The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-02-08
THE AUTOMOBILE WORLD

It is estimated that there are now more than 100000 active users of auto mobiles in the United States. A maker of commercial auto-trucks is now offering a vehicle with a carry ing capacity of 10 tons. It is the larg- est capacity single vehicle in the world.
 A fear has actually arisen among selling agents in several sections of the country that the supply of high grade cars this season will run short. More and more motorists are appre- ciating the fact that the absence of an oil bill is a sure sign of a repair bill, and they also know that the oil bill is the least of the evils.
 A peculiar feature of the automobile bill before the West Virginia Legisla- i ture is that it makes it obligatory to use chain or "other contrivance
 when the roads are slippery. By far the best and handiest thing to clean the lens mirrors Is mixture of equal parts of alcohol and water; a 50 per cent. solution evaporates more slowly than pure alcohol, so giving time to wipe the glass clean.
 See that the storage batteries are all ways held tightly in their box, and that all connections are tight. Rubber sheeting is a good material for pack ing the batteries and deadens vibra- tions to a large extent.
 After a recent snow storm in Read ing, Pa., in which the roads were left in bad condition, H. L. Hardy, an au- tomobile designer, attached an ordin- ary land roller to a sextuDlet and roll ed six miles of roadway, putting it in excellent shape.
 After a series of extensive tests, a company with headquarters in Jersey City, N. J., and operating 323 branch stores in the United States, has decid- ed to displace some ], ,500 horses and horse-drawn vehicles in favor of mo- tor delivery service.
 When a motorist has become some- what expert in the running of his car it will be found advantageous to grad ually feed until the point is found at which the motor runs well, but will not stand a further reduction. The smaller. the proportion of gasoline the more economically the motor will run and the cleaner it will keep.
 Again the question of building a scientifically constructed hill with ab- solutely correct grade is engaging the attention of the members of the Min neapolis Automobile Club. The idea was preached last summer and a sub scription list was at once started among club members, and now again the subject is up for consideration.
 Longer wheelbase, larger tires, bet- ter and more comfortable seats. more cars fitted with foot rests to allow a change of position, longer and more comfortable riding handle bars. a low CT center of gravity, better mudguards, a more efficient exhaust system, and stronger frames-these changes sum up the improvements in the motorcycle this year.
 A frequent cause of leaks in radia- tors is said to be that the vents in the filling caps become choked with sedi- @I1 that steam accumulates in the radiator, and the pressure, seeking an outlet, forces an opening at the weakest point. A mixture of red lead. white lead and gold size will be found an excellent means of stopping any leaks of this kind.
 The proposed conference of the Gov ernors of Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Delaware. Maryland, West Virginia and Ohio to cooperate in se- curing the enaction of uniform auto- mobile laws bids fair to be realized. There are fair indications that the meeting will be held and reports made to several Legislatures of the States named before they. finish their present sessions.
 The United States Circuit Court of Appeals has handed down a decision which will compel American owners of foreign touring cars returning to this country IO pay Outy upon tHelf Hd- chimes. They will be assessed at the same rate as other imported automo- piles, that is, 45 per cent. The decision holds that an automobile is not a household effect in the meaning of the law.
 In an effort to abolish speed traps in several sections of Massachusetts, the Automobile Owners Association of that State. has introduced a bill in the Leg islature taking the control of speed from town authorities and placing 1t in the hands of the State Highway Com missioners. A branch of the State Constabulary is provided for, to pat rol the roads and watch for violation of the laws and regulations as pre- scribed by the commission.
 A high-pressure hose wagon is now in use in New York City, built on a fve-ton chassis equipped with 50 horse power motor. There are two plugs on lowing four pressure lines to be coupled on. These lead to a large, high, pivoted nozzle in the center of the car which, except for height, an- swer all the purposes of fire tower. The body of the wagon is arranged in the form of bins. three being provided. to hold a total of 21 lengths of 50 feet of 3-inch high pressure hose.
 Sheet steel is now much in vogue for motor bodies. If the panels of sheet steel are properly made, they will add much to the strength of the whole, al- though it may be true that a sheet of steel, unsupported has but little stiff ness. It is the Hanging and the curva- ture that adds the strength. and it is at almost no cost. nor does the weight increase materially.
 Inventors who are desirous of put ting the pneumatic tire out of busine s will have an opportunity of proving their worth in a public competition to be held from Paris to Nice and return in April For the fourth year i'll suc- cession the 1,400 miles from Paris to: Nice and return will be covered by having their wheels equip ped with various anti-shock devices other than pneumatic tires. On arriv- al at Paris a critical examination will be made of the wheels. awards being made according to the condition in which they are found. Only one set of wheels can be carried; no work may be done on them without ponalization, and every stop or failure to make con- tr0ls on schedule time will cause a penalization to be applied.
 SICILY AGAIN SHAKEN
 Especial from United Press)