Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-12-10
MOTORING



cautious experimenting is the only
way TO learn the correct adjustment.
| =
With the arrival in Washington early
fetal representative Of the Touring Club
Of America, the final stage Of the double
Itranscontinental pathfinding tour which
started from New York the latter part
OF August was nearly completed
| Throughout the entire trip, covering ap-
proximately n.OOO miles Mr. Wildly has
been accompanied by his wife. Arrange
ments are being made to give them
including visit to the White House,
where the party will be received by Presi-
dent Taft Later, the tourists will be well
coined by Vice President Sherman, who,
as honorary chairman of the southeast
ern department of the Touring Club is
interested in the trip which Mr.. Willy
is now bringing to a close
a visit will also be paid to Secretary
| Wilson OF the Department of Agriculture
| who designated Mr.. Wildly as a special
agent Of the Office Of public roads. Mr..
Wildly Will present to the Secretary a
most interesting and exhaustive report
Of the road conditions as he found them
| In the far west and southwest
AFTER spending few days in Wash
ington Mr. Wildly will proceed to New
York by way of Baltimore. Philadelphia
and Atlantic City. and upon his arrival at
the Touring Club of America in New
York city. where his long journey will
be Officially terminated. a reception will
by q luncheon. which will be attended
by the officers of the club as we'll as
many prominent automobiles and good
roads enthusiasts, also representatives of
the press and the leading automobile
Mr.. and Mrs. Wildly, with Fred D.
Clark driving the ''Mud-hen" car. left the
Touring Club Of America in New York on
august 81. and In period covering three
months traversed II, 600 miles, following
the middle western route from Chicago
to Ogden and Sacramento on the west
ward journey and the southwestern route
through southern California, Arizona and
| New Mexico on the eastward trip
AS result of this scenic and historic
tour across the American continent three
new and distinctive routes. following the
Old trails made famous in pioneer days,
have been accurately charted for the first
| time and have been designated the Pho
neer Highway" this being the route west
from omaha to Cheyenne and San Fran
cisco: the Spanish mission road" from
San Francisco to San Diego along the
Pacific coast. and the 'Old Trails high
way" covering the southwestern trip
from Arizona and New Mexico. taking in
some of the grandest and most pictur-
| esQue sections Of this wonderful country
| y X X
The action Of dampness on the rubber
part of an automobile tire is insignia
cant. but its effect on the canvas is
serious.
| 1t Is an unquestioned fact that cotton
| thread and all other vegetable fbers
| OF which cellulose is the basis, such as
flax, Jute and hemp offer a emarkable
resistance to heat and temporary hui
nudity. those atmospheric agents which
are responsible for the changes in so
many organic substances.
Following this line of research, some
experiments were made recently at one
of the tire laboratories, during which
piece Of cotton fabric was exposed to
the action of sun and rain for month
In the open air. While this fabric did
initial strength. a piece of calico. after
being wet through and dried In front
OF fire more than twenty times, lost
only 3 per cent.
When the fabric was left in moist
atmosphere. such as on the floor Of
damp cellar, for example, it was not
long before spots and stains made their
appearance. Such stains denoted the
Of tiny mushroom organisms the ac-
ton of which reduced the fabric to
mold. The same is true Of wall paper
hung in damp room" Eventually the
paper will fall from the walls in the
form Of mold and dust
The application Of these experiments |
to automobile tires is easily followed. |
Sometimes an envelope will blow out |
being used for the first time in the |
spring. The cause is weakness result |
ing from the decay Of the canvas in !
the envelope. In most cases this weak |
where water has been allowed to pene-
trate. The position OF such defective |
places is easy to locate by the stains |
left by moisture.
the damage 1T must be determined
whether the canvas of the tread only |
has been affected, in which case the |
tire can be retreaded and restored to
- IL
body canvas is affected as we'll 1t be-
comes necessary to have the envelope
completely rebuilt.
There is no way whereby this canvas
be prevented other than by storing
tires In cool places that are absolutely
dry.
George ODonnell, driving an American
roadster and Henry Cunningham at the
experience driving in the face Of a snow
storm over South mountain while en-
route to this city last Monday from upper
Maryland.
A pathfinding party laying out the con-
Meeting link in the Quebec, Canada, to
Miami. Fla. international highway,
arrived in this city last night.
A. A. Westgard. official map-maker Of
the A. A. A.; State Highway Commits
sioner Wilson of Virginia; Preston Bel
vim. president OF the Virginia State Au-
tomobile Association. and l.. B. Manvill.
| who superintended the building of the
new peninsula highway between Rich
| mond and Newport News. were in the
party.
The pathfinders travelled by way of
Bowling Green. Fredericksburg and Ma
| nassas. The connecting link In the HI gh-
way is between Washington and Rich
mond.
| y y
The latest purchasers Of Baker electric
| victorias are Mrs. William Kent, wife Of
| Representative Kent of California, and
| Miss Julia D. Strong, deliveries being
I made Thursday.
Robert P. Hooper of Pennsylvania was
unanimously reelected president of the
/ American Automobile Association at the
national assembly last week in New York
| city.
Col Frank M. Joyce of Minneapolis sue
4 ceeded himself in the first vice presi-
N.