Evening star., 1923-12-23
AAA.FOR GREATER
us. RESEARCHFUND
Motorists Saved Much Ex-
pense by Government, 1t
Is Pointed Out.

Believing that the research work
or the automotive section of the
United States bureau of standards is
VI greater value to the automobile
owners of the country in proportion
10 the amount of federal money ex-
pended than any other activity OF
the government in behalf of mo-
fortsts, the American Automobile AS
soclation is urging Congress to in
crease the appropriations for 1924
from $4,000 allotted in the bulge,
TO $4,000, the minimum amount es-
tlmated as required to carry on the
work on scale equal to that Of the
past year.
The automotive section in the study
made for the Motor Transport Corps
on the behavior of brake lining ma
terialS alone made possible the
saving of $1O.000,000 annually for
the motorists of the nation. The an
nual brake lining bill was $4,000. 900.
Through experimental work carried
on the life of brake Innings was
doubled without extra cost to the
consumer.
Origin of Many Savings.
Many Of the savings for motorists
have been the result of tests con-
Quoted for the Army, Navy, Motor
transport Corps. Post Office Depart
ment and general supply committee
on problems involving aircraft and
automobile power plants, fuels, lu-
bricants and accessories. The total
expenditure of the automotive sec
tton was approximately $125.000 an
Rually. Unfortunately. a large part
or the work for the government de-
partments has been completed, so
that the support for the laboratories
from other governmental sources is
reduced and the public will be de-
prived largely os these by-products.
There is also an urgent demand for
the extension of Investigations di-
rectly beneficial to the public. This
demand can be met only in a veTv
limited way, it is pointed out, unless
the appropriation is materially IN
creased
A project recently undertaken and
for which only limited support is as
Yet available, is the development of
methods for testing the braking abil-
tton now actively before the various
state and municipal agencies for the
control of traffic and has come to be
recognized as the most vital element
in the securing of safety in high
way transportation. Apparatus and
Test methods already devised and
demonstrated to many state and mu-
ntcipal authorities have shown the
tests of brake equipment. which are
satisfactory to authorities and the
car users
Requires Appropriations.
without the direct support of con-
gressional appropriations this most
important work cannot be carried on.
as there is no outside agency which
can support il. Moreover. it is one
OF the direct services which the ma
ttonal government owes to the states.
cities and citizens in its fostering of
highway transporta ton. The value
of this work to the country is rep
resented not in dollars. but in lives.
Another similar project has been
undertaken in connection with the
adjustment of head lights and the
enforcement of regulations therefor.
While this work would be done only
partly under the appropriations re-
ferred to above. it is a part OF the
same general undertaking of serving
the automobileusing public.
Another project of perhaps equal
Importance is an investigation to de-
termine what is the most economical
grade of motor fuel for use In exist
this research. while not yet COM
p1eted, indicate that the total sup
My of motor fuel can be increased
some 80 per cent without sacrifice
IN the mileage. Possibilities OF in
creased economy of fuel have also
been developed. This project prom
tses further economic saving to the
public Of many millions OF dollars. in
addition to fuel saving to the gov
ernment itself. which would pay
rany times over for the cost OF the
entire automotive program OF the
bureau of standards.