The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1913-03-13
Automobile News

That the automobile tire industry
consumed more than 100000 bales
of cotton last year. is the statement
made in recent Government report.
The heavy demand for high-grade
cotton by the tire industry has boost
ed the price of this commodity to a
higher point than at any time in re-
cent yearE-excepting the cotton cor
ners" engineered, by spectators.
Following the lead of a Pacific
Coast concern, there has been organ
| lied a laundry" for automobiles in
Detroit, Mich. The company has
leased a garage and has adopted as
| it's slogan Everything back but the
dirt!'- In the new csta bIishn emit tn -
whole process of washing and clean
ing a car has been systematiZed in
such a manner as to take but twenty
minutes.
In a recent automobile accident
case in Texas, one of the lawyers split
hairs to the extent of questioning as
to just what an accident is. There
upon it was laid down that an accident
is .*such an unexpected catastrophe
as occurs without anybody being to
blame for it: that is, without any
body being guilty of negligence in do
ing or permitting to be done or omit
ting to do the particular thing that
caused such catastrophe
One of the Queerest accidents so far
recorded in connection with motoring
occurred recently in Fitchburg. Mass
The chauffeur of a fast-traveling car
noticed a dog running In front of him,
and could not stop in time. A faint
yelp was heard, but not p sign of the
dog after the, car had passed over
the spot. At tho railway station he
stopped, and found. to his surprise.
the dog hanging by its collar to the
crank handle. It had been killed, not
by external injury. but by being
chicken with its own collar.
AS a result of conferences between
motor-truck makers and users and
the Massachusetts, Highway Commits
sioners, a. bill was recently reported
favorably in the State House, limiting
the weight for trucks to twelve tons
The bill had been in committee for
some time, pending hearings of the
manufacturers and users side of the
question. As all parties concerned
seemed to be satisfied with the bill
in it's present form, it is probable
that it will pass both houses of the
Legislature. The bill to prohibit
rear lights capable of being extin-
guished from the seat is still in doubt
as it has been adversely reported from.
committee.
Realizing that the time has come
when there should be some regulation
as to the weight of motor trucks US
ing the puO11C h18hWayS,. the SL<tI6
Legislature of New Jersey has been
considering radical bill, which would
limit not only the total weight OF the
trucks, but also the weight per square
inch of tire surface, per axle and
per wheel; it would also limit the
speed at which heavy trucks if shods
with steel or iron tires. may be driven
over bridges to six miles per hour,
and the highest speed allowed under
any circumstances for vehicles of six
tons or over would be twelve miles an
hour. The bill contains a paragraph
korbidding the use of steel or iron
clamps on the wheels, which would
cut into the highway.
Although Massachusetts, has a light
law requiring horse-draWn vehicles to
carry lights at night save in localities
where the street lamps are 500 feet or
less apart, it has not been strictly en-
forced. Consequently, the Massachu-
sets State Automobile Association,
which was instrumental in having the
law passed, is planning to start a cam
paign through it's constituent clubs to
secure the rigid enforcement of the
laHFe@When this is accomplished, the
association will probably introduce d
bill removing the present, exemption
where street lamps are 500 feet or.
less apart.
When buying calcium chloride to
mix an anti-freezing solution, be sure
to ask for the chemically pure article,
known as &C. P.'' The impure kind
will liberate hydrochloric and other
acids when mixed with water, and will
thus corrode the radiator, cylinders
and connections. To test a calcium
chloride solution, use a piece of blue
litmus paper, which may be- obtains
ed from any druggist. sMoisten this
with the solution. If the paper turns
red there is acid present, and the so
luton should not be- used, unless
enough Stacked lime or ammonia. is
added to neutralizes the acid.
Egypt is to have a network of roads
extending across the deserts and con-
Meeting places hitherto reached only
by caravan. Lord Kitchener has
planned the system, and already one
of the roads, that between Alexandria
and Cairo. is approaching compile
ton. s., The system comprises both
main and auxiliary roads. The main
roads are to be built by the Govern
ment, while the smaller ones will be
laid by the Provincial Councils. Most
of the roads will have to be built COM
plete, while others will follow earlier
highways. Motoring over some of
these desert roads is said, to possess
a particular charm that is furnished
in no other country. particularly on
moonlight nights. Hence Egypt will
probably become q fayorite touring
ground for the Tnotorist when the
roads are built.
There are many little tricks that
may be performed with spanners that
will help start a refractory nut Hit
ting the spanner a sharp blow at
point about one-third of the length
from the outside end will frequently
start the nut. The correct point may
be determined by light experimental
taps, and Is where there is no vibra-
ton to resist the force of the blow.
Another kink is to increase the lev
erage of the spanner by using another
spanner. The jaws of this may be
engaged with the end OF the first
one, whose length will be practically
doubled. Or pipe of the right size
may be used. Never use a chise1 to
loosen a nut that has to be used again
or to tighten one that must be loos-
e eal.sol..4..1-.