The Washington times., 1911-12-16
BUILDING Of GOOD
ROADS BY FEDERAL
AID TO Be URGED
Question Comes Before Au-
tomobile Association at
Session Here.
BY HARRY WARD.

Judging from letters being received by
President Robert p. Hooper, of the
American Automobile Association, It
will not be necessary to spend much OF
the time Of the good roads convention
Of the three AS. scheduled to be held
in Washington, January 16 and II. IN
working up sentiment in favor of Fed
eral aid in the building of better high
ways.
President Hooper is in receipt OF a
large number of letters from Senators
and Congressman favoring the objects
Of the Federal aid convention. Geo.
graphic lines seem to be obliterated in
the practically unanimous favor with
which the principle of Federal aid Is
being received. Senator Fletcher OF
Florida, Senator John Sharp Williams
Of Mississippi, Senator MARITIME Of New
Jersey. Senator Simmons Of North
Carolina, Senator Pomerene of Ohio.
Congressman Reilly OF Connecticut,
Congresmen Morgan. Carter, and Ferris
Of Oklahoma, and others have ex-
pressed themselves unqualifedly In
favor Of Federal aid In road building.
The work of the convention will be d.
rected toward the development Of this
Federal aid sentiment along lines that
will mean the most for the proposition.
The convention promises to be one OF
the greatest Of the kind ever held.
What doubtless. will be pronounced the
keynote of difference between the 1871
models Of automobiles and those of the
coming season to be exhibited at the
automobile show in New York, January
6 to 20, is the self-starter. There will
be a multitude of makes working on vari-
GUS principles on the majority of cars
to be shown in Madison Square Garden.
The self-starting invention is a re-
markable stride in automobile engineer
ing. and beyond doubt will have DE-
cided influence upon the sale Of cars
during the coming season.
Starting the engine for years has been
the one great bugaboo of the novice. 1t
requires too much physical exertion.
even for those who are strong enough
to guide a car. No driver likes to get
his feet wet and muddy or work him
self into perspiration In front of the
car as preliminary step to going for
a drive. This condition has been rec
ognized Tor years, but with tire excep-
! ton Of a few makers the remedy was
not applied. This season the self-start-
err has sprung to the front as a vital
point of construction, and makers dur
ing the last few months realised the
necessity of fitting such devices either
as regular or as extra equipment which
may be applied to order. The self
starter makes the gas car as easy to
handle as an electric. and wipes out
that one point Of difference, which some
fast!dious drivers have considered of inn
portance in the past. 1t fits the gas car
to the average woman's use, and even
may be regarded as marking the pass
ing of the chauffeur, for 1t removes the
main dread which many owners have
felt when driving alone
On board a big steamer which sails
from Seattle for the Orient December
30. there goes to the scene of his la
bors the first native japanese automo-
bile dealer-so far as record goes-who
has ever invaded the Floral Kingdom
in charge of a line of American-built
name. and he comes from long line
Of Samurai, He leaves as the official
representative in Japan and China of
the Studebaker Corporation of Detroit.
In company with J. b. Crockett, Of De-
troit. he will take up the work Of plac-
ing agencies and supply stations In both
Of these countries, for the sale OF
NaRamura has "u served "u an apprentice.
ship in the Studebaker shops at De-
troit and has informed himself regard
ing the details OF his task with char
acteristic japanese thoroughness.
The London branch Of the Studebaker
Corporation announces the sale OF an
deliberately equipped Flanders "2o' to
the Duchess Of Montrose.
the magnihcence of the Durbar at
Delhi this week. and the ceremonies
connected with the browning of King
George V and Queen Mary as sovereigns
over India, found Ford motor cars
PLAYING a very important part in ev-
| cry official function. Thirty of the In
dian princes participated in the pageant
which was perhaps the most glitteriny
| in the history Of the world-and rode In
new Ford Model T touring cars which
they received only few days before
! princes Of India rode in Ford cars but
| the more progressive ones did, white
elephants, camels and gayly caparison-
| ed horses conveyed the others who ad-
hered to the time-honored customs fol-
lowed throughout the ages at East III
dian ceremonies
Whenever automobile racing drivers
get together there Is always a tanning
bee about speeding. A group Of promi-
nent racers got to arguing the other
day whether 1t was possible for =
bicycle rider following motor pace to do
sixty miles or better N one hour.
George Robertson, the veteran driver,
and Harry Sheldon maintained 1t could
| not be done, while David Bruce-Brown,
winner of the Grand Prize race. and
Frank Hill took the other slice OF the
argument. There was substantial
wager, which Bruce Brown and Hin
won when II was found in the Sdrds
that a French rider on a German track
had covered sixty-three miles 1S9 yards
in the hour.