davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-03-21
MOtorist Not Yet Ready
for Entire Freedom
from Restraint.
POLICE BELIEVE
TRAPS ARE NEEDED
knowledge of Their Existence
Operates TO Keep Drivers
Within Bounds.
BY FRANCIS N. HUGO,
Secretary of State.

The more the problem OF motoring is
studied with the purpose OF arriving
at some clearly defined conclusion as TO
the attitude toward it of public opinion
the more confusing becomes the issue.
IL is not so much a matter OF difference
of point of view between this person
and that, but of the conflicting sensa-
tions of the same person under dn-
ferent conditions. IL all the sworn
haters of motorists could spend a por-
ton of their time inside OF car m
stead of always seeing or smelling 10
from without, their opposition would
probably cease.
The attitude Of motorists with re-
gard to speed limits is that while they
find no fault with section 26T OF the
motor vehicle law, calling for care and
prudence. according to the conditions
and use of the highways and amount or
traffic, they do believe that the adop-
ton, under section 2SS, of arbitrary
speed limits in certain localities, re-
CARELESS of the highway conditions, IS
absurd and should be abolished.
There has developed much discussion
regarding these suggestions, the oppo-
nents declaring that there has not oeen
sufficient experience in trying out the
law to Justify such change At the pres
ent time. and that the interests OF the
general public demand that 1t snouId
continue to be part OF the law, so
that it may be applicable when re-
CURED.
The opponents appear TO have held
the field because the law remains I'M
changed and the regulation maintain
ing a speed limit holds to-day. where
the police take action and catch speed
ers the magistrates impose fines, with
occasionally Jail sentence.
This is not a desirable state OF al
fairs from any point OF view. Law
breaking, when it becomes habitual, IS
liable to lead to indifference concern
ing the rights Of the rest OF the COM
munity, which may change to actual
criminality in emergencies. 4he pun
ishment OF an offender who honestly
believes that he has not committed any
offence, even though the punishment is
lust, induces recklessness and perver-
sity.
1t is supposed by many persons out
side the motoring world, as well as
within, that the police possess fierce,
untiring desire to catch the motorists
exceeding the speed limit, in order 20
gain credit for themselves.
The police answer that the motorist
is pleading his own case. A speed
limit, the police believe, is necessary
for three reasons. First, because a
motorist never tries to check his pace
except for an emergency, and habitu-
ally goes too fast. Second, because
the greater the speed the greater tie
dust, and until roads are so construct
ed that dust be abolished. no mo'orisc
has a right to increase this intolcra-
~ -.
of a speed limit is the only one IN
which it is possible as a rule for the
police to prove a clean case for the
magistrate.
Whether the police are right or
wrong and the speed limit is a safe
guard or an absolute rule, il is certain
that the non-motoring public will de-
mand more rather than less protec-
ton.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-03-21
MOTORISTS FIGHT
INCREASE in FEES
Registration Would Be
Nearly Doubled if New
Bill Passes.
WOULD DISCOURAGE
BUYING OF CARS
Head Of State Trade Association
Asserts Present Move Is
Violation of Agreement.

Every Senator and Assemblyman in
the State Is being bombarded these
days with letters, kilograms and petit
lions directed against the Hewitt-Sul-
Ivan bill, now in the hands OF the
Committee on Internal Affairs, by
which the registration fees on motor
vehicles would be practically doubled.
1t is believed that the bill, If enacted
into law, can be proved unconstitu-
tional, but the automobile interests re-
alize that fight on that ground would
be expensive, and are directing their
efforts toward killing the bill in COM
mittee.
Some Of the local men who attended
the hearing in Albany a few days ago,
seeing that no one appeared in sup
port of the bill, made efforts to ascer-
tain who is actively behind it, but with
out success.
The attitude of automobile users
throughout the state is explained by
r. II. Johnston, president OF the State
Automobile Trade Association, who can
fairly assume to speak with authority
for the great body Of motorists.
I'VE have always contended, and still
contend" Mr.. Johnston says, shat any
registration fee which is in excess of
the cost Of maintaining the bureau or
department which does the work of
registration is unconstitutional. The
lawmakers of the state have many
times recognized the strength of our
contention, and when the present law
was passed, five years ago, it was the
result OF O compromise between all
parties interested.
"The legislators agreed that the fees
therein imposed should not be IN
creased thereafter. and we, on our part,
agreed not TO contest the law in the
courts. 1t is certainly breach of
good faith for the Legislature to at.
tempt TO raise the fees in violation OF
this agreement.
"The Hewitt-Sullivan bill, increasing
the fees, would probably not stand a
test In any court. According TO the
terms OF the bill, the amount of taxa
ton on any given motor vehicle IS
based upon six different considerations
first, the horsepower rating; second,
whether the motive power is gasolene
OF tlcCLTlCp WhtbuSh VI NV VIZ
vehicle is used for commercial pur-
poses; fourth, whether the load con-
sists of passengers or freight; fifth,
the weight of the machine, and sixth,
whether or not the machine is four
years old.
"Not one OF the six factors men
toned has been considered by the
courts as a proper basis for deter
mining taxation. As our counsel,
Charles Thaddeus Terry, pointed out
to the legislative committee, the auto
mobile laws have been declared I'M
constitutional in Ohio, Florida, Michi-
gan and other states on points SINH
lar to those incorporated in the pro-
posed legislation.
THE provision in the proposed bill
increasing the taxes on commercial
vehicles to figure even in excess OF
that proposed to be levied on pleas
ure vehicles is indefensible from any
point of view, and no one has at
tempted to justify it.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-03-21
EXPOSITION TOUR
FOR ARMLESS MAN
A. L. Stevens Will Handle
Own Ford in Run to
San Francisco.

Albert L. Stevens, who lost both his
arms in a railroad accident twenty-six
years ago, will start next June from
his home in Schenectady on an auto
mobile trip across the continent 70 the
Panama-Pacifc Exposition at San Fran
cisco, driving his own car, a Ford.
Doing the driving himself will be no
experiment for Mr.. Stevens. This re-
markable man, by grit, determination
and natural cleverness. has taught him
self to do most of the things that other
men do in spite OF the fact that his
right arm was removed from the shout
der and his left one just below the
elbow.
Some time ago he determined that
he could drive car, and he picked
out a Ford. Purchasing his car in
April. 1914, by December he had driven
it little more than 10000 miles. lie
has made many long tours-one TO
New York, one to the Thousand Islands
and one TO Washington. His touring
experiences have taken him over all
manner of roads, and he has never met
with an accident.
He describes the few necessary alter
ations he made as follows:
81 had the emergency brake lever
changed so | can operate IT with my
foot. have foot accelerator to feed
the gas; electric lights, which ! turn
on or off with my foot; an electric
horn, which | blow by pushing but
ton with the side Of my knee; spark
lever bent so can advance or retard
the spark with my knee, and | crank
the engine with my foot.
II have steel Sshaped attachment
which clamps on the side of the steel
ing wheel. / place my arm in that
and steer very easily. | drive just as
steadily and well as most people with
two hands and arms, and, think, a
great deal better than some. l can
turn around anywhere and so anywhere
any one else can 60"
lir. Stevens will be accompanied on
his ss-the-continent trip by his
wife and two friends. They will carry
a light camping outfit to make them
selves Independent of hotels.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-03-21
DETROIT SPEEDWAY
PLANS ARE ALTERED
New Circuit Will Be on River
Work to Begin in
Short Time.

Detroit, March 20.-John B. Whelan,
Collector of Customs, has been elected
president of the Detroit Motor Speed
way; S. D. MadduX, a prominent In
danapolis business man, has been
elected vice-president; Albert Harden
slime, of Hardenstine Brothers. treas
urer. and Robert b. Swart, secretary.
The Detroit Motor Speedway is sue
cessor to the Detroit Speedway Club,
the organization which had planned to
build a speedway seven miles below
Detroit's centre.
The new organization will build a
speedway a few miles south of Wyan-
dotte, and on the river, at the corner
of the Sibley and King roads. It vii!
be two and onc-half miles IN length
and of concrete. The contract has been
awarded to W. J. McCarty & Co. OF
indianapolis, who have already shipped
the necessary grading machinery and
concrete mixers to this city. ms com
pany is under bond of $4,000 TO COM
rlete the speedway by August /:
Preparatory to starting actual work
five surveyors, with their men. have
been put at work to determine the to-
biography of the land, in preparation for
The architects task. As soon as the
plans have been drawn and decided
upon labor will begin, and this will
provide work for about six hundred
Detroit men and for a great number OF
teams and wagons.
The new organization plans to build
a speedway much on the general out
line of the Indianapolis course. 1t will
be shaped scientifically for speed fol-
lowing many Of the plans of the great
Brooklands track, near London. There
will be grandstands to seat $4,000 per-
sons. No plans for a clubhouse are
being considered. A 500-mile race will
open the speedwaypon Labor Day.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-03-21

defence argues that he didn't sell the
car to the new owner.
A still more convincing plan is TO
hire a private garage. or. still better. a
stable on q side street off Fifth Ave-
nue., attached TO house formerly
owned by a wealthy man. In the latter
case there may be collection of cars,
and an aged "coachman." dressed for
the occasion, is solicitously polishing
UP the "marster's" cars when the
broker and the would-be buyer call. 1t
is known that a "gyp" has gone as far
sfeld as Plainfeld in hiring a private
garage, TO give an air of Renuneness
to the claim of private sale. Hiring
place affords an opportunity to dope"
the car for a demonstration.
Then there is the kind who offers
what he hasn't got in order to reach a
possible customer. 1914 car for $780,"
he advertises. When the customer
comes he is told that the car has just
been sold, but there may be another in
a day or two. The name. address and
telephone number are taken. Comes a
call on the telephone in a day or two.
1--WE got a 1914 car. The price Is
1915" Il told you I'd pay only $780,"
the customer reminds him. "Oh, you
can't buy a 1914 car for that price"
"Well, you told me you had just sold
one for that amount when ! saw you
the other day"
Graphite, mixed with cedar sawdust
will tame the worn gears in a trans
mission or differential. A very heavy
lubricating oil or mixture containing
wax will fill the spaces between piston
and cylinder and bring compression up
almost TO normal. Thus coctored. the
used car is ready for demonstration,
and it will run quietly for a much
greater distance than the buyer usually
demands
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-03-21
liant FAM. CONVENTIONS
|A'tern Men Want to Run Big
Motorcycle Meet.

o. question Of what city shall be
arcsd the honor Of entertaining the
.a convention Of the Federation of
,rtsn Motorcyclists took de-
ely new turn the Other day, when
Ss''ary G. y. Gibson received a joint
fAtailon from the two motorcycle
a-;silons, "Notorcycling" and "Mo-
E7;ls Illustrated" asking for TIE
sgegs Of having charge Of this
as meet.
aese two journals are permitted
Saduet the convention, il means
y J. may be held somewhere in the
% probably Saratoga. The publica-
81 declare that if their proposition
~'pted by the F. A. NJ they will
= 1fth every effort to make the 1915
~1aly the most successful of any
itld. They agree TO arrange to
az expenses in connection with
''avention.
al'nber Of cities have asked TO en-
IN the convention this year, one OF
s|ongest bidders for the meet be-
Sacramento, Cal. The various ap-
..ohs will be considered by the d.
, % Of the +. A. VI. some time dur
as next few weeks.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-03-21
Light Car Run to Boston Is
Now Set for Night of
April 3.

Sixteen cars have been named to
start in the reliability run of light cars
from this city to Boston, postponed
from March Z, and now set for April 3.
They include five Saxons Zone six
cylinder, three Chevrolets, q Buick
and a Ford. Official observers will keep
check of gasolene and oil consumption,
tire punctures and requirements and
mechanical troubles. Perfect score cars
will receive silver cups, and there will
be prizes for lowest gasolene consump-
ton and the best tire score. The start
is to be from Columbus Circle at 10
o'clock at night, and the finish in Cop
ley Square the next morning.
Enamel as a spark plug insulator has
finally been perfected by German in
ventor named Bartel and incorporated
in q new plug just placed on the mar
ket by a local concern, the {. Is. e..
Auto Specially Company. Electrical
engineers consider enamel the ideal IN
sulator, because carbon will not stick
TO it. In the Bartel plug the enamel is
used not only on the centre electrode,
but on the interior OF the shell, pre-
venting the loss of current By induc-
ton without regard to conditions.
Market Street, baltimore, and Pitts
burg Avenues, the main arteries Of
travel through Chambersburg, Penn,
are no more. In their place is the Lincoln
Way. The alteration in name was &C
complished a few days ago after fif-
teen months work BY local highway
enthusiasts. The deciding move was
the presentation Of petition TO the
town council. II was signed by 95 per
cent of the residents along the three
streets. Mansfield, Ohio, has al so
fallen into line and has petitioned the
council to rename Park Avenue to con-
form with most OF the other cities,
towns and villages along the Coast-to-
Coast route.
Followers of racing are wondering
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-03-21
When Percival Fought the
Drifts While on Long
Bulldog" Run.
LENGTHY TOUR FOR
FREAK AUTOMOBILE
Josephs Reports That Fiat Plant
in Turin Is Using Many
American Parts.

Now that DR.. C. c. Percival has cast
his lot with the light cars, and is seen
frequently along Auto Row, some Of his
experiences in his wanderings with the
Bulldog" are being recalled. Driving
the famous car he was scheduled to ar
rive at one of the New York shows on
a Thursday three or four years ago.
On Wednesday afternoon of the same
week a newspaper man met the long
distance tourist in Madison Square Gar
den. Hello, Doc" he said, when did
you get in" "Sh-h, soft pedal on the
name" replied the Doctor. Pm not
here yet. We're fighting the drifts near
Albany. The Centra's great road,
isn't it,"
With Anthony Fiala narrating his ex-
periences with Roosevelt, in South
America, the Long Island Automobile
Club proved an entertaining place for
a number of local motor car men last
Thursday evening.
The freak automobile described in
The Tribune last Sunday has received
an official name. II is the Serpentine.
The car, which has single wheels fore
and aft and a wheel on each side, can
turn in rs own length, and is declared
to be ideal for city driving. The build
ers are preparing for a tour around the
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-03-21
Notes of the Auto Trade
In and Out of NeW York

about the effect Of the resignation of
NJ. Henry on Peugeot design. The
building of aviation motors will hence
forth engage the attention of the man
who Is considered to have been the
leading figure in Peugeot race sue
cesses in the last three or four years.
There is considerable doubt as to the
fate Of the various Belgian automobile
factories since war swept across that
little country. Ii had been believed
that a majority had been destroyed, but
il has recently been reported that
Minerva, Metallurgique, Excelsior, Pipe
and others are still intact and are be-
ing utilized for making ammunition TO;
German guns.
One of the first important decisions
of the new management of the Lozier
Motor Company will result in the clos
ing of the Plattsburg plant and the
sale OF the property. Production will
be confined to the big plant in Detroit,
which will be changed 10 conform with
necessities. The four and six cylinder
m dels will be continued, and new
light six will be added to the line.
10 take care or It's increasing Dusl-
ness, the Paige Detroit Company has
open i salesroom at Broadway and
Sixty-third Street. This will be in ad-
dition TO the general headquarters OF
the concern, in West Fifty-eighth
Street, just off Broadway.
Stanley R. Graham, Chicago motor
ist, has Just returned TO his home after
a trip to Los Angeles and back in his
Chandler Six. On the way out he
travelled 1895 miles in twenty-five
driving days. Gasoline varied in price
from 10 cents a gallon at Los Angeles
to 35 cents at Springerville, Ariz. The
gasolene consumption was l57 gallons.
The AZ" and SO" Westcott cars which
were shown at the New York and Chi
cago shows are now on exhibition in
the salesroom of the Aim Motor
Sales Company. at 1877 Broadway,
where they are attracting much atten-
ton. They represent about the last
word in luxury.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-03-21
AUTO FIGURES GROW
Registrations This Year 81
Per Cent Ahead of 1914.

Following the automobile shows held
throughout the country and the prom
Use Of an early return of the season
for touring, there annually comes a
jump in the motor car registration fig
ures, which now reach 1924, COM
pared with 72,07s cars licensed during
the corresponding period last year.
Owing 10 loss so far this year OF
s57 900, due 10 the half-fee provision,
the receipts aggregate only 1854 $1,000,
against S70S,4s4.25, collected in 1914.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-03-21
BUILT FIRST "EIGHT"
Marmon Claims to Have Been
Pioneer in America.

Regarding the widespread discus
sion among automobile engineers on
the subject of the eight-cylinder en-
CINE, it is interesting to note that the
first V-shaped eight-cylinder engine
placed in an American touring car was
developed and built in Indianapolis,
nine years ago, and was exhibited at
the national automobile shows at that
time"
This is the statement of H. H. Rice,
sales manager of Nordyke & Marmon
Company, OF Indianapolis.
"This engine was designed by How
ard Marmon and was built complete in
our factory. 1t was not considered
commercially practical, and was dis
continued in favor OF an engine offer
ing greater simplicity and accessibility.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-03-21
Nv 4. II. WHITING.

=, average man of the present day
9TH indifference on the breaking
- .s,omobile records. A mile a min
,Is. will-o'-the-wiSp OF the pioneer
= 80. .-s is a commonplace claimed by
y, syerv make OF car and possible
F' establishment by most Of them.
~otor car world has moved swiftly
= With certainty.
8 I, Ioft in Brooklyn. the headquar-
- the earliest Riker Company,
- 1894 and 1895 we labored over
- -xt of the four-whceled vehicles
Z. Nv thst company, IL was made up
- 4 ,,ir Of Remington bicycles with
I,F.rie motor slunG between. and il
~ certain appeal to us because
-.,B run. There were others who
:, ,gruine out self-propelled vehicles
81 erudcness. and we all felt that
s',srnent would bring something
~ while.
f., srst real vehicle. produced in
J: Rad a tubular frame, and was
- The wonders of its day. II won
I, *, actual track race ever held in
"a. 81 Narraganset: Park, Provi-
y Il NAV be claimed that there
=, prior race in Chicago, but that
/, m in a blizzard. with the cars
~ able 70 crawl through the drifts
b finish line.
;, race in Providence was a three
!. ,Esir-a heat Of five miles each
{. ,or three days-on a mile track.
=. tsrs took part-the Riker, which
.s,t: an Electrobat, built by Morris
Ssn. OF Philadelphia, and five Dur
!" zs cars. The Riker won the first
], vas beaten by the Electrobat in
| !. veond heat and captured the third
! she race.
=, casolene cars had TO chance.
:, Aough, at the time that the gas
.,4ire never would have q chance
:, he electric. Our fastest heat was
" rate Of twenty-seven miles an
=. The Riker was equipped with
= horsepower motors and weighed
lwands.
7stoVing that meet there were
Lar Of others at Guttenburg, Brook
> AID Newport, in all of which the
.s.ri, ears succeeded in making a
| p: showing.
nat was probably the first of the
ai ,aees took place in 1898, when
-r,g Frenchman put up a silver cup
y contest Of fifty miles on Long
sd The course selected was from
/ r-gisd 10 Babylon ana return. The
~ people built a piano box run
b.. especially for the race. A. L.
h, drove the car and looked after
Ie,ai;rollers.
yg;hsr OF US had ever been over the
~ and AZ times we had to stop and
,ig certain we were on the right
y. but we won easily, after starting
,,1 position. The second car 70
~ vas a Locomobile, steam car,
rr by s. T. Davis, which finished
nessn minutes back of the Riker.
T. Tersge speed was twenty-five
-aIa hour.
Il nile-a-minute bee began to buzz
is minds Of motorists about that
"a, especially after Fourier came
IN Europe with a very fast Mors in
# In that year, with the idea OF
ss-pishing that rate of speed, the
.,'Hties agreed TO series Of speed
VI. on the Coney Island Boulevard.
Z French machine was equal to the
~ and | remember that in the cleo
:, class the Riker made a mile in
"a record that stood for three
an when 1t was beaten at Ormond
Zach.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-03-21
| Happenings Of Interest
Along Automobile Row

United States, going from New York to
Florida, across to Texas and Califor-
MIA, up TO Seattle and 'cross-country on
the regular route back.
Joe Joseph, of the Fiat Automobile
Company, returned last Tuesday after
five weeks visit to Italy. The Fiat
factory in Turin, he reports, is produc-
ing motor trucks and other material in
enormous quantities for the govern
ment, the output OF motor vehicles
having reached close to the 1000
month mark. Such production would be
impossible without the help of the
Poughkeepsie factory, which is building
motors, transmissions and other parts
as fast as possible and shipping them to
Italy for assembly. Mr.. Josephs made
arrangements that will make possible
the receipt of Turin-built passenger
cars for some time to come, although
he cannot forecast conditions if Italy
enters the war.
Members of the National Automobile
Chamber of Commerce are out in strong
opposition to a move of the railroads
by which pneumatic tires would be
classified as second instead of third
class goods. 1t is felt that the increase
would be unfair, in view of the de-
creased value Of tires as compared with
the conditions existing when the pres
ent classification was fixed. The change
would mean a substantial increase in
the rate.
Not the least pleased man along Auto
Row over the victory of Barney Old
fields Maxwell on st. Patrick's Day al
Venice. Cal, was Dan Swander. Of the
Firestone company. Barney uses Fire
stones, and made no stops on a course
remarkable for the number of sharp
turns, which averaged one to every mile
Of the race.
The sale of Ford car day for the
entire year is the average aimed at by
James W. Ward, one of Newark's vet
eran statesmen. Thus far in the year he
is close enough to the mark set to make
it appear possible to achieve the un-
usual record.