Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-01-22

result of carefully made count it is
asserted that 200 American cities are now
using motor fire apparatus. The record
shows thirty-eight cities in Massachu-
setts, eighteen in California, fifteen in
New York. fourteen each In Connecticut
and New Jersey, twelve in Pennsylvania
and eight each in Ohio and Texas. The
central states are poorly represented,
however.
One way of cleaning the inside of an
engine is to remove the cylinders in order
that all parts may be reached and easily
scraped; another method is to use one of
the carbon solvents now on the market
for that purpose: but simple and equally
efficacious mode of operation is as fol-
lows: Completely dismantle the inlet and
exhaust piping. remove the valve caps
and valves Mark each valve with
center punch to insure replacing them
correctly-even If valves are intercnanse-
able. it is better to replace them on their
original seatings. Tie piece OF clotn
over the gasoline union with the car
buretor to prevent ineress of dust
Starting with the front cylinder. move
the starting handle till the piston Is at
the top of its stroke and commence work
by scraping the combustion head toward
you When this is finished. take q ball
of waste and insert into the inlet port.
and. pushing it through to the exhaust
port bring the deposit with it. After
each cylinder is treated in this fashion
a final swab out with paraffin is bene-
fetal. wad Of waste being mounted on
a length of wire for the purpose. Atten-
ton can then be given to the valves and
orifices of the cylinders meanwhile being
packed with waste to avoid any posi-
bility of the grinding compound finding its
way inside the cylinder.
4 4
Somewhere out on the lonely mesa near
the Saddleback mountains, fifty-five miles
west of Phoenix. Ariz., are the dead en-
bers of campfire that tell a story OF
the first "roughing it" the four members
of the pathfinding party have done since
they left New York on their forty-five-
hundred-mile journey to San Francisco
Now that the experience is of the past
and the pathfinders are well on their way
the light of joke. but while 1t lasted
they were given a vivid impression of
the meaning Of being lost and hungry
thirty miles from the nearest habitation.
The pathfinders left Phoenix bound for
Los Angeles piloted by Dick Graham,
who drove a car In this years Los An
geles to Phoenix road race. He said
goodbye at Palo Verde, forty miles from
Phoenix, and then E. l.. Ferguson. the
American Automobile Association repre-
sentative. assumed the road directing.
Fifteen miles farther on, just after night
fall, the pathfinders left the main road
by fork which led them into a narrow
canyon. They followed this road for
wall. Unable to turn the car in the
narrow defile, they were compelled to
back out to where they thought they
had left the main road. Meantime the
shifting sand had been blown over
their wheel tracks, and they be-
came confused in the darkness. Really
ing they were lost. and that 1t would
be futile to go further that night. they
decided to camp on the mountain. They
halted lighted a campfire. and spread
their blankets beside the car. But sleep
was impossible: the cold. biting wind
chilled them to the marrow, and the
whining coyotes were too annoyingly at
tentive for comfort, as the initiated
easterner knows it. At sunrise the weary
pathfinders found the road back to Palo
Verde, where a farmers wife supplied
them with breakfast They proceeded
to Erhenburg. 10 miles farther on, at
the point where they crossed the Colo
RADIO river into California.
Automobolists Of the whole country
watch with much concern the progress
of legislation in New York state as it
relates to motor vehicle and highway
laws. for invariably these statutes serve
as models for adoption in other COM
monwealths. Particularly has this been
the case with the New York highway law,
under which more money is being expend-
ed than in all the other eastern and
middle states combined. The re-
cent suggestions that radical changes
be made brought about the adoption
of the resolutions by the executive COM
mittee of the American Automobile AS
ISOLATION, at it's monthly session held
yeterday at the national headquarters.
New York city.
The American Automobile Association,
having for one of its main objects the
construction and maintenance of prop
erly developed systems Of good roads,
and such association having successfully
worked for years in securing compre-
aensive state laws. liberal appropria-
tons to make such laws effective, and the
appointment of competent highway off,
Gals has found that the best results
have been obtained by intrusting the con-
trol of highway affairs to appointive Of
ficials who have long terms of Office. thus
assuring continuity in policy and re-
tention in office of experienced men.
X X
In the opinion Of the A. A. A. the
policy of placing highway construction
and maintenance in the hands of short
term elective officials has resulted In
frequent changes OF policy, a repetition
Of mistakes Of former officials, and has
by reason of short tenure of office not
attracted capable highway engineers, and
in short. has been found by good roads
advocates everywhere to be undesirable.
The American Automobile Association
Will urge John A. Dix, governor OF the
state OF New York. to oppose the move
ment to transfer the work of construc-
ton and maintenance of good roads in
New York state to the Office of state
engineer and surveyor.
The reports of the chairmen of the
various boards indicated that the general
work of the association was progressing
vigorously in various parts OF the coun-
try. Chairman Charles Thaddeus Terry
of the legislative board suggested a plan
whereby Americans might secure the in
ternational plate OF identity for touring
abroad. Chairman George c. Diehl Of
the good roads board reported that mat
ters were progressing satisfactorily in
relation to the next national good roads
convention. in which the associa ton will
be involved. Chairman Howard Long
streth OF the touring information board
made clear that the enlarged activities Of
this branch of the work will exceed any,
thing ever before accomplished in this
direction. Chairman S. NJ. Butler ex-
planned the situation in regard to a
national endurance tour, and the entire
subject was left to the decision Of the
contest board.
The growth Of the association having
made it necessary. it was voted that the
board of directors be increased another