The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-05-20
THINGS ABOUT
 AUTOMOBILES WORTH KNOWING

One reason TOT Long lSlanQ DelnS the Mecca for touring automobilists, particularly those from the West, is that the authorities in most of the towns and villages there do not wait until the highways are in an almost unusable condition to order repairs for the same.
 Another effort is being made to e]im- mate the wheel tax from the laws governing the operation of automo- piles in Illinois. A bill redrafted by Sidney Gorham, Secretary of the Au- tomobile Club of Chicago, will exempt automobilists from this tax if it is passed. The bill also allows automo- bilists five miles an hour more on ru- ral roads. It provides six miles an hour at corners, ten miles an hour in business sections, fifteen miles an hour in residential sections, twenty miles an hour outside of closely built up residential sections and twenty five miles in the country.
 With the big increase in the amount of exports of automobiles from this country there has been a correspond ing decrease in the amount of foreign cars imported. During the month of March, 1911, there was drop of close to $1O0,00O in the automobile imports over those of the same month during 1910, the exact figures, as given out
 
 and Commerce, being $98,893.
 Governor Dix, of New York, is quot ed as saying, that even to-day road makers do not know what material should be employed to secure the most satisfactory results" This is un- doubtedly true, and it is equally in disputable that years will elapse be- ed with the subject are solved. All that can be said at present is that road builders are giving their best ef- forts to the matter, and that they are able to report some progress. They have two objects to achieve, viz: the production of a road that will with stand modern traffic conditions, i. e., the passage of motor vehicles of high speeds; and the elimination of dust.
 The Ripon Automobile Club, of Ri: pon, Wis, has adopted a new plan for promoting highway improvement work A committee of ten has been provided with eight-split og-drags the roads in the vicinity of the city are dragged and scraped. The sec retary has been authorized to call out all members owning cars and with a complement of men and tools, assign each to a stretch of road on which they are to spend a day in removing stones, obst><ctions and refuse, giv-
 
 highway to do improvement work. The members do their share of the work without remuneration, while a fund has been set aside to pay for hired labor.
 One of the most unique and surpris- ing mountain road constructions in the country is the Government high way down the western slope of La Bajada Mountain, in New Mexico. From a standpoint of scenic grandeur, there is perhaps not point in the na- tion where a greater expanse of wild and beautiful country can be seen than on the road between Santa Fe and Albuquerque, where motorists turn completely around twenty or more times in making the steep de- scent. Retaining walls are built up in many cases for more than 100 feet, and for 35 miles a car may coast with out using it's motor and depending en- tirely upon it's brakes. This high way was constructed by the Govern ing circles.
 According to Harry Grant winner of the 1909 and 1910 Vanderbilt Cup races, a deal of careful preliminary planning is necessary to win success on the motor track. He says, One can drive fast and yet safely in race just as when touring. All that is required is SelI-reSlfalnC rom tax ing unnecessary chances. A man may speed upon a highway when the road is clear and he can see long distance ahead, yet be a safe driver, if only he slows down sufficiently when ap- every turn and cross-road. It is the same in a race. l do not believe in taking chances, and I drive a safe race. Starting in a race l feel just as free from risk as when start ing on a trip in a touring car. If ever I felt I was risking my life you can bet I would not start. I think too much of my life and family to take any risk. Both in 1909 and 1910 r planned how I would drive and estf- mated what average would be neces- sary to win the Vanderbilt Cup race. Tn 1909 estimated that something between 62 and 63 miles an hour would win. I won with five minutes to spare