The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-04-13

 have started ap agitation looking to the opening of East Rock and West Rock Parks to motor cars this sum- mer All cars are barred from both pa ks at present.
 Due to the recent injury of several cavalrymen by horses being frighten- ed by automobiles, the military au- thorities at New Orleans, have pro- hibited speeding and the sounding of signals when automobilists pass dl- visions of cavalry on the road.
 cure for dragging brakes consists in increasing the tension on the drag spring which is fitted to all brakes for the purpose of Keeping the shoes @ away from the drums when the brakes are not required. A simple nut and lOcknut generally form the means of tension adjustment.
 A good gold varnish is made in the following manner: A suitable Quan- tity of shellac is dissolved in the same weight Of concentrated alcohol. To this solution is added 05 per cent. solution of boric acid in alcohol, which gives the varnish it's consistency. However, the varnish made In this manner is colOrless, and in order to produce a golden shade pieric acid is added until the desired degree or vel low is reached.
 A black varnish for covering leather and which can be roughly handled without fear of breaking is made up in the following manner: Mix 30 parts of rosin with the equal quantities of turpentine and turpentine oil, add 60 parts of sandarac gum and 120 parts of shellac, after. which dissolve the whole mixture in 900 parts of alco- hol of 90 per cent. Filter the liquid through fine linen and then mix 1t thoroughly with 15 parts of fine lamp black which has been dissolved in
 There are two reasons for slipping leather clutch. The first and more common is that the leather has be- come coated with oil. The second cause is the lack Of sufficient tens on on the clutch engagement spring. When the clutch slips, the operator should disengage the clutch and then feel the leather If it is damp, the trouble is that the clutch is cover ed with oil. The cure is to absorb the oil from the clutch leather. This IS accomplished by powdering it thick W with Fuller's earth and allowing IL to stand about three hours. A pint of gasoline poured over the clutch leather will also soak up the surplus oil. When the slipping clutch is caused by the weak pressure of the spring, it will have to be remediea by changing the adjustment. 1T there is no adjustment nut on the spring, the pressure may be increased by placing a washer between the spring and it's seating. This will tend to compress the spring and to push the clutch into a closer engage ment. In case the spring seems weak Or defective, so that changes of ad- iustment do not suffice, the owner of the car should send to the factory for a new spring.
 Connecticut had only 20 deaths due to automobiles in 1911, Rhode Island had 26 and Massachusetts no. New York city had 14S deaths' FroVioehce s and Buffalo IA.
 There are in use in Chicago 592 trucks which have a capacity of a ton or more. Eghty-e1ght are Tn the department store service. This ss nearly 15 per cent. of the whole, the next largest class of users oelng tne packers. who have 10 per cent. for their work.
 It has been determined that at an average of 12 miles an hour the life of a solid tire approximates 10,OO0 miles, while at an average speed or 20 miles an hour it would be candl- about 4,000 miles. At still higher speeds it's life would be materially shorter and extremely precarious:
 M. Gemier's famous travelling thea tre has come to naught in France, and the physical assets of the 1ll-fated project nave SOJle uilUer I1O he~i They included, besides the theatrical properties, eight steam tractors, a portable electric lighting plant, the theatre itself, a train of wagons to transport the outfit, living vans for the company and automobiles for the manager and advance man.
 A lacuuer for brass on an automo- bile which will keep it bright several months may be made as follows: Bleac shellac, 60 grams; Manila copal, freshly powdered, 60 grams; gum mastic. 60 grams; absolute grain alcohol. kilogram; coarsely porv- dered glass, small quantity. Allow to stand for 14 days, shaking frequent ly during that time. Add boracic acid I gram, filter and used. The best plan is to apply three thin coats and put them on quickly.
 When George M. Dickson, general manager of the company that builds National "4O'' cars, was asked if he has received many peculiar specified tions, he smiled and said: "At this very time there is a car going through the shops, being built for one of our customers down East. who weighs 400 pounds. We had to make the seat eight inches farther back and raise the steering wheel six inches" MT. Dickson told many amusing stories about orders his company has receiv- ed and said it was a common occur renee for purchasers to send in a piece of necktie asking that body be painted to match it. One woman sent to the factory a piece of her veil. An