Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-03-06
MOTORING
The eynic ang the boy friend off the front seat
OF the girl friends eliminate hazard
BY WILLIAM ULLMAN.

! importance to CIVIC lite, 0ut the au-
tomotive merchant has been more
or less obscured. It was with con-
siderable surprise that one automo-
| bile man checked over his annual
figures and found that he was doing
volume in excess of that of one
of the large local mercantile estab-
| llshments.
OF all the various causes of engine
stalling, perhaps that originating
from the vacuum tank is most in
teresting, and at the same time the
most perplexing TO the inexperienced
motorist. There is an air pressure
valve in the vacuum tank which is
designed to let air into the system
| when it has drawn in all the gaso-
line IT needs. If this is not working
properly, however. il admits the air
| into the intake of the engine while
the engine is idiing, thus leaning ou.
the mixture TO point where the
engine is bound TO die.
That not all motorists have an
instructive feas of the very sight Of
a police patrol was graphically DEM
onstrated at the intersection Of
Pennsylvania avenue and Twelfth
street few days ago. 1t took one
wagon" an interestingly long period
of time TO get across, with drivers
of other vehicles performing all
sorts of friendly traffic tricks about
it. The spectacle of patrol waiting
apparently rather patiently, at that
while other traffic sauntered by
was unusual enough to warrant the
craning of many necks.
1t appears as though motordom
as whole. never will learn what is
intelligent horning and what isn't
1t seems such simple thing to
know when TO use the warning de
wee and when not to. yet q drive
about Washington streets will call
10 any casual observers attention
that the horn is one of the most
misused features Of the automobile.
Why line of motorists will cause
their horns to shrek when halted
by a stalled car is difficult to under
stand. Violent horning can do no
possible good. 1t is obvious that the
motorist unfortunate enough to have
his car break down in the middle of
traffic desired that contingency less
than any one else. And the great
DIN about him certainly will only
UPSET him more, often proving dis
concerning enough to a person sem
sitlve to such foolish cat-calling to
preclude early alienation of the sit
uation.
Motorists should recognize the
tact that using the horn properly,
whether it be on F street. on Massa-
chusetts avenue or at Fourteenth
street and Park road calls for some
thought and considerable care. Ger
tainly the horn was placed on the
car to be used, but unless it is used
with discretion its own purpose is
defeated.
The gentlemen of the Traffic BIZ
reau responsible for the placing of
officers at Fourteenth and F streets
are to be congratulated upon their
choices. These men at this crossing
appear to be consistently intelligent,
coolheaded and careful; men who
know the business of practical traf-
hc control from A to lizard. Four
teenth and F is one of the most i'm
portant and hazardous intersections
in the National Capital, but traffic
at this point has moved surely
quickly and safely for a number of
years past There seems to be very
little 'bawling out" done at Four
teenth and F, and, still things seem
to move along with extreme dispatch
and full safety. And, let it be
known, that's an art.
Motorists are aware that Wash
ington streets now are in a generally
deplorable condition, with enormous
ruts wing with giant excavations
for hrst-chance blow at a weak
ened differental or a decaying tire.
Such being the case, it behooves
the careful driver to proceed with a
caution which, while seemingly I'M
necessary, is essential to the welfare
of the car itself. In other words, a
speed that seems entirely safe and
sane, so far as pedestrians and other
motorists are concerned. now, due
to the condition of our highways
within the District of Columbia,
must be considered actually danger
Gus TO the we'll being of the auto
mobile.
The legal speed limit and the
reckless driving clause mean little
when streets are in the condition
| which the motorist now finds those
! he traverses in the confines of the
National Capital Twenty-Five miles
an hour is fast enough to break an
axle or loosen the body from the
frame on many streets here, while
an even slower speed on still others
may mean permanent injury to the
car.
II is impossible to drive anywhere
IN the city and not meet street.
! whose condition is such as to war
rant an outcry from those occupy.
ing the tonneau to the effect that
heads have touched the top with a
resounding thwack There are thou.
sands OF motorists here who will
testify that this is no exaggeration
In fact, il might not be difficult to
| Ind many who would make the
statement still stronger.
| However that may be, there car
be no gainsaying that our streets
bear the marks of an Alaskan Win
ter rather than those OF one of the
mlldest seasons the Capital ha.
known IN many years. Repair work
If II is TO include the whole CITY
necessarily must take in literally
scores Of thoroughfares and it /.