Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-01-29
al engineering. North Carolina State

cal engineering. North Carolina State
College:
1T is highly desirable in motor car
construction that the center of gravity
should be as low as practicable. II
would be an improvement If the BODY
and frame were in one solid unit. This
! IS desirable because II would reduce the
torQue which centrifugal force would be
able to bear upon cars when turning
! curves. Of curves there is limit
through development in this direction
of cars that may be used for country OF
rural driving. where the hard-Surface
road has not yet been placed.
! The double steel construction
! would be helpful factor In
producing greater safety. However. l
question whether the general pubic
! would prefer this 70 lighter weight
and lesser gas consumption car. 1t is
doubtful that armor plate would be SUI
/ ficiently heavy to protect many dare
devil drivers. The public is demanding
! greater speed of their cars. 1t Is q,ies-
/ tionable whether or not there should
| be a limit TO this speed. however even
though they may demand it. Modern
traffic conditions cause great delays
and loss of time. Greater speed might
conserve time. but IL would increase
danger TO life. II may be that con-
siderable effort IN the education OF the
motoring public as to the laws OF the
road would be better for humanity than
greater speed"
H. w. Moody. dean of the School OF
Engineering. A. 8; M. College. Miss:
1T seems to me that our experience
! in electric ra;lroading has already
taught us the desirability OF all these
I features.
| Suggestions Approved.
! Paul Cloke. dean of the College of
| Technology. University of Maine:
In reply to your questions concern
| ing the increased safety Of a car with
lower center of gravity and double
steel construction. my answer Is an
emphatic Yes. both would help.
F. A. Osborn. professor Of physics.
! University of Washington:
II think there is little question but
what a car built with a low center of
gravity will be very much safer and
better for every one concerned than one
with a high center Of gravity. ! be-
| lieve that double steel construction of
the body would also be helpful in pro-
I tecting the occupants of the car. and ]
also concur in your statement that the
public is demanding higher speed and
therefore safety features are more nee
essary than ever"
r. L. Daugherty. professor Of me-
chanical engineering. California Insti-
tute of Technology:
Under present conditions. with
roads. cars and tires justifying high
speeds. and traffic conditions demand
ing them, the present tendency to low
center of gravity Is necessary. Details
of construction to secure that result
belong TO the designing engineer.
Similarly, / believe that good design In
| as nearly an all-steel body as possible
means both a longer period OF salts
factory service and the minimizing OF
danger IN emergencies.
| w p. Boynton. professor Of physics.
/ University OF Oregon?
Fl agree with you that the safety OF
automobiles would be improved by con-
structing cars with very low center OF
gravity and with double steel constr,ic-
ton OF the body"
/, J. r. Benton. dean Of the College OF
Engineering and Architecture, Univer-
sity OF Florida:
THE lower the center OF gravity, the
safer the car Double steel construc-