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

the presiding Judge, has aroused some
discussion among local autoists relative
to the law in the District covering such
cases. 1t is generally supposed that no
arrest or conviction of an auto driver
is possible in the District, If he hap
pens to be under the influence Of intoxi-
cants, unless there is reckless driving
or an accident.
The local law. section 9, article Is. Of
the police regulation, follows:
mo person shall operate a motor We
hicle recklessly or while under the in
f1uence Of intoxicants, or SO as to injure
the life and safety of any person, nor
after causing injury to persons or prop
erty to go away without reasonable ex-
cuse therefor, without making himself
or herself known
The penalty upon conviction for yio-
lation OF this particular section is a
nne or not less than $500, nor more than
$4,000. The default is at the decretion
OF the court. ranging from fifteen days
to four months In the workhouse.
X X
Speaking of the number Of cases where
intoxication has been the charge against
local chauneurs, prosecuting officer
of the Police Court, where all such cases
are tried, said a few days ago:
Delleve there Is a very good class
OF chauffeurs in this city from the police
viewpoint. When you take into consider
alton the number of automobiles owned
and operated in the District, the number
or colliding cases is very close to the
minimum.
They probably average between eight
number go. to trial. Enforcement of
the regulation against chauffeurs run
ning their cars while intoxicated is a
real rarity"
The following letter addressed to The
ceived a few days ago:
- nave just returned from a short
trip to Philadelphia and Baltimore;
while there more than half the persons
met owned motor cars. and all of them
SAID they should often run to Washington
but the roads between Philadelphia and
Baltimore, and for several miles between
baltimore and Washington are so bad
that they cannot stand the jolting Can
you push this matter? It would help
the finances in every department of bust
ness II this were overcome. The hotels
shops, theaters and every branch of trade
would be benefited. even the news
papers would have their incomes in
creased. Can you not write this up?
Persons who own cars are those who
spend. and their payments on q visit
are cash. 1t seems to every one that
washington is shortsighted in not push
Ills thAc hi0IlSE, dIiU tudI the SuaHDcr Oh
Commerce would pick 1t up. 1 am help
less to push 1t, but beg you to do so.
The northern roads are fine. and the
small towns, as we'll as the cities, profit
by them.'
While autoists admit that the roads
leading to Washington are not the ideal
automobile highways that are to be
found along the lines automobiles travel
in New Jersey, New York, parts Of
Pennsylvania and New England, the
general consensus nDinf0y1 RI
be that compared to what they formerly
were the turnpikes OF Maryland and
northern Virginia are generally salts
Factory. There is much to be desired,
they say. but this will never come until
vast amount Of money is expended.
Maryland. in particular, is spending
money about Baltimore and the west
ern part Of the state. and has begun
much in the future. The boulevard be-
tween this city and Baltimore needs
but six miles more of work before it's
completion. Plans for pushing this work
were given in this column last week.
Reliable reports indicate that Penn
sylvania's good roads commission has
shifted its scene of road improvement
from the northeastern part Of the state
Of York, Carlisle. Chambersburg On the
east and below Pittsburg and Allegheny
in the west. It seems to have totally
neglected the two highways running
between FnlIdOclpnla anu bditluOT0
Autoists who have been over these
routes declare the only satisfactory
length Of road between the Maryland
line is to the north and south OF Will
mington. Del. There is. however. q
fairly satisfactory route. a third. one.
from Baltimore to York. to Lancaster
and thence to Philadelphia.
The grand circuit automobile races are
now an assured go" A. r: Pardington,
who has been signing up the manufac-
turers, announced recently at Detroit that
the grand circuit project had made such
a favorable impression on the makers of
cars that the only problem confronting
him at present is to take care OF all the
firms that want to- be represented with
racing teams on the special train which
Is to carry the cars, star drivers, oncials
and retinue of automobile people to the
twenty-five different meets next summer.
The season will open at the indianapolis
speedway May 30. and after two days OF
racing it will shift to Louisville. TWEEN
ty-two cities will be visited by the grand
circuit special train. The cities will be
visited in this order: Indianapolis, Louis
probably. Riverhead-Long Island. Port
Jefrerson-Long Island Chill climb Bos-
| ton, Worcester Chill climb, Providence.
Wilkesbarre Chill climb. Philadelphia,
Chicago (Algonauin hill climb climb Mgln
apolis (speedway), st. Paul Estate fair
meet, Syracuse Estate fair meet, Low
| ell (road race. Philadelphia Fairmont
Park road race, New York vanderbilt
cup race. Atlanta (speedway), Savan-
| nah grand price.
Eulogizing the American built automo-
biles and their growing popularity in
Europe. a foreign exchange says:
1.-The design is pleasing and the finish
good. Needless to add. the price is
| tempting. and. like most American prod
standard. Moreover, the cost Is an in
elusive one and the purchaser knows Just
what his bill will be- Evidently it is a
novelty abroad for the owner to know
| exactly what the car will cost him before
! he can crank it up and start for home.
| Although the French and the Italian
engineers were at work on the auto be-
| fore the American engineer had evolved
his present formulae. the American car
| IL now crowding the foreign make hard
in all the markets. The autos sent over
to France, Italy. England and Germany
from this country have been found ideal
running at all speeds under all conditions.
with plenty OF power In reserve.
| The popularity OF the American auto
mobile Is pretty well evidenced In the
spacious aisles Of the International auto
mobile exhibit at Turin, Italy This show.
one OF the largest held In any part OF
the globe. continues for six months.
Many makes Of American cars have
spaces In the mammoth hall and the de-
mand II fnststent for demonstrations.
A combination tourist, sleeping. Oh
servation and dining motor car has been