Evening star., 1909-05-02

1t for running sooner than bother with
two fuels.
The American Automobile Association
has begun campaign for the securing
and dissemination of touring information
in all parts Of the country. Appeals have
been made tn the ZOO and more clubs In
the A. A. \. that have not hitherto given
serious attention 10 this object, not only
to provide sign pests for the roads in
their Immediate vicinity. but also In COM
pie a clear. comprehensive road map OF
their districts.
Desire is plainly eviden in not few
state legislatures now i'm session to sad
die upon the automobile owners a greater
part OF the cost of the upkeep OF the
highways. II the matter We're left TO
popular vote of all owners OF motor
driven vehicles it is not improba BILE that
the decision would be favorable To a grad
uated annual lax, provided all other
users of the highway were asked to pa!
their just proportion.
A western colt wrecked motor car
owned by John Morse. a rich manufac-
turer at Burlington. y. j. The colt was
tied behind farm wagon. and AS Morse
passed in his machine. reared. plunged.
snapped its halter and struck out At tho
car with its heels. TIL" expensive lamps
were smashed and tho guards ripped ana
diSiigured As the occupants were en-
deavoring to leap out. the car crashed
into tree. wreckinG itself and throwing
the occupants into a field.
Side slipping and wear on tires Is duc
to spreading of the front wheels, gener-
ally caused by bent distance rod or
drag link connecting the steering arms
or knuckles. If this condition is present
even in a comparatively slight degree, the
strain and wear brought upon the tire
"
much as the side slip continues with the
rotation Of the wheels. In case or eN-
cessive tread wear. examine the front
wheels and find il they take proper posi-
tion for straight ahead running.
!. !.
The lonc-discuSsed Plan OF building a
national highway across the continent
has gained new life through the action
of the states of Idaho and Washington
in appropriatng large sums of money 10
improve the roads over which the con-
testants will travel in the coming inter-
national ocean to ocean contest. IL is
| hoped that the War Department will de-
tail an officer to make the journey on
one Of the contesting cars for the p'rr-
| pose OF gathering data on the practica-
bility. of the plan.
The sanction for the road racing car
nival of the Chicago Automobile Club.
! June IS and 10. has been granted BY
| Chairman Hover of the A. \. y. contest
| board. the promoters having com
| piled with all requests as to military pro
| lection. permission to use the course. AMI
| the financing OF the events. Under
| special dspensation, the contesting cars
| for the Cobe trophy will be limited to
| piston displacement of 30 cubic inches.
| while the weight limit has been reduced
from 2,40O TO 2,l50 pounds.
Lieut. GratZ Of the Prussan army, who
started August 10. 1907. from Dar-es-
| Salaam. German East Africa. to cross
| Africa in specially constructed automo-
| bile, has sent from Gobalis. German
| Southwest Africa narrative of his toll
| full adventures in crossing the kalahari
desert. At one time Lieut.. Gratz was
compelled TO encamp and erect smithy
to repair his steering gear while lions
and hippopotam infested the camp" 1t
was impossible to make more than three
miles an hour through the sand drifts.
Once when he lost his way his machintst.
| in the agony of thirst. drank gasoline and
had violent fever for four days.
! The curves of the Indianapolis motor
speedway will be banked up twelve feet
! high with a two-foot cap on the top To
prevent the car skidding over. The road
| surface will be of gravel and asphalt
rolled together. forming fast and
smooth but non-skidding surface. More
than 10000 gallons OF asphaltum oil will
be employed as a binder. In addition to
/, twenty individual stands, seating forty
persons each, there will be two big stands,
300 and GOO feet long. which will seat
| 1900 and 1900 people. There will also
be double -decked official stand or club
house. ten small garages. or trainers
| camps, with room for three cars each
and two large public garages