Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-01-29

of listing a car without these .hings a
purchaser was frequently disappointed
to learn that after he had paid the adver-
! tised price he was obliged to add 500 or
$500 to get his car ready for the road.
\ number of the leading makers have
made practically reduction in price
by including equipment at the same fig
ure at which the car formerly sold with
out equipment. Even on some of the
small cars the list price includes the
full set OF lamps and a top.
An automobile race driver who is in
class by himself from the unique stand
point of that hazardous sport is Frank
P. Fox of Indianapolis, who has just en-
, tered a 1911 car in the J0O-mle interna
tional sweepstakes race over the Indian
apolis motor speedway Decoration day,
May 30 next Fox is the only motor pi
| lot in the game who has an artificial
/ limb. his left leg having been amputated
above the knee several years ago The
| strange part of his willingness to accept
| this handicap against other famous driv-
ers is the fact that he is independently
wealthy and owns two or three thriving
business institutions which yield him a
| large annual income. so that the element
| of personal gain does not enter into his
participation in automobile racing.
* *
| One Of the successful adaptations Of the
commercial vehicle to municipal uses is
as part of the fire-fshting apparatus of
| many cities. The advantage of using
power wagons is great and has it's effect
| in reducing insurance rates in districts
SO served. The speed with which motor
vehicles can go to fire has its result in
preventing fires or in starting to attack
them before they have had a chance to
go very far The speed OF motor fire
engine is greatly in excess of anything
| that a horse-drawn vehicle can hope to
maintain for any length Of time.
That there is no slump in the automo-
bile industry is indicated by the activity
| in the factories of the leading companies
Manufacturers keep pretty close track of
conditions They are not prone to keep
| up full speed unless business warrants it;
| yet some companies are increasing their
forces as rapidly as possible.
| A felt shield fitted to the back panel of
the front seat of a touring car will pro-
| tect the varnish and at the same time act
as convenient carrier il small pockets be
! fastened to it. If made with a loop of
| some waterproof material, it will be
j d
occupants of the tonneau in rainy
weather.
<
| That the attendances of the motor
shows in all parts of the country will be
broken this year is already clearly ap-
parent. Heretofore the great problem of
show promoters has been to find sufficient
space for exhibits. but it is becoming
| more and more evident that the question
of getting sufficiently large halls to con-
| tain both exhibits and spectators is be-
coming serious one.
Steps will be taken soon by the Phoenix
and Tucson. Ariz. and Southern Califor-
MIA automobile clubs. backed by the local
boards of trade, to invite the American
Automobile Association to send next
years historic Glidden tour over route
through the southwest, which will in
clude these two cities. This action has
been under advisement for some time, but
IT. was delayed until the arrival in Phoenix
of E. l.. Ferguson, who conducted a car
on transcontinental tour as the rep
resentative OF the A. A. A. Mr.. Fer
guson will submit to his organization the
proposal Of Secretary Nelch of the Phoe-
nix Board of Trade that this section be
favored when the question of next years
Glidden route is considered.
y
The state motor vehicle commissioner
of New Jersey has come out flat-footed
against free privileges for -residen.
motorists on Jersey roads. He declares
the repairs to the states roads now cost
81. 100000 a year. and that motorists, both
resident and nonresident, should help pay
the bill
An emergency spare tire can be made
from stout rope wound around the rim
either lengthwise or crosswise, and a
combination of the two is even better,
This temporary makeshift has been known
to answer for several miles. and has the
advantage that the rim is protected and
the damaged tire saved from being torn
to ribbons.
The Western Association OF Fire Tn
derwriters has submitted proposition to
the city of Indianapolis whereby, through
making certain improvements. the city
can save about 100000 annually in mer-
camille fire insurance rates. Among the
of a motor car squad wagon, a motor hose
wagon and motor ladder truck. The
city has just placed in service a motor
squad wagon, carrying seven picked meA,
$50 feet OF chemical hose and a forty
gallon chemical tank. This company
answers all alarms in a certain territory
the men in the squad assisting wherever
needed. and this has led the insurance
companies TO believe in the motor car
There is nothing better with which to
wash a car than pure water. A turkey
sponge and several pals OF pure water
are all that is necessary. After the body
has been flushed it should be wiped dry
with piece of clean. dry chamois Wash.
ing the car In the foregoing manner will
tend to harden the varnish and perserve
it's luster. Upholstery should be wiped
over with a damp chamois leather. taking
care to get under the tucks 1t should
then be gone over with the chamois
nearly dry.
X \
In three years the number of motor
trucks in use in Chicago has grown from
forty-five to 500.