New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-06-24

self, raises his voice in objection to
the left hand steer. He says:
The question of getting in and
out Of the left hand drive cars is
one of the many things that make
me wonder why they still feel they
should have the left hand drives.
It is the most impossible Of all the
change tina: have come about in
the past few years when consid-
cred from the points of advantage
claimed for il. 1t is, of course,
just as easy 10 make a car drive
from the left as the right if the
only object is to change the posi-
ton of the driver, but so far as
concerns any real advantages that
are being claimed and stuffed down
the public's throat, my contention
is that there is absolutely nothing
TO it so far as the operator iseon-
cerned.
II has been our opinion that left
hand steer gives an easy exit 10 the
street sidewalk, not only Of the front
seat passenger, bU: o; .he driver too.
and saves either OF them getting out
into a muddy highway, for instance. 1t
gives closer view OF the clearance
between ones own car and one APP
preaching, which on high-crowned
roads is an advantage. too. But, of
course, IL places the driver far away
from the ditch at the right of the road.
and that is q decided disadvantage.
Where the control levers are In the
centre the driver has to be agile TO
slide by 70 his seat at the left-an-
other point against left-hand drive.
But, like the four-mile distance Of
the college boat races, right-hand
steer is something that we copied from
England, ! imagine. There, where one
drives to the left and sits at the right,
the situation is actually the same as
We have here when we sit to the left
and drive on the right hand side of the
road.
War Is not all hardship, to judge
from reports from France of extrava-
gance in the matter of officers cars
in the French army. The General
Headquarters Staff, it was shown re-
Gently, ordered twenty-six staff cars,
at an average cost of s6,522. These
cars included thirteen Panhard-Levas-
sors. at s6,32S each; four Renaults, at
S6.994 each; four De Dion-Boutons. at
sG.107 each, and five Delaunay-Belle-
villes. at $7,032 each.
Each car was ordered fitted up with
armchairs and Pullman couches, cleo
trio lighting. special headlights, sus-
pension heating apparatus and ma
hogany cabinetwork.
Incidentally, it was figured out that
the maintenance cost OF l,751 touring
cars in service at the rear for pc
Rod of nine months amounted TO more
than S4,450,000. This is at the rate Of
$4,000 a year for gasolene, oil. grease,
tires and spares alone. This without
repairs.
The situation over there is something
Ike it used 10 be with municipal cars
in this city. Every officer there, as
every department head here, felt he
must have a car for himself, and that
held in readiness at all times for his
reculiar use. Now there are depart
ment fleets, and city employe entitled
to use a car takes out whatever car is
available. That is the system they are
going to work in France.
These French cars, mind you, were
for use at the rear. One racing driver
for months did taxi service at the wheel
Of a military automobile used in Paris
by a civilian member of the govern
ment. They are going to cut out the
Joy riding in the French army.
An Akron advertising man says a tire
second" Of to-day is equal to about a
fourth" of two years ago. Most sec
onds" are worthless. he adds, the only
imperfect casing likely to give service
being what is known as "blemished"
tire-marred in being removed from
the mould.