Evening star., 1927-11-06
MOTORING

BY WILLIAM ULLMAN.


most fanciful dreams of
decade ago, so will the ad
vance of the next 10 years excee
tie brightest prophecies of today
his is particularly true with re
~ect to highways. Who, in 1911;
t,rcsaw today's network of hard
surfaced roads that stretches fo
tons of thousands of miles in ever.
{ rcction? Only a few. They wer,
t'iscredited by some as dreamers
tut their dreams came true.
Today we hear prophecies o
uble-decked streets, highways tina
bypass large cities, and many othei
Predictions cast in a similar mold
lust few weeks ago speaker be-
lore the convention of the American
Institute of Park Executives addeo
another vision of the future-Nation-
wide one-way roads.
LET US consider the lesson of lO(
wears of experience in railroads, and
give up the idea of moving traffic
both ways" he said. Roads which
we can call fairways should be bull,
entirely of double track. These
should be located through cheap
and undeveloped lands we'll away
from the center of population"
Motordom will approve the idea
for it sees the need for what may
appear to be desperate measures to
remedy the increasingly serious con-
gestion that now is affecting the
open road somewhat as it has made
its mark upon city traffic. Once the
motoring fraternity sees benefit in a
proposal it puts its shoulder to the
wheel.
The collective energies of motor
dom are vast and tireless. This is
the largest factor in its ability to
make its dreams come true. So, the
seed sown at the park executives
convention some day will flower into
one-way roads checkerboarding the
Nation.
y X
Some time ago an inquiry was
conducted to attempt to determine
what type of owner or user inflicted
the greatest amount of wear or pun
ishment on cars. Some very inter-
esting facts were disclosed, not the
least of which was the discovery
that many persons who are consid-
cred very considerate of their cars
are, in reality. most hostile to them.
In this connection it is interesting
to note the difference between cars
that are used principally for touring
and those utilized almost exclusively
in the city. The former may travel
many additional thousands of miles
and yet show the least amount of
wear. This may seem like a para
dox, but when it is considered that
IN the city brakes, clutch, steering
mechanism, gears and virtually all
of the essential parts of the car are
greatly overworked, while on the
highway there is a steadier action
with less frequent manipulation of
many of the vital parts of the car,
this fact can be understood more
readily.
On the highway, for instance, the
engine is operated at a generally
efficient speed. Further, there is a
constant speed which obviates the
necessity of movement of certain
controls, such as the throttle, ac-
celerator pedal, spark control and
the various carburetor levers. In
traffic driving the engine is idling
one moment and racing the next.
Virtually all the controls are utilized
IN making a getaway at one crossing
and stop at the next.
Traffic inhicts serious wear upon
cars, and trouble that is developing
is quite likely to become serious in
this type of driving. On the other
hand, highway driving frequently
serves to eradicate trouble. This is
because the Car and engine are being
operated at more constant speeds,
and many parts, such as the brak-
ing system, clutch and gears, have
Q chance to rest.
No motorist can afford to imagine
that he is saving his car because he
is not travelling any great distance
in it.
OF greatest economic Importance
IS the fact that throughout the world
governments are undertaking the
most extensive highway construction
programs ever contemplated. In
the United States, where interstate
highways have been developed to a
superlative degree, the largest total
of mileage is being added, but other
countries are leaving no stone un-
turned in their efforts in this con-
nection. Europe, of course, already
possessed of comprehensive high
way system, is making important
additions to it and improving those
constructed. In Australia highly i'm
portant steps are being taken TO link
UP the various widely scattered Sec
tions of that vast island, and South
America has undertaken a construc-
ton program which probably equals,
If not surpasses, that being accom-
plIshed elsewhere.
That this activity is of prime sig
nlficance TO the United States is
clearly understood when it is borne
IN mind that American motor car
exports are growing constantly, and
that each mile of improved road
added to the foreign mileage means
just so many more customers for our
cars. With the automobile industry
at the head OF the list of America S
manufacturing endeavors, it is not
difficult to see that continued main
tenance Of production is an essential
element i'll prosperity. And just 10
carry the thought to its simple and
logical conclusion, the more roads