Norwich bulletin., 1913-07-16

Several amendments to the auteme bile law of Connecticut have just gene into effect, The amendments seek to insure safety in the operation of mo- tor vehicles and to eliminate unneees- sary noise. Especial attention Is paid to brakes, mufflers, and warning sig nalS. All cars of more than ten horse power must have at least two powerA ful brakes. The motors of all auto- mobiles must be untitled at all times in such manner that the noise of the exhaust will not constitute a nuis- ance to the public" This means the abolition in practice of the muffler cut-out. The amendment relating to warning signals provides that every motor vehicle shall be equipped with a device which shall produce an abrupt sound sufficiently loud to serve as an adequate warning of danger" While the use of a powerful signal is thus made compulsory, the law stipulates that mo person shall make or cause to be made any unnecessary noise with such a signal, or use the same except as a warning of danger" Be- fore this amendment was adopted a bill was introduced making illegal the use of any warning signal except that operated by means of a rubber bulb the familiar "honk' horn so long as- sociated with motoring. The commit tee to which this proposal was re- ferred found, however, that the bulb horn alone was inadequate as safety device.
 Convinced that its greatest field of usefulness lies not exclusively in the trade, but as an organization of motor truck owners and users, the Motor Truck Club has started a membership campaign with the idea of enrolling the buyer rather than the manufac- turer of motor trucks. The campaign was launched at the monthly meeting of the club held few days ago. The contest is to extend over a period of eight weeks and prizes are to be awarded at the end of that period, Aug. 23, to the member enrolling the greatest number of new members dur ing the whole period and to these who lead in each week of the time. In addition a prize will be given to each contestant filing three. five. or ten ap- phcations during any weekly period. The winning of one of these weekly prizes will not debar a contestant from further competition At the close of the contest a field day, or out ing, will be held, at which all the prizes will be awarded.
 One of the chief activities of the club during the past season has been to oppose legislation which it believed was inimical to motor truck interests. 4@<ANCPl IOI lbS cllOIIS several SIdtSS probably would have passed laws placing heavy special taxes on motor vehicles and restricting the use of the streets and roads by them.
 The average gasoline now sold weighs a shade under six pounds per gallon, while water weighs S.32 pounds per gallon. Kerosene comes in be- tween with 6.6 pounds per gallons.
 If the example set by the state of Vermont is followed by other states, the familiar red disk fn tail lamps soon will become a thing Of the past. Yer mont has legislated it eff the roads and thereby established a precedent. The red disk, it appears, has been the cause of much annoyance to locemo- tive drivers, and particularly to the drivers of the Boston and Montreal express, which runs, en tracks that parallel in several instances public highways much travelled by motorists.
 Coiored headlights en automobiles, which are said te cause confusion because it makes it difficult to tell whether a car is going or coming at night, are prohibited by aR ordinance