The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-11-08
AMONG The AUTOMOBLISTS.
TROUBLE IN IOWA OVER REG
TSTERING OF MACHINES.
Experiments with Road Materials to Be
Made I'm England Flu to get Lost
sometimes stone Throwing and Car
stealing Annoy Autotsts IN the West.

Iowa automoblltsts are causing the Secre-
taFy of State much trouble because they do
not heed the provisions OF the State motor
car law. There are about 500 machines In
the State that are not registered. Those
that are registered are getting mixed up
constantly by the owner selling the machine
without notifying the Secretary of State OF
by losing part Of his number. The law re-
uuires that the number shall go with the
machine, and that II a person buys q car
that is already registered he must again
register II for that number the same as II he
had registered for the first time. Motorists
| pay little attention to this provision. however.
and many of the 100 machines In the State
! are changing hands every little while. The
| motorists seem to think that a machine hav-
ing once been numbered, there is nothing
more TO do when they buy an old vehicle.
Now and then a car will lose a figure or two
of the tag, but the owner generally fails TO
have il replaced. This is contrary to the Law.
which makes the owner Of a car liable to a fine
| Of from s25 to $50 or thirty days In jail. The
penalty for failing to register is the same.
| Many owners when buying new machines take
| the numbers of the old ones and place them
on the new cars. This practice dlsturbs the
: ate records and Is liable to the same penalty
! as for failure to register q car. There IL no
oficer in Iowa TO look after the cars, but the
Secretary OF State will endesvor to have one
appointed at the coming session Of the Legis-
lature.
Consul Hamm OF Hull. England, reports
! that an important experiment in dust laying
! is about to be carried out on three miles Of
the London Portsmouth road by Q Joint roads
and automobile committee. The three miles
will be divided into twelve quarter mile por-
tions, each to be treated with different mate
rails. The first sc ction will consist Of the exist
ing granite road which recently was repaired
The next length will be hand painted with
tar. and IL is expected that this will not only
Law the dust but will give the road q longer
life. The third length will be treated with q
patented material. combining some Of the
properties Of tar and asphalt. This will be
laid about half an inch thick. and tits claimed
for il that it will waterproof the road and
provide a non-slippery surface absolutely
free from dust. Another section will be
treated with granite and the patented tar
asphalt composition. The other sections are
10 be treated with various compositions. IN
all Of which tar seems to play an important
part. IL Is proposed to continue this expert
mant for seven years. Reports are to be
issued quarterly, giving such detailed state
me nts as to expense as will give local authoTi-
ties all over the kingdom the fullest oppor-
tunity OF Judging what the cost would be In
their own districts.
70 is the habit OF every motorist to follow
the beaten tracks when touring. says the
Auto Era. such drivers cannot appreciate
the real interest TO be derived from touring
over unknown roads ard roads not usually
fol loved by tourists. In case the man who
drtv es an automoti lie desires TO enjoy the real
fruits Of touring be should by all meas get
on the b6sten course ard take a general direc-
ton. following d at until he brtrgs up at
some known potrt. IN other words. get
Lost for in that are interest and discovery.
New roads are found, new scenery appears.
and he who goes on the nii1d run Invariably
on the main road there Ii dust and Incon.
veriences owing to steady trafic, while ort
NAV get along for miles without seeing
another motorist, The route books gen.
ersllv give a MAR trunk Ire. ard 90 a rule
| and tax iTg dust N return, All around them
are roads lust as good. but roads that are
| not 40 well marked perhaps. and these novices