davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-12-18
Bureau of Standards Experimenting
To Determine Wear on Auto Tires

Watching through clear plate glass
with both the naked eve and the photo
graphic camera, the Bureau Of stand
ards is experimenting with specially
constructed apparatus to determine
how and why the treads OF automobile
tires wear and the effect Of the axle
load and air pressures.
The anparatus, devised to ascertain
nv intimate observations the varying
CONCENTRATIONS in tire treads Tor the
information of the industry, including
a miniature car moved back and forth
on a track by rack and pinion, with
tire pressing against the glass plate AT
VARYING preSsures and loads. Inc iuil
text Of a written statement on the
subject on December follows:
Apparatus by which the wear OF
automobile tires in service can be re
corded and studied has Just been com
Melted hv the Bureau of Standards.
A pneumatic tire is constructed with
a thick LAYER of rubber around its
outer circumference to act as wear
ing surface. This is commonly re-
ferred to as the tread Of the tire as
DISTINGUISHED from the body Of the
tire. which is designed to withstand
air pressure The ideal tread, in add
ton 10 giving tractive properties 70
the tire. should wear down uniformly
and at such rate that it will last as
long as the remainder of the tire.
From an observation Of the manner
in which treadS wear in service as we'll
as from laboratory tests, 1t is apparent
that the wear is Influenced by the con
str11ction of the tire and the design of
the tread as well as by external condi-
tons such as road surface, speed Of
oneration. etc. The fact that the wear
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-12-18
England Offers
Prize for Artistic
Roadside Garage

England has launched cam
paign against the covering of
garage fronts with vari- colored
signs. and the minister Of trans
port has offered a prize for
roadside garage design which may
be adopted as standard, according
to the American Automobile AS
ISOLATION.
High esthetic standards are
sought in the new design. 1t is
also planned to hide the obiec-
tionable features of the petrol
pump" as the English call the
outlet to their gas supply.
While il is admitted that the
garage owner is only seeking to
sell his wares by placing the
varied signs sent to him by the
manufacturer of auto accessories
and supplies. he is doing that which
he believes is for the best interest
Of his business.
The English minister of trans
port, however is seeking to con-
vince the heads Of these large
firms that it is unnecessary to
"deface the landscape in order
TO bring their respective goods TO
the attention of the motorists.
Pleasant motoring. made pos
sible through beautiful landscapes
and inviting garages. is the aim
Of the British campaign.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-12-18
Law to Aid Owner
OF COnfiscated Car
Is Sought in Ohio

Automobile dealers who have lost
cars, money and mortgages under
Federal liquor law confscations
will be the beneffciarjes of legisla.
ton supported by the Ohio Council.
National Automobile Dealers Asso.
citation, according to J. W, Tarbili,
cha irman Of the board of govern
ors Of the Ohio body.
Under present national laws
when a car is seized with liquor in
it it is confisca ted by the Govern.
ment and finally sold The pro-
ceeds are turned over to the United
states Treasury. The wrongdoer
is out the car, but if the car has
on it a mortgage, given in part
payment Of the pr 20. not only is
the wrongdoer out the car but the
dealer is out the value of his mort
gage.
Confusion in existing conditions
was brought about through the
Interpretation Of a section of 4 law
passed in 1866 and by the national
prohibition act. The NOlsteaG In
provides that where a mortgage is
held by a dealer when a car is
seized the dealer may satisfy his
mortgage from the proceeds of the
Government sale first, and the bal
ance will he paid to the United
States Trea sury However. prohi-
bition agents have made car seiz-
ures under section 3450, a revenue
law passed in 1865, which provides
for outright confscation.
1t will he the effort Of the Ohio
Council to bring the prohibition
unit procedure into conformity with
the legislation actually put into the
Nolstead law, hut the effects If
which have been nuIlitied by Gov
eminent appeal to an older and
harsher statute.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-12-18

Colors Of license tags for the vari-
Gus States for 1928, tabuIated by the
American Automobile Association, are
as follows:
Alabama, black on yellow; Arizona,
vermilion red on copper: Arkansas,
black on deep orange; California, gold
on blue; Colorado, maroon on French
gray; Connecticut. white on dark blue.
Delaware, black on white; District of
Columbia, black on chrome yellow,
Florida. orange on maroon: Georgia.
white on dark blue; Illinois, white on
maroon; Indiana. white on brown;
Idaho. natura brown potato on vine
green. figures in green. Iowa, black on
white; Kansas. dark blue ON white.
Kentucky. white on green; Louisiana.
minimuml blue on white, tmaximuml
white on dark blue, trucks red on
cream Maine blue on white; Mary
land, white on blue; Nassac husetts.
white on forest green with fish a bot
tom or plate; Michigan. white on
green; Minnesota fpa ssenEer), black on
drah. trucks black on gold dealers
White on maroon Mississippi. white
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-12-18
CROWDS VIEW "LITTLE"
AUTOMOBILE SHOWS
Display of New Colors for Car
Bodies Held in Hotel
Hobbies Here.

Despite the inclement weather, in
Creasing crowds have been the rule
at Washington little" automobile
shows held last week at the Willard
Mayfiower and Wardman Park hotels,
according to Rudolph Jose, chairman
Of the show committee Of the Wash
ington Automotive Trade Association
and under whose direction the present
exhibitions We're staged.
Since the cars now on display will
not he available for the larger show
at the Auditorium in January. il was
thought best by MIR. Jose 10 take them
when they could he had and show
them in the hotel Hobbies.
Mr.. Jose states the present exhibi
ton is more one of color than cars.
and is devoted mainly to presenting
the wide range Of choice in shades
that will be possible for the buyers of
cars next season.
The display includes 2 models of as
many unusual color combinations and
is direct from the annual auto salon
Just closed in New York City. The
entire exhibition goes from here di-
rect TO Chicago, Washington being the
only stop between the two cities.
Some of the unique and appealing
colOrs shown include Waigiu Yellow.
Paradise Red. Midnight Blue, Angel
Fish, Czarina Beige, Butterfly Wing
Blue, Ledge Orange. Ravine Yellow,
Afterglow Brown, Buttress Brown,
Rose Coral. Como Green, Orchid and
WoOdsmOke Brown
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-12-18

Of a tire tread is influenced 10y the
design Of the tire has been emphasized
by the general adoption Of the balloon
tire, which because Of its large contact
area subjects the tread to greater dis
t0rtionS as it comes in contact with
the road than is usual in high-prosSure
tires
Abnormallv rapid wear Of balloon
tires. often in certain spots, is not I'M
common, and many different steps
have been taken by manufacturers to
overcome the condition. There is talk
Of fiat treads and round trcads, wide
and narrow treads, and observations
will show many different tread config
urations. all Of which are designed, at
least to some extent, to overcome alb
normally rapid tread wear.
The bureau has built an apparatus
consisting of a small car which may
be moved back and forth on track by
rack and pinion. The body Of the car
consists Of sheet Of clear plate glass.
tire under q definite load and air
pressure may he pressed against this
glass plate and observed through the
glass. BY running the car along the
track while the tire is pressed against
ii the distortions Of the tread CORE
spending to the action in service can
be seen and photographed,
The tendency Of different portions of
the tread To slide when in contact can
he noted and the effect Of alterations
in the tread shape and design studied.
This investigation. should yield yalu-
able Information as to just how and
why treads wear, how the wear is af-
fected by axle loads and air pressures
and the general characteristics of a
tire for minimum tread wear.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-12-18
5000 AUTOS IMPORTED.
Finland's Low Tax and Need for
Transportation Cited.

Imports of motor vehicles into
Finland during the current year are
estimated at 5000, according TO j. K.
Tuokkola, automobile distributor of
Helsingfors and president of the
Finnish Automobile Dealers Associa.
ton. who last week discussed trade
conditions at A luncheon rendered by
the staff of the National Automobile
Chamber of Commerce
An import duty of 50 ad valorem
and low motor taxation, averaging
little more than $40 per vehicle per
year. coupled with an insufT1ciency of
railroad facilities are the chief fac
tors contributing to this large i'm
portation into a country where total
motor registration on January l..
1927. totaled only 1874, according
TO Mr.. Tuokkola.
He emphasized Finland's constant
~ improving economic conditions
and government finances. and feels
that 10000 motor cars. busses and
trucks should be imported in 1928.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-12-18
REGISTRATION GROWS,
BUT AUTO FEES STAND
Revenue Now Approximately the
Same as in 1922, Says Balti-
more Commissioner.

Although motor vehicle registration
has increased 106. 1916 machines in the
past five years, fees derived from the
registrations are approximately the
same now as they were in 1922, accord.
ing to r. Austin Baughman. commits
sioner of motor vehicles of Baltimore
In 1922. Mr.. Baughman said, a total
registration OF 17S,0o4 machines in
fees turned over to the State SAIL
153.42. During 1927 fees collected
from the registration of 2S5 900 ma
chimes were approximately $250,000.
Despite the increase in the number
of automobiles, Mr.. Baughman said
the lower fees resulted in the reduc-
ion in 1924 of the registration rate
from so cents horsepower to 80
cents.
The reciprocity agreement between
Maryland and the District of Column
ba was also one of the easons why
the commission failed to show an in.
crea sed use of the automobile.
1t has been estimated by officials of
the commission that the 1928 registra.
tion will show a least an increase of
$4,000 more machines in Maryland as
compared To 1927.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-12-18
Colors of Auto License Tags for 1923
Are Tabulated for Various States

on black: Missouri, blue on orange,
Montana. black on orange, Nebraska,
white on blue. Nevada, white on YER
million red; New Hampshire, white on
green: New Jersey. white on light
blue: New Mexico. passenger gold on
light navy blue. commercial reverse
New York, yellow on black; North
Carolina, white on green; North pa
kota, passenger white on black,
nrucksl white on light green; ONO.
white on dark blue; Oklahoma, black
on yellow: Oregon, black on white.
PENNSYLVANIA, dark blue on orange,
Rhode Island white on black. south
Carolina black on gold South Dakota,
white on dark rod; Tennessee, white
on black 1 axas. white on dark brown
Utah. black on federal yellow; Yer
mont, dark green on gold. Virginia.
orange on black; Washington black
On orange, West Virginia, white on
dark green; Wisconsin. black on
orange, Wyoming. yellow rn Western
Union blue. Alaska, rcd on canary vel
low; Hawaii deep orange on black,
Porto Rico, violet on gray. Philippine
Islands black on white.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-12-18
BABC0CK STRESSES NEED
OF EXTENDED HIGHWAYS
Head of Road Builders Association
Urges Connection Between North
west and Southwest u. S.

The immediate establishment of
highway communication between the
States of the Northwest and South
west is essential TO maximum agri-
cultural prosperity of the Western
States, Charles NJ. Babcock, president
of the American Road Builders AS.
sociation. stated recently. The lack of
highway transportation between these
sections is lamentable, Mr.. Babcock
said
AT present it is practically i'm
possible to travel by motor car from
Idaho or Montana to the Southwest
States without crossing and recross-
ing the Sierra Nevada or Rocky Noun.
tains," he declared. This waste of
valuable time and mileage is due to
highway system. The closing of these
gaps is fundamentally an obligation
of the Federal Government
In order that highway communica-
tion may be established through the
sparsely settled regions of the West
it is essential that the Federal aid
road law be Immediately revised to
facilitate The closing of gaps in the
primary highway system. The law
should permit the Bureau Of Public
Roads to construct these roads entirely
al government expense instead of per
hitting the grant of only a portion
of the cost under the present law"
Mr. Babcock cited especially the
need Of through connections in Ari-
IONA north Of the Grand Canyon.
Highway communication between
Utah and Arizona is made virtually
impossible because of stretches of IN
built roads mostly through Govern
ment land in this section, which is
completely cut off by the Grand
Canyon from the settled area of
Arizona and consequently has no
roads. It is the duty of the Federal
Government TO close such gaps inn
mediately. This will he made possible
only by revision of the Fede al aid
road law"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-12-18
AUT0IST is WARNED
OF LEFT-HAND TURNS
Traffic Code Here Provides Two
Simple Methods of Cutting From
Moving Traffic.

Variation in the manner of making
left.hand turnS-pulling over to the
right a signal-lighted intersections
and to the left At unlighted corners
is a cause of frequent and ANNOYING
delays 10 hundreds Of motorists in the
National Capital, in the opinion Of
Rudolph Jose. local automobile dealer
and an observer Of local traffic Condi-
tions for many years.
The situation thus created is not
a cause for change in the reGula-
tons governing the making Of the
left-hand turn. but it does denote the
need for educational work among
some drivers" said Mr. Jose 1T is
up to the individual to know this fun.
damental feature Of the local traffic
code, and while no one would advo.
cate eXacting severe penalties in such
cases, certainly warning from the
police would not he unmerited."
That it is not difficult 10 remember
the regulation and follow it without
confusion or hesita ton is pointed
out by Mr.. Jose. There are but two
methods of making left turn. the
one being practiced when turning at
intersections controlled by the traffic
signal lights the other at all other
crossings, whether policeman is on
duty or the intersection is uncon.
troled.
At the lieht-controled crossings. it
is recalled. the car about to turn must
draw into the intersection on the
green light and stand to the right of
moving vehicles until the signal
changes. When green shows on the
cross street. the turn is completed
At all other intersections car turns
left at the center Of the street, either
waiting for the signal of the officer or
completing the turn when traffic clears
sufficiently
This phase of the regulations. .
says Mr.. Jose. rs so simple that no
one could misunderstood ii after TAX
ing the trouble to glance at it. Left
turns made from the wrong lane al
ways have been one Of the most pro
life causes of street mishaps
Every motorist should know that
at unlighted intersections he makes
his left turn from the center of the
street. and not from the right lane
The few who do not know il cause
considerable confusion and DELAY and
are responsible for a dangerous situa.
ton"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-12-18
1914 Pct. of Cars in
Providence Have
Faulty Headlights

Although Washington still Is
troubled by many motorists who
have neglected to secure headlight
adjustment. it is safe to say that
the National Capital is not so bad
" off as Providence, r. l.. where
recent check revealed that 99.4 per
cent or all the cars examined were
equipped with out -of-focus lamps.
Immediate steps are being taken by
Rhode Island authorities to bring
about prompt alienation of this
condition.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-12-18
CORN AND COTTON CONVERTED
INTO PAINT FOR MOTOR CARS
By-Products of Staple Crops Used in
Manufacture of Lacquers and
Enamels.

"A part of this Falls corn and cot.
ton harvest will be used to paint
American automobiles. saws bulletin
OF the National Geographic Society
Corn. cotton and coal derivatives, as
lacquer, will also tint the kitchen
chair. the tea room furniture. or
change the bedroom blues to cheerful
pinks and vellows
New lacquers for automobiles and
furniture rely on two children of war,
nitrocellulose and butyl alcohol. Nj.
trocelluloSe, made from cotton for
high explosives, soon developed famil-
lar peacetime articles buttons.
movie film and. since the war. has
been adapted 10 paint. Ten years ago
the Middle West manufactured an
other war necessity from corn. Fer
mentine corn mash produced acetone
for explosives, with butyl alcohol as
a hyproduct. Chemists found the al
cohol sood solvent for A new flow
ing cellulose. Moreover, the solution
would carry sufficient pigment and
resin to make an automobile paint ca
pahle Of withstanding sun rays. heat,
cold water, ice, sa nd. soap. weak acid
weak alcohol, oil and tar. From that
moment hutyl alcohol from corn he.
came = iuaJol pApuutt anu dttlbuS q
by-product,
Becomes a Science.
Thus an ancient art. painting. has
become science. Cromagnon men.
who drew animal pictures on walls Of
Spanish caves, perhaps $4,000 years
ago, were the first of A long line Of
artists and hotse painters Yet not
until the last . years have chemists
and physicists Investigated paint sci
entifcaly. In this brief period they
have compounded far more lasting
paints; paints that viii reflect more
heat. paints that will Danish barna-
Giles; paints that have reduced the
drying problem from days to seconds;
paints that will reduce gasoline stor-
age evaporation; synthetic materials
to substitute for fast-disappearing raw
supplies, and non poisonous substitutes
for poisonous paints.
THE scientists first problem was
to know what paint was. Imagine a
coating of red house paint magnified
to the thickness of a modern sidewalk.
Let US walk on it. The surface is
elastic to the tread and transparent,
for beneath it we see millions of red
pebbles set in the hard rubbery lin
seed oil cement. To prepare the
paint linseed oil was mixed with red
iron oxide and turpentine from South
ern pines. Once laid on the turpen.
tine rose from the paint like evaporat-
ing water from a mud fat and the
linseed oil stiffened.
The red pebbles are truly a metal.
When we paint we throw over an
object a protective coat of mail bound
In a semi-elastic cement--a red barn
has a metal covering Of iron rust. II
We return few years later we find
that weather has taken away the top
layer linseed oil cement and that the
red rust pebbles are falling away like
gravel from a hank beside a stream
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-12-18

was placed at a dangerous crossing
near another school A dozen adj
ditiOnal subwaNs are planned.
One difficulty encountered with pc
destrian tunnels is that of getting foot
traffic to use them. Schools have
found q solution to the problem by APP
pointing older boys as traffic directors
who have been entirely successful in
controlling their youthful charges. In
downtown business districts, however.
whore traffic Is as congested and
tangled as it is At the corner of
Michigan avenue and Van Buren,
streets. Chicago. at few minutes
after o'clock, there is no need for
urging Traffic flows through the tun-
mel here in a constant, even stream
in order TO avoid the automobile jam
that makes street crossing more peril
Gus than a midnight walk through an
African thicket.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-12-18
NEW BUS REGULATIONS.
Maryland Restrictions Become Fl.
fective January /.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

Special Dispatch TO The Star
BALTIMORE. December 1.-THE
Public Service Commission has adopt.
ed new rules for the regulation of
bus transportation in Maryland. which
apply to all motor bus comma MES
operating in the State Among the
changes in the rules, which become
operative on the first of the year. are
requirements that each bus be eduip.
ped with a stop light heating system.
fire extinguisher and an emergency
exit in the rear
Another new rule. applying 10 on.
orators Of -four or more busses. re.
uuires each bus TO bear distinguish
ing color.
one of the newly promulgated recu-
lations that forcing each bus to have
a speedometer. was suggested hy r.
Austin Baughman, commissioner OF
motor vehicles, and another reauir-
ing rear-view mirrors. was recon-
mended by John y. Mackall, chair
man of the State roads commission.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-12-18
Motor Cycles on Decline

Motor cycles are on the decline in
quantity production in the United
States. In 1926 there were only
128,7S2 motor cycles registered, while
five years before 207,930 were regis
tnro1
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-12-18

For most Of the makings' of paint
! America need not 80 beyond her for-
! ders-to New Jersey, Wisconsin and
! Missouri mines for zinc. 10 Missouri
/ again and Idaho for white lead, 20
! Minnesota and North Dakota fax
| fields for linseed oil. 70 PENNSYLVANIA
| coke ovens for coal tar dyes TO Flor
ida Sa nds for titanium white. We
/ turn 10 Georgia pine forests for tur-
/ rentine and rosin, tn Chesa peake Bay
! for menhaden fish oil 10 Texas for
| cotton Ceiulose. to Illinois and In
diana for corn alcohol: to Lake SUI
nerior and Pennsylvania mines for
rcd pigment. 10 Tennessee. Kentucky
and Missouri for barytes. Louisiana
and West Virginia natural gas wells
provide carbon black pigment, Penn
SNlYania and Georgia WELD yellow
ocher pigment, Pennsylvania fur
nishes sienna and brown pigments.
The waste piles of steel salvanizing
Industries supply Prussian blue and
farms Of many localities yield soy
bean oil
Yet the paint industry. and par.
/ tiCuiarly that part Of it devoted to
Narnlsh. reaches out to the ends Of
he earth for'certain ingredients. It
pays the premium Of running boats
down the Yangtze gorges death traps
10 get waterproofing tung oil It
hires Maori natives Of New Zealand
10 wade in Swamps feeling with their
toes for humps of fossil Kauri gum
eNuded by trees long dead. 1t mar
kets for other fossil gums or 'copals
With Sierra Leone. MAZDA ga scar. Zan.
zibar, Benguela, Manila, Accra on the
Gold Coast the konco and even with
head-hunters Of New Caledonia 1t
buys perlla oil Of Japan, SOY bean oil
Of Manchuria, and lumbang or candle
nut oil from the Philippines America
paid SlI 600 GOO to India last year for
$1,000. 600 pounds of shellac.
Where Chemist Fails.
Great is the chemist. Yet 2 Few
materials and methods in the chang
ing paint industry resist him. White
lead, a basic paint material, still is
made largely by the Old Dutch proc
ess recorded in Greek annals of 300
r. c. And not in any test tube has
the chemist been able TO duplicate
what a Georgia pine does to turpentine
in tree trunk He has tanned many
oils. but the paint industry has re-
solved to encourage the growth of
tung nut trees in Florida because
varnish oil With lungs virtues has
not been developed in the laboratory.
Three new victories he has to his
credit Rosin from Southern forests
he esterizos 10 permit its nse in place
Of the expensive import fossil rosin.
Secondly, he has produced shellac
artifcially. and this accomplishment
may obliterate the lac gathering in
dustry Of India just as the creation
Of chemical blue reduced indigo farms
In India and the United States. And
lastly he has extracted from the corn
cobs that have given their grains to
make paint, furfural--to remove that
naint"'