Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-03-21


N A. Merritt OF the sales department OF
the Jackson Automobile Company visited
Washington last week. He called on l.
D. Moore, agent for the jackson.
The Automobile Club of Washington
wild probably start reliability contest
May s. The course is through Maryland
and Pennsylvania. Several entries have
been received.
Hugh Reilly has bought Packard tour
ing car through the LuttreH company
The company reports having been busy
this spring season handling the Buick as
well as the Packard.
The decision of the Motor Club of Har-
risburg to make Washington the night
stopping place the first day of Its relia-
bility contest. to be held from May to
May 9. has aroused much interest here
Arrangements have been made for
government official to review the con-
testing cars as they finish the days run.
In other respects the first days run OF
the Harrisburg Club wi be a memorable
affair. The first checking station will be
at the main entrance TO the battlefield OF
Gettysburg. Another checking station will
be in front of the John Brown monu-
ment at Harpers Ferry, a third at the
old house In Frederick from the windows
Of which Barbara Frietchie is said to
have waved her country's flag, and the
last in front of the White House here.
TT took a long time for both the auto
mobile owner and manufacturer to appre-
ciate the need Of larger tires" Secretary
Tire Company explains. 1.-THE first auto
mobile tires that were made of the size
36xJ were produced at the expense of the
owner. who paid for the special molds.
At that time tires of that size were not
made and were looked upon by motor car
makers as excessive in size, even when
they were made for the big cars when
they were ordered. The owner wanted
them, however. and had faith in his plan
and paid for it,. He never regretted the
cost. as the saving in the first two years
of both money and temper yielded what
he considered big returns.
His reasoning was brought about by
the fact that he took bicycle tire Of that
day and considered its cubic air capacity
compared with the weight 1t had to
carry. ignoring for the moment the fact
that the automobile tire had greater
strains from speed and from the twisting
action of four wheels. as against two. he
found that the tire size then recommended
did not carry a proportional volume OF
air. and it was this point that started
him along the line of ordering and paying
extra for the bigger tires
The periis Of the desert across which
lies the way to Death valley recently
shut an automobile party Of three from
Los Angeles OF from the outside world
for nine days. to the alarm Of relatives
and friends. who feared that the invaders
OF the waste lands had died Of thirst.
D. v. A. Williams. a mining man, with
Samuel b. Hammond and chauffeur
named Bashaw, set out from Los Angeles
in q touring car, and midnight on the
desert found them speeding through the
headed straight for Death valley. a man
trap such as nature has In few places
duplicated They had started for mine
near johannesburg. but had taken the
DaGgett road instead OF the Mojave route,
over which they had been directed to go.
They were rushing along during the
darkest hours when they drove the motor
car onto a rock hidden by clump OF
breaking some of the mechanism beneath
the car and leaving the crew stranded
as on a desert island In a wide sweeping
ocean OF sand
would have reached Randsburg by noon
Of the following day, and supplies had
been provided only to last until that stop
could be made. The accident In a way
helped the lost travellers. for II 1t mad not
happened they would have raced on In
the wrong direction and in the morning
have been many miles farther away and
out OF gasoline, with Death valley and
imminent death by thirst close at hand.
y y
AT daylight. as soon as one could see.
nd gaf mt
to make their way to some place where
there were human habitations and whence
relief could be obtained Mr.. Williams
remained with the car. Weakened by
hunger and thirst, the driver gave out
before the day was over. and MIR. Ham
mond went on alone. finally reaching
Johannesburg in the early evening. Mr.
BaShaw finally succeeded in making mis-
way alone to Ballarat.
A party in an automobile went back
after Mr.. Williams. but when the strand
ed car was found note pinned to the
seat said that thirst had compelled him
to start out In an attempt to find water.
search was organized and In time he
was found, whereupon new trouble de-
veloped. The rescuing automobile refused
TO work, breaking down without the ex-
cuse of such a collision as had halted
the other car. and it was nine days alto
gether after the start OF the trip before
the wayfarers reached pace OF civilized
q
searching parties were out after them.
Friends believed Williams to be dead
or wandering about the desert. perhaps
half crazed- Not a word with which to
relieve the suspense of his wife was pos
Able But as a matter Of fact the party
that found him and then broke down was
well provided with food and drink and
was reasonably comfortable while max
ing repairs on the car. When these were
completed all speed possible was made in
getting out of the parched wastes.
Michigan claims TO have more than 1000
automobiles.
A new motor car recently bought by
forty horsepower.
Crown Prince Ferdinand of Roumania
IS now a member of the Royal Automobile
Club of England.
Massachusetts Is now credited with
thing like 200 miles of scientifically built
smooth macadam highways
One hundred taXicabs are expected TO
be in use in Boston by the LIST OF July
~ Taxicabs are to be introduced in Port
land, Me. this summer.
The Automobile Club OF Maryland has
planned TO establish local branches OF the
club In every important city and town in
the state.
The German Imperial Automobile Club
has decided that it's trials of industrial
motor vehicles will extend from April %
10 MAY IL