The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1907-12-20
GOSSIP AMONG
TIE AUDOMOB|L|STS

Delegates from all of the automobile
clubs in New Jersey attended meeting
last night in the clubhouse of the New
Jersey Automobile and Motor club in
Newark to discuss the status OF motor
vehicle legislation.
The meeting was called by Chairman
Crosby of the legislative committee OF the
Newark club In order TO secure an express
sion of opinion from each OF the motoring
clubs of the state regarding the changes
desired in the present motor vehicle law.
s. NJ. Butler. secretary OF the Automo-
bile Club of America, has returned from
his investigating trip to Florida He
visited Ormond and Daytona 10 look into
the conditions for the annual Ormond
Beach race meet, which is TO be conduct
ed by the club next March.
w. H. Dunn, superintendent of parks of
Kansas City, reports that the results OBJ
tained by sprinkling oil on the boulevards
OF the city have been satisfactory Dur
ing the present year Supt. Dunn reports
that 375.4l5 square yards OF the boulevards
including macadam. creosoted block and
asphalt were oiled twice and 1SS502
square yards were oiled once. the cost of
oil and labor being slo.671.A. The amount
of oil used totalled 277,365 gallons. The
average price paid for the oil was Il Ia
cents for a barrel OF ~ gallons The
average cost on the roadways, including
labor, was s1.S9 for 100 square yards. The
cost OF sprinkling with water has here
tofore been s1i.011.32.
Among the oddities in the way OF body
construction recently revealed abroad are
two distinctive closed cars, both of which
are direct reversions TO the types of the
ancient and honorable days of the post
chaise. One was a limousine coach,
which boasted not simply high rumble
seat behind, presumably intended for the
occupancy of the servants, but also an
elevated seat in front, which was mound
ed directly on the fore part OF the top,
with Its footboard serving as shelter
over the drivers seat and itself covered
by folding buggy top. The other, while
OF a more practical nature. was none the
less antiquated in principle and consisted
in the use OF double c springs with thor
oughbrace connections, the vehicle be-
ing a car mounted over an ordinary
frame. The c springs were affixed on
the chassis, and the suspension of the
body was thus entirely independent OF
that Of the frame, yet partook OF its resil-
iency.
1t Is asserted that one OF the principal
causes for the poor construction of roads
is that the tenure of office Of highway
commissioners is uncertain and that I'm
most cases the office goes TO the candi-
date who can secure the most votes, says
Good Roads Magazine. Politics, as We
have often said, should In nowise be a
factor when IL comes 90 building roads
or paving streets Improved road build
Ing Is new art and a competent road
builder. like poes, is born. not made
and when his worth has been proved he
should be kept I'm the office as Ions
he Is efficient and keeps up with the
march Of progress in his line OF work. So
long as the office of highway commits
sioner Is elective the voters OF n town
ship shorld see that the best man j.
put In the office and then reelected
Much has lately been said I'm regard to
making the office or highway commits
sioner appointive and strictly under civil
service rules. Much can be said in
favor OF this y Ian, but until laws are
changed competent officials should be re-
tained.
Having met with great success In the
promotion OF Two race meets last sum
rer. the Motor Club OF wildwood. n. J..
Is planning 10 conduct races on an even
larger scale next summer Back of
wildwood is n stretch OF meadow land
several miles wide. and perfectly level
which. by the expenditure OF a reasonable
sum. could be transformed into very
good racing course. The plans OF the
Wildwood club which are already well
under way. include the building OF n one
milo oval. banked on the turns and suf-
ncleDtly wide to accommodate n dozen
cars side by side. Another feature OF
tho plan will be tho budding Of n broad
four-mlle boulevard across the meadow
land To- tho main road leading 60 Cape
MAY IN ono direction and a. Atlantic city
and Philadelphia in the other.