Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-05-24

| out, and, as has actually happened. might
| start fire. Tests made on several open
| type cars, with controller on first speed
and car held by brakes. showed an aver
| age current discharge of fifty amperes, or
nearly twice the normal rating OF the
| battery. which would completely exhaust
| it in a couple of hours.
| TT is well to form the habit of look
+! ing at the ammeter to see that it is at
zero. You will then insure the controller
I being off and avoid any chance of this
happening. Remember that running on
car tracks is inexcusable where the
streets are in fair condition. 1t is very
hard on tires. In fact, l would advise
you to avoid as far possible streets
with car tracks, especially in the down.
town sections, and more especially during
rush hours. If you are going some dis
lance from one point to another you
would find a couple of blocks extra to
avoid car lines would save in several
ways. In the congested business districts
the average speed, including stops. of troll
ley cars is from eight to nine miles per
hour. The regulations In Washington re-
quire you to stop fifteen feet in back of
a trolley and wait until it starts. The
average trolley can accelerate more rap
idly than an automobile. and you ind It
impossible at times to pass car Now,
as an illustration. if you were going
from 18th and H to 9th and F you could
and possibly would naturally drive down
18th to F to 9th. This would very prob
ably neceSSitate stops at New York ave-
nue. G, 18th, 18th. 18th and 10th streets.
You could probably avoid most of this
by going down II street to 9th to F. You
would get there in less time and would
avoid unnecessary stops. Besides the
driving is easier on less crowded streets.
as YOU do not have to be on a constant
watch for vehicles and pedestrians.
Possibly it has not been brought to
your attention that stops have any ma
terial effect on the mileage. This varies
with different types of cars and the rate
or acceleration, but the results of some
tests on one particular car may be of
interest. as they show material reduction.
No stops per mile, 100 per cent mileage;
three stops per mile So per cent mileage;
five stops per mile. 30 per cent mileage;
ten stops per mile, So per cent mileage.
OF course, there Is a great reduction
in average speed also. 1t Is because of
the high current demanded from the bat
terry and the lower average speed as the
number of stops increase that the mt4e-
age is so reduced. You ordinarily do not
notice any effects of stops. because as
rule they are not excessive in number
and the car has large excess mileage
capacity beyond a days demand. In
truck work, however. this is soon evil
1t will show you however. that by avoid
ing stops you will really save current.
Anticipate Your Stops. =
IF you insist on or must drive in con-
gested districts you can save stops by
anticipating them. If you look ahead and
see you will have to stop for a car slow
up little and try to avoid full stop
instead of going full speed ahead. Now.
one more caution: When driving in y
congested district always keep your hand
on the controller and foot on the brake.
At only ten miles an hour your car trav
els nearly fifteen feet in one second. If
your hand is off the controller and a
quick stop is required one seconds loss
of time may mean an accident
"On hills cut off the power if Steep and
do not let the car get up beyond a speed
at which You can quickly stop it. On
light grades do not use full speed, but
on nearing the level put the controller
on the normal position before the car
loses its momentum.
You may find 1t of advantage some
day, or rather night. to have an extra
lamp or two in the cars tool box. They
will burn out without notice. and under
the traffic regulations this subjects you
to~s-rest. The lamp circuits are pro-
tected with fuses. which also break at
times You should carry extra fuses and
know where they are located, so you can
replace one If the lamps go out from
this cause. This might obviate an argu-
ment with an officer as to what time
you are to meet him in court the next
day."