Arizona republican., 1922-01-22

of varying Importance all join hands
at this time to crack the whip OF en-
gineering opinion over the heads OF
the motor owning public.
And naturally enough, the pupilc
enjoys the procedure sufficiently 10
become a partner TO the discussion
whenever and wherever the oppor-
tunity exists. Apparently, in the
make up of every human there IS
just enough curiosity TO tmpei sucn
action. Every motor-car owner, az
some time or other, has wondered
what the creations of five or ten
years Hence would look like. Glanc-
ing back over the startling changes
that have been made in the last ten
years, he has wondered whether or
not it would be possible for the COM
ing decade to show similar progress.
My personal opinion is that it will
not. am of the belief that most or
the development work in the auto
mobile field during the coming dec
ade will be confined largely to SIM
plification and Standardization of
| construction. with view toward Sc
curing greater endurance and free
dom from repairs and adjustments.
The motor car each year is be-
coming a greater instrument of util-
l ANJ bNNACI anu HChEAOAly
| ognized servant to public needs, and
by reason of this fact, it's ability to
do its work with a minimum of ex
| pense is continually becoming more
and more important. There was a
| time when every owner expected a
| certain amount of difficulty in oper-
| atlng his car. He discounted this
| difficulty when he made his purchase
and he displayed no surprise when
1t materialized. That time. however,
Is gone. Today the average motor
car owner objects strenuously il
called upon to humor or fuss with
his car and is the subject Of much
| disappointment il for any reason his
car is not at his call whenever he
needs it. This change in the public's
point OF view and its unwillingness
70 tolerate anything but thoroughly
! Justlfiable repairs and adjustments
VIII probably be the greatest single
indluence upon motor car design of
the coming years.
| Undoubtedly the most hazardous
undertaking in prophesying the trend
OF motor-car design is that which in
! wolves the motor proper. If the sub
! Ject had been UP for discussion last
summer when the shortage in gaso-
line was SO acute, the necessity for
| stringent economy would probably
have strongly influenced the discus
sion. Now that the crisis has passed
again (and the word "again" is used
advisedly), the cry for revolutionary
fuel economy has subsided. Whether
or not the present type OF internal
combustion engine will eventually be
! rendered obsolete by a scarcity of
! fuel is question that no one can
answer with any material assurance
at this time.
Eventually this demand for greater
| fuel economy may develop, as it has
in England and other continental
countries, cars of less weight and
horsepower. Already there is a move-
ment in this direction, but until our
public highways have been materi-
ally improved, do not believe it will
be dominant factor. 1t is all very
well for England, with her developed
road beds, to employ extraordinarily
light cars with very moderate power
ratings, but the average American
highway does not, as yet, provide
similar opportunities in America
There is one factor in motor car
design which, to the best of present.