Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-03-26

biles are climbing to height undreamed
Of several years ago. On the other hand,
Of automobiles imported into this country
during the past year, it Is even more
marked this year. For the period Of sew
en- months ending with January of the
present year, as compared with similar
period last year, the decrease amounted
to $7S6, 1872.
So successful was the Bering cup run in
Texas this month that its promoters have
decided to make 1t an annual affair.
sort Of southwest Glidden tour. The run
was finished March 10. when the sur
vivors. covered with CRIME and dust,
chugged into Houston. which they had
left five days before to describe great
square of oil-smudge against the skyline
of southwest Texas. The route as laid
out called for q daily average spin OF $50
miles for five days, making $50 miles for
the contest.
Starting from Houston, Tex the round
the-sQuare route shot northwest to Aus
tin, southwest to San Antonio, southeast
to Corpus Christi on the coast OF the Gulf
Of Mexico, and thence northeast to Hous-
ton. Twelve cars were entered and the
run was under the official sanction of
the A. A. A. All rules that govern the
Glidden tours were observed.
David Bruce-Brown,- winner Of the Au-
tomobile Club of Americas grand prize
race. at Savannah, Ga, November IL
last. has entered the five-hundred- mile
way Decoration day. This race will be
Bruce-Brown's first appearance in COM
petition on specially built hippodrome
course. Meanwhile, he has gone to Tu-
rim, Italy, to inspect q racing car he may
drive in the French Grand Prix.
It is now said that the revival OF the
Grand Prix. In France. which is set for
July ?, will be preceded by two other
stock car race to be held in June. 1t will
in all probability be held over the Bou-
logne course, which is only 100 miles from
Paris. and is convenient for English,
German and Belgian firms. The stock
makers.
To maintain the brass and nickel fur
nishings of the automobile in a bright,
clean condition constitutes no small share
OF the care.taking Of the car. There are
plenty OF simple formulas and ways for
Frightening up the brass fixtures, but
some are more or less ineffective and
others are harmful to the metal, espe-
cially after the lacquer becomes worn
away. Following are some good and eff
fective ones: To remove dirt, tarnish and
corrosive accommodations from the metal
parts1while the lacquer remains in good
state OF preservation, use a mixture Of
|
ton tallow. Another formula consists of
dissolving eight parts refined soap in ten
parts OF warm water, after which add
thirty parts OF whiting.
The West Side Young Mems Christian
Association of New York has leased
three-story building, and will use the en-
tire structure to house its automobile,
motor and aerOnauttc schools. The build
ing is now being renovated. The associa-
n ha rot h
motor school.
The list Of fuels available in the world
inclue coal, wood peat, hydrocarbons lin
liquid form). alcohol composite mixtures
tmade up of hydrocarbons, alcohol, nj
benzol. etc., and if the matter is carried
to its final conclusion nitroiglycerin,
guncotton. gunpowder and other explo-
sives may be placed in the category of
fuel.
1t is estimated that there will be $4,000
automobiles licensed in New York state
for the year 1911 when all registrations
are in, and there will be about 10000
chauffeurs in possession Of badges. The
cars will thus be about 1900 more than
last year and the professional drivers
Will be 5000 more than in 1910. The reve.
nue. to the state will be $4,000, it is
believed.
X X
/ New York city'S new automobile fire
engine. which pumps by steam, but is
propelled by gasoline. and is the first of
Its kind In this country. has had try
out as to it's speed and it's capacity for
pumping. So successful was the test
that Commissioner Waldo expressed the
opinion that in few years all of the
fire apparatus in the thickly settled parts
Of the city will be run by their own
power.
The original supply of hickory is now
approaching exhaustion. East of the AL
leghenies and north of the Potomac it
mas disappeared almost entirely. West
of the Alleghenies and north Of the Ohio
only a few scattered remnants are left,
and the bulk Of the supply lies south Of
| the Ohio river. Most Of the northern
manufacturers get their supplies from
the south; all Of the larger operations
are there and competition is very keen.
X x X
old inner tubes which have sound sections
OF impoverished rubber. BY saving the old
tubes and cutting out the sound sections
and sending them to a tire company they
may be Joined into new tube. While
this tointed tube Is not as pretty as one
just from the factory, it will be found
capable of giving extraordinary service,
and when the shoe is put on no one but
the owner will know how the inner tube
looks.
Chairman Peter Bentley of the re.
gatta committee Of the Brooklyn IN,
YO Yacht Club has announced that the
six-hundred-mfle race, from Gravesend
bay to Halifax, N. S., for gasoline
power boats will start July %, provided
there are sufficient entries. Boats
measuring between forty-flve and eighty
feet will be eligible to start.
*@k
Plans which have been made for the
construction Of statewide highway in
Tennessee. stretching from Bristol to
Memphis, distance OF 800 miles, have
attracted the attention Of neighborfng
states. Arkansas has been stirred to
action, and is planning the building Of
a highway from Augusta to Memphis, a
distance OF seventy miles, where 1t
would join the proposed pike across
The United States has exported more
Oil in the fifty years since the industry
started-over $2.000,000.O0o worth-than
the entire North American production OF
gold amounts to since Columbus' dis
covery. Last year the sum received for
crude oil in California amounted to 49,
100000, or almost double the value OF
the gold produced there in the same
time
* X
Moisture in the mica insulation of the
electrode or a bridge Of carbon are two
defects that are liable to cause serious
current leaks. To remedy this, dry out
the insulation thoroughly and clean