The Washington herald., 1911-12-17
AUTOMOBILE NOTES

seats and with high sides and other
protection from the weather as may be
seen in many of the models of practical
ly every modern car. The manufacturers
produce bodies that answer for long dis
tance.
That a great national highway for
transcontinentaI automobile travel for
the pure enjoyment of touring will be
a reality within the next two years was
the prediction made by Thomas w. Will
by, special agent Of the Office of Public
Roads, Department of Agriculture, who
arrived in New York last week, complet-
ing the pioneer circular tour of the
United States, which was made under
the auspices of the Touring Club Of
America.
The car used by the transcontinental
tourists was the famous Ohio mud hen,"
driven by Fred D. Clark who is the first
driver to have completed a round trip
tour of the United States. Mr.. Clark
said that the gasoline cost varied from
111k cents a gallon to so cents, the high
est price being paid in Arizona The
average weekly expenses of the car and
driver were about $55.
Mr.. Wilby stated that while the natural
and feasible highway across the conti-
nent was by the Middle Western route,
it was along the historical and fascinat-
ing trails between San Diego and WASH
ington where real activity was shown In
the good roads movement. There is
such wealth of scenic and historic fea-
tures," said Mr.. Wilby, that the COM
pleted highway will veritably prove to
be one of the wonders of the world"
Mr.. Wilby is now preparing an official
report on the conditions of the roads and
plans for improvements, which will be
20 80 he
Department of Agriculture, in the near
future.
Automobiles and motorcycles have be-
come more than mere luxuries-they are
in many ways absolute necessities. II
the present plans of Chief McWeeny, of
the Chicago police force, are carried
into effect, detectives mounted on motor
cycles will be used in pursuing criminals
in Chicago.
This report is in line with the remark
able increase in the use of motorcycles
by the police departments of the United
States. The first requisite in police work
is speed. Next comes economy. Accord
ing to the experience Of every city that
has tried them, motorcycles fill both
needs
Chicago now has a motorcycle squad
of sixteen men, but Chief McWeeney de-
divide the force into squads of two or
more and station them at division head
quarters.
The police department of Paterson. n.
J., is so we'll satisfied with its experience
with its first motorcycle that another
has been ordered. 1t is probable that
three others will be added, this being
the sentiment of at least one commits
sioner.
Oklahoma City, Okla, is up-to-date in
police administration, and uses six mo-
torcyCles.
An innovation that should prove meri-
torious is the installation in a 1912 car of
marine windows, which will enable the
driver to obtain an unobstructed view of
the rear.
IF one would start his motor 'on the
spark he should speed his motor up. just
before stopping it, by opening the throttle
wide said Charles Splitdorf, who has
been in the business long enough 10 know
what he is talking about. Then, if the
spark is cut OFF, a full charge is left in
the cylinder, TO be ignited when another
start is TO be made"