The Washington times., 1917-02-03
Frank Discussion of Motor
Matters by The Times Auto
mobile Editor
AN UNPREJUDIcED. OPINION
A Column of Judgment on Is
sues Vital to Motor Car
Owners.
B1 MONTE soHN.

Motordom is much absorbed with
the question of saturation-the ques-
ton as to whether automobile manu-
facturers are going to find a market
80 satisfied with users that there
will no longer be a national demand
for cars.
Out Of approximately 3.5Oo.O0o cars
built in the last ten years there are
still nearly 100000 in use, and 1,300,-
600 were built last year. This year
almost a million and three-Quarters
Is the estimated production of the
motor manufacturers.
In four years, at the present rate
of production there will be 100000
cars in use, despite requirements and
exits via the junk pile.
Contemplated
Eight people in every hundred will
own a car.
The casual consideration of this
fact does not reveal the tremendous
consequences of its effect
GHmDse Into Future.
What, we wonder, will the District
traffic squad do to successfully
handle $4,000 motor cars? At twelve
miles an hour?
Dipping still further into the ulti.
mate, we pass over the mundane door.
step and in the prophetic realm OF
doubt, we open our eyes.
1950i
Moses Kings most extravagant
drawings OF the future are pale
prophecies by comparison.
The street cars are no more, and
the sidewalks have shrunk to mere
doorsteps, for nobody walks except
for pleasure, q purpose which is all
that has saved the parks from the
needs of the self-propelled vehicle.
With the passing Of the sidewalks,
tunnels from corner to corner, be-
meath the streets lead from sub-base-
ment to sub-basement of buildings.
There is a fine of $50 for any vio-
mtion Of the law against crossing
the streets on foot.
Amy motorist caught driving his
car at less than twenty miles an
hour Is fined.
There is no speed limit in the judg.
ment of the law, the only fine being
for 'Criminally Reckless Driving"
Strange things have happened to
cur fair city in this passing of time
GCOD0 Safe In Crows Nest.
The crossing 'cop" no longer is i'm
periled by the rushing swarms OF
motor cars. He sits above his sta
tion of 1917 in a crows nest. and the
seat upon his steel pole gives him
q commanding view OF the two thor.
oughfares, the semaphore being be
low him.
Accessory shops have entrances for
cars instead of small doors, and no
cars may park at the curbs, since
every business establishment, thea
ter, public building and residence has
its automobile entrance, which in
some instances leads below to base
ment parking spaces.
The gasolene dispensary Is no more
In place of the unsightly gasolene
tanks in back of the cars, automobiles
of 1850 carry neat little, inconspicu
Gus aluminium boxes at the rear. In
these boxes one pours a quart OF
water when the gauge on the dash
indicates necessity, and the dropping
of q small globule into the quart OF
water means the generation of suf
ficient fuel in the form of gas to
drive the car $50 miles
Wonderful EIeetrIca.
There are. of course. the electric
cars, which travel a thousand miles
on a charge. and are capable of as
high as 100 miles an hour.
Rubber, long since discarded, has
been replaced by a resilient substance
ten times as durable, q synthetic
product manufactured by a process
involving some mysterious use OF
sulphuric acid. Tires made of this
material are guaranteed for 10000
miles.
In 1850, there being SO many other big
improvements in motordom. mechanical
9000c0c0ooo0ocooooooooocc
9