The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-12-09
AMONG THE AUTOMOBILES.
CROsS-CONTINENT HIGHWAY rs
IN DEMAND.
Leon T.. Shelter OF Los Angeles Tells OF
scheme for q national Th~orOughfRrc
Expense Divided states
and National Government Gossip.

Of the Pacific Slope and an ardent champion
Of a cross-continent highway. When he
wns asked about the automobile situation
In his section Of the country he said: Motor
ing has done more for securing good roads
In southern California than any other one
factor. There IL now 4 concerted movement
among the most pro gressive and influential
motorists and business men OF southern
California to procure Federal and State CO.
operation for the purpose OF laying out.
building and maintaining q first class con-
tinuous highway across the continent. 50 that
any one desiring to tour from New YORK IN
a horse drawn vehicle or motor car could DO
so without being seriously handicapped Tor
want OF good roads. as is now the case. The
scheme is to make II a national thoroughfare.
under Federal super vision and State CO.
operation, the National Government to de-
fray one-half of the expense. while the other
half is to be borne by the respective States
through which the road would be built.
The plan is meeting with substantial en-
couragement among all prog essive citizens
In the West, man y having volunteered private
subscriptions, one of which. amounting to
o., 900, was that of X, Shelter. vice-president
of the REQ Motor Car Company, who lives In
Los Angeles. II is believed that the initiative
will be taken at the present session OF Con-
uess. for II will not only promote closer re-
lations between the people Of different States.
Out IL Will also tuOEu a po"NiiuA ANOoh' ~
the hands Of farmers and others to meet the
extortions and arrogance of the transcon-
tinent al railroads"
While in Boston recently W. J. Morgan.
who was after entries for the 0rmond Beach
races in Florida next January. sought out
Louis Ross, who two years ago, with a tea
kettle" swept everything before him at the
beach. Ross told him. however. that no
would probably not be a competitor tnls
time as he is too busy. Stanley IL said to have
made a proposition to Ross to go to Ormond
this year and agreed to stay at home. but
Ross told him that it was up to him to try and
get back the laurels he lost 10 the Dsrraoa
last winter. So Stanley will likely 20 down
with one Of the cars he started 20 build for
the Vanderbilt race. Whether or not Mar
riott will drive for Stanley this time Is not
known. He recently returned from Europe
and has just been married. 80 he may object
to further racing car driving
The Cleveland Automobile Club has decided
70 take active steps to improve road condi-
lions in Ohio. One of the frs. steps will be to
build a short stretch Of road. following the
ideas that have been carried out in Massa-
chusetts. in order TO demonstrate what a sooo
road really 10. The club voted the sum OF
$500 for the preliminary work and to prepare
plans for the new stretch Of road. The road
itself will be built by funds subscribed by en-
thusiasts, and II possible the county VIII be
induced TO assist. IL is probable the road VIII
be macadamized. The club will take particu-
lar care to see that the road Is well drained
and has q good foundation. brlck' stone
or gravel will be added for q top dressing.
but lust which has not been decided. The
club committee on good roads will cooperate
with the Ohio Good Roads Association. the
State Grange and such other organizations
asare Interested In better roads.
Word has reached this country from abroad
thai the race for touring ca~rs-ISoncours dc
Northumberland Paris and Monte Carlo.
which began in Paris on November. 20, was
nnished on Wednesday afternoon. Westing-
house oars won the FIRST and second prizes,
the nrst' The race started with forty-one
cars contesting and by o'clock on Wednes-
day afternoon ten machines had finished.
The contest was conducted along much the
same lines as the Glidden tour. one OF the
conditions being that no car was allowed TO
make an average run OF le ssot tnsn f%sntSs
car finishing first on one day was blige to
start last on the succeeding day. In, spite OF
and second on each Of the eight days Of the
race.
Good roads advocates will ask the next
Warrington state Legislature to change the
laws 90 as to extend the authority OF county
Toaas. It IL also likely that legislation viii
be asked regulating the, running Of motor
S GEESE, cd p by tSe s soSd' roads or sanizstio w.
After an Investigation in Eastern States
Samuel Hill. president Of the Mashington
should be provided TO compel drivers TO keep
to the right and avoid cutting ruts In the
cars has been found TO cut up. the highways
as much as a narrow tired and heavily loaded
wagon. but it is possible that this danger
might be minimized II all parts of the road
most drivers stick to the centre. Of the road
which results in injury TO the highways.
Few things have undergone such a complete
transformation as that step In the process
and marketing the automobile which is inter-
mediate-the completion Of the vehicle and
n tnr kS Ssiiv'T Iut 70 q t iss S pssTs ssa, w 'sss the
actual construction Of a chassis was COM
pleted the question VIII e run Ioomed large
dropped his usual tasks to answer Il:
III. alter a week or more OF tinkering. they sue
e tssTe wn ~ little isit 10 be desired: the operation
was complete. As soon as the car could be
fitted with a body, and the usual accessories.
N was shipped and the testing crew resumed
their normal avocatiOns to await the compile
ton Of the next car. In. the period that has
interviewed the testing Gspsr nInn nas cone
as high In the estimation OF the manufacturer
as any one Of the numerous departments
reaching completion. There Is no longer any
question Of the car running, but II must be
| turned over to the care OF an experienced
| tester in order that the maker may be able
to say that it rum perfectly when IL leaves his
hands and barring accident will continue to
| do 40. When the tester is through with it
there is not the sli ghtest doubt on this score,
| for during the time that II, Is under his care
| the car il run continuously day after day
under the most severe conditions in order that
any weakness may be revealed. This process.
through which every stock car must go before
/ being satisfactory. ia but supplementary to
what may be literally termed a gruelling test
of che designers models. The latter are run,
not hundreds but many thousands OF miles
under the most adverse conditions possible.
Nothing is left undone to bring to light errors
OF construction or design that might prove unfit
for continuous service in the stock car, so
that when he receives IL the purchaser may
rest assured that both the theory and working
Of its every part have successfully withstoo
a trial equivalent to many months hard
running under normal conditions.
The carriage ma u IA ctu rers Of Adelaide,
South Australia. are adding another line to
their indu stry, which has already proved a
profitable departure and bids fair to develop
into a paying. permanent business. They
are importing parts OF motor cars from
France, manufacturing the body In their
own shops. with the necessary upholstering
&c, and placing the finished product on the
49, -