danger as well as the
useessness of using acetylene lamps on
cars in city streets Is another form of the
motor evil against which the club will d.
rect its influence. Other evils, such as the
excessive footing of the horn and careless
driving at corners, will also be considered
by the governors in their plan to bring
about better conditions in automobile serv
ice in the streets of New York.
X X
Mr. c. S. Jameson OF the Pacific coast
has been visiting Mexico with view of Sc
curing new dealers and renewing with those
handling his car last season. He reports
great enthusiasm in all sections of Mexico
in fact. great interest is manifested in ev-
erything that relates to automobiles, the
conditions seeming to indicate splendid
Mexican business within a few years.
The automobile shows, 1t is stated seem
to also interest the dealers. and not a few
of them expect to visit the New York au-
tomobile show in January.
In speaking of the trade recently he said:
1.-The selling of an automobile, in the minds
of many. is a simple matter believing a
demonstration is about all that is neces-
sary. Perhaps this was so in the earlier
days, when the public was not thoroughly
posted on the various requirements and car
construction necessary for satisfactory
service. However. 1t Is certain that today
conditions are directly opposite Buyers
have taken show me- attitude which
has to be met Possibly the reason for this
is that the great, ponderOus cars which
have been SO universally built have i'm
posed upon their operators a maintenance
cost all out of proportion to the pleasure
received. At any rate lighter cars are hav
ing the call"