Evening star., 1927-11-06

and the more miles added to already
established systems, the more cars
the American automotive industry
can sell in its export business. And
that is an end greatly to be desired.
Here is a bit of road building his
tory which should prove of interest
to motorists using today's fine high
ways:
Until 1910 waterbound macadam
was the leading hardsurface finish
for roads. However, due to chang
ing traffic conditions, this has be-
/ come an intermediate type Of road
| finish, its place having been taken
| by concrete and brick roads. In
fact, it has been found from ex-
perience as well as experiment, that
waterbound macadam is better suit
cd for stecl-tired traffic rather than
rubber tired.
The first macadamizcd road was
built by Scottish engineer after
whom the process was named. The
first road of this type built in the
United States probably was con-
structed during the early part Of the
last century. Kentucky has been
building stone roads since 1920, and
by 1887 there were 609 miles Of first
class roads in that State. either built
or building. The first stone road to
be built in Ohio is believed to have
been the old National or Cumberland
road, completed in part in 1929.
4 T.
diana was built in 1882 1t was the
first and only road built by the State
authorities for a long time, and ex-
tended from New Albany to Paoli.
One of the most interesting de-
velopments of this era of tremendous
Improvement in automobiles through
concentration upon detail is that of
providing shock absorbers for shock
absorbers.
One of the new devices on the
market has rubber insulators be-
tween the instrument and the
bracket attached to the axle to take
up all road shocks which are not
sufficient to operate the instrument
itself. Such an arrangement pro-
vides means of having the unit
so slack that it does not take hold
except when the wheels strike bad
holes or bumps, and yet prevents
any looseness in the set-up.
1t would not be surprising if be-
tore long the market would offer
devices to keep engine efficiency de-
vices efficient. The new trend in
shock absorbers suggests that almost
anything is likely to happen in the
way OF detailed rehnements. The
public is becoming more and more
critical of the way cars ride and
operate, and the genius of the en-
gineering world is aiming constantly
to meet the growing demand for per-
feet performance.
Users of so-called "doped" fuels
and they are 1egion-should observe
.precaution used by some aviators
who operate their planes on such
gasolines. 1t is a simple rule and
requires only that the user shall
keep the gas tank as nearly full as
possible.
1t seems that some of the "dope"
being. used is heavier than gasoline
and for that reason tends to settle
at the bottom of the tank. Thus
II the driver continues to run low
on gas, he will draw to the vacuum
tank supply of gasoline too rich
in the anti-knock. This will disturb
car6uretion and cause annoyance.
Since some of the anti-knock fluid
is not in itself fuel. an engine can
not run on it alone. A certain
amount of it, like a reasonable
amount of oil in the gas, will run
through the carburetor and do its
work without disturbing carbure-
ton. But an excess will clog the
Jets and act much the same as water.
Although it is a point not often
considered by the average motorist,
some States are. luckier than others
IN regard to what they can do with
bodybuilding funds. In the prairie
States. for instance, it usually is MOI
necessary to cut down hills or make
expensive fills in order to obtain a
good highway grade.
Eastern and Far Western States
pay millions for these operations.
The difference is reflected in the
tact that, while the most expensiyely
surfaced road can be built at an ay-
erage OF approximately $4,000 mile,
some States never have been able to
get below an average cost of $4,000.
while others are even higher.
1t IS interesting to note that in
many OF the States where road costs
are higher than the average there
are many more miles of good roads
than in others where the cost is low.
Striving for still more comfort in
their latest products. some motor car
manufacturers have cast an eve to
seat cushions and found them want
ing. A heavy layer OF silk floss
turks Immediately beneath the uphol-
stery Of the luxurious seats of sew
eral makes Of cars where once an
inferior material served the purpose.
One manufacturer whose products
arc to be found in several price
classes. and are popular in each, has
resorted to a new type of cushion
spring TO enhance the comfort of his
closed cars.
Apparently. the motor car industry
is one that has no difficulty in i'm
proving upon the good taste it
creates.