The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-11-04
CROSSES COUNTRY.
 USING H|GH GEAR.
0IdSmobiIe Six Reaches Los Angeles After Trip From
 New York


 previous to his start, by New York newspapermen who witnessed the re- moval of low, second and reverse gears and the sealing of the trans mission box. Escorted by cordon of New York motorcycle officers Baker started down on trip that held the center of attention of au- tomotiye experts and car owners.
 On his trip to Los Angeles. Baker encountered more than the usual diff ficulties including the disasterous rains and floods that cost several millions of dollars damage in Okla homa, Missouri and Kansas. Among other hardships encountered by Baker and his newspaperman-c com panion were famous Kansas and Mis- souri axle-deep "gumbo," days of rain, mountains, snow, wash .outs in the roads and extreme cesert heats as high as 110 degrees.
 Upon arrival at San Bernadino. California, Baker was met by a dele- gation of prominent Los Angeles cit zens who escorted him to the city hall of Los Angeles, where he was officially greeted by Mayor George E. Cryer. Baker turned over to the chief executive of the city letter sent from New York city by Aired Reeves, president of the National Au- tomobile Chamber of Commerce.
 Mir. Reeves, In his letter, said, This
 
 of the motor car, and conclusively proves the flexibility of the modern automobile engine, as the entire trip Is to be made with only the direct drive, or high gear in the transmits sion. The advances in motor car design that permit this unusual feat are comm endable." Reeves also stressed on. the progressiveness shown by many states in the con struction of good roads.
 Baker did not attempt to esta blish any new speed records but spent about 1215 days on the roads and was forced to remain inactive for six days where the floods and outlaw rivers had entirely washed away the roads and bridges.
 The first night out of New York Bakers Oldsmobile "Six" met It's first severe test in the form of the Cumberland mountains with grades ranging upwards to 21 per cent In spite of dense fog in the Cumb ber- lands, Riser Mountain, the highest point and the hazardous Un1ontown Hill, were crossed in high" with fast speeds at the top and power to spare.
 After two and one-half days driv- ing Baker rolled into Indianapolis, S61.7. miles out of New York. An ac- curate check by weight was made or the oil consumption and 1t was found
  in the S61,7 miles. An analysis of the oil in the crankcase after driving that distance proved that 1t had lost prac- ticalIy none of its lubricating qualt- ties, in fact dilution had taken place a t the rate of but one-half of one per cent A gasoline mileage of 30.3 per gallon was verified by Indianapolis newspapermen.
 After leaving Indianapolis Baker encountered rain and for period of
 Ct r1 perienced in the middle west sec tion In spite of dense traffic con ditions and heavy rainfall during the 460 mile run rom Indianapolis to St. Louis, the same high record of econ omy was maintained In St. Louis. as in most of the other cities, Baker was greeted by the mayor and other prominent city officials.
 Crossing the Mississippi on his way to Kansas City, Baker began to meet the first real obstacles of the Journey A heavy downpour of rain made heavy. sticky Misoursi "gumbo'' mires so deep that the running boards dragged The Ozark Mountains with numerous dangerous turns were made without any trouble. At some points the mud was so deep that an average of only 10 miles per hour was maintained for long distances. In spite of this, remarkable fuel rec ords were established.
 When conditions permitted Baker to leave Kansas City, roads were found to be practically impossible, according to natives, the worst in 30 years. Powerful cars of all makes were having difficulty in negotiating the mud in low gear, but Baker, de- termined not to be delayed any long CT, put his Oldsmobile "Six" across the entire state of Kansas with only high gear.
 
 sas. Baker experienced two other ex- tremes of climate. Near Kinsley, Kansas, hard snow and sleet beat him in the face and frequent stops were made to chip ice from the head lamps.
 Piunging ahead, Baker climbed from Kansas state level to point nearly a mile high at La Junta, Col, at the foot of the Rockies. On the next days run the car climbed con tinually, passing through the Colo rado flood district.
 On his second Sunday out of New York, Baker crossed miles of hot desert in the morning, over corduroy roads, irregation ditches and wash outs. At noon the famous Raton Pass, 7,SSS feet high and the most severe test of the entire tourney was encountered. After successfully over coming 2,234 miles of obstacles Bak- CT decided to attempt Raton Pass in spite of the crowds of Sunday tour ists that made driving difficult. Twisting and turning up steep grades cars that were boiling in low" and crossed the top at 2S miles per hour.
 On the way down the Santa Fe Trail to Albuquerque, the car crossed some of the most difficult peaks in the Rockies, including Labaiada Hill. with 26 hair pin turns. Just previous to reaching Albuquerque. blinding storm of hot desert sand made driv- Ing extremely hazardous.
 In Arizona the Continental Divide. the highest point of the trip. $500 feet above the sea level, was crossed after driving 100 miles agains- strong head winds and hlinding snow.
 On his way to the Arizona -Califor- mia state line Baker dropped down nearly a mile and half to the floor of the Mojave desert. On this day he feet from .5olbrook to Winslow. Ari- zona, from there climbed back up 15 miles to Flagstaff, 5000 feet high, and then travelled down again to Needles, near the California border. The day was featured by two ex- tremes, heat of 110 degrees in the desert and snow in the mountains.
 Though Baker set out to achieve one s feat only-the driving of the Oldsmobile six from coast to coast with but one high gear. thereby ac- complaining something previously unheard of, he also established some remark able economy records for other drivers to shoot at"
 It is an acknowledged fact that high gear starting and driving on long pulls that requires much power.