El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1916-05-20

TITH all the legislative and
M other measures being taken TO
lower the price Of gasoline to
the ultimate consumer the part taken
by the automobile engineers in decreas-
ing the cost of operating cars cannot
be ignored. The automobile engineer
is keenly alive to the fuel situatio and
is busily engaged in devising means
Of making better use OF gasoline or Of
using kerosene and other less expen-
sive fuels.
AS a matter of fact there is no FUN
damental reason why automobile en-
gines will not operate satisfactorily
on kerosene. If gasoline should cost
so much thai the user can be per
suaded to give up his gasoline engine,
which is naturally the fav0rite at pros
ent because of the universal familiarity
with Its operation and because Of the
high standard Of development Il has at
tanned. then the engineering workers
Of the industry can be depended upon
to provide an engine that VIII operate
sufficiently on some other fuel
Low Maintenance Desired.
Gasoline however, is only one out
Of many items OF expense in running
an automobile. OF course It is an inn
portant item and we all hope its price
/ will soon fall back to its former level.
( What the owner wants and what he
should have is a car that Will have q
low total cost Of maintenance. The
Society Of Automobile Engineers is en-
deavoring to reduce maintenance costs
/ by promoting the principles in inter
chaugeable manufacture. These prin-
clples are laid down by the standards
committee of the society, the work OF
! which has been far-reaching In its et-
feet on the industry.
A recent investigation among the
large automobile manuta cturers mas
shown that a large majority are using
! extensively the standards established
/ by the Society Of Automobile Engineers
! The y A. T. screw and bolt standard,
which has been specially developed to
I meet the needs Of the automobile IN
! dustry. is used by "a per cent of the
companies from which reports were re
ceived. s. A. L. lock washers consist
ing of 80 sizes. instead Of 500 or 4Uv
sizes formerly used. are standard prac-
tice with 80 per cent Of the makers
and the $. A. f. spark plug is used by
90 per cent Of those from whom IN
J formation was received. Ihese Ilg -
l show the esteem in which the >. \. r.
( Standardization movement IS neld
among the manufacturers The user
/ has benefited through the steady re
/ duction i'm price Of cars, accompanied
I by an actual increase in quality.
Constantly ar WOrk-
The work of Standardization Is never
( finished The automobile industry is
/ developing so rapidly that constant IN
/ vestieation and research work are re-
( quired. The work OF standardization Is
: being constantly carried on by the
: brightest minds among automobile en-
/ gineers, serving as members Of the d.
visions Of the s a. J.. standards COM
mittee.
/ only last month the result OF pains
I taking labor by these men was OIL
4 ciaIIy adopted by the Society Of Auto
mobile Engineers and is thus made
: available to the whole industry The
/ standards adopted include specifica-
lions for steel covering the manufac-
; ture. purchase and methods Of making
/ chemical analyses and physical tests
! standard sizes OF license plates: STAN
! dard location Of engine and chassis