davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-12-29
BY II. CLIFFORD BROKAW,
Automobile Technical Adviser.

There are many reasons frequently
aired for the benefit Of prospective buy
ers of automobiles as to why life can
not be complete without owning such a
vehicle. Less often does one undertake
to figure out the reasons why one
should not own an automobile. 1t might
be we'll to give this subject some con-
sideration, especially at this time Of
year when SO many people are thinking
about the various new models and con-
| Stdering buying one or more of them.
One reason which might be given for
not owning an automobile is that this
tends to eXcluSiveneSS. In other words
when one becomes an owner of an au-
tomobile nowadays one is doing what
almost everybody else Is doing or has
done. One joins the crowd. To be
among those few who do not own cars
is to stand out in ones community as
an unusual personality.
The second reason which might be
given for not owning an automobile is
that such people can frequently save a
considerable amount Of money, at any
rate sum representing the cost and
upkeep of car, by always riding in an
automobile that belongs to somebody
else. While this kind of an automobile
program also may have aspects which
are not especially enjoyable, it does, SO
some people claim, enable people not
owning automobiles to get what
amounts to taxi service free of charge.
Another reason sometimes set forth
for not owning an automobile is that
one can always employ a taxi to take
one from one place to another at less
expense than is involved in owning and
keeping private car. This point might
have more weight If one could always
be sure or securing taxi when one Is
needed. AS it actually works out, 1t
appears to be most difficult to secure a
taxi when such O vehicle Is most to be
desired, as, for instance, on rainy DAYS.
Experience also seems to bear out the
fact that those who think they will de-
pend on taXiS do not really do So Con-
sequently, they miss much of the en-
Joyment which comes from riding
through the open country during differ
ent seasons of the year and visiting
many points of interest which represent
an ideal way to spend leisure hours.
When 1t comes to taking long tours
it would appear that one really needs
to own an automobile to get the great
est possible profit and enjoyment out
OF such outings. There are, however.
those who claim that hitch-hiking is
much more thrilling and satisfactory
method of touring the country. They
say that the uncertainty of travel from
one day to the next adds to the ro-
nance Of the experience and that the
meeting Of different people from time
to time brings them into contact with
interesting personalities with whom
otherwise they would never have be-
come acquainted.
There are some who maintain that
the presence OF so many automobiles on
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-12-29
ARGUMENTS AGAINST PUR CHASE
OF AUTO ARE DECLARED WEAK
Reasons of Persons Without Cars Claiming
They Are Better OFF Answered With
Enumeration of Benefits.

our American highways Is tending to
make the inhabitants Of the United
States race Of soft and fiabby people.
Some 60 so far as to assert that legs
on human beings are likely 10 atrophy
and become extinct through lack OF
use, that people cannot walk any more,
or think they cannot, to the next door
neighbor. They must get into a car
and ride everywhere that they wish to
go. These critics picture walking as a
lost art and good health thus interfered
with. Others have little difficulty in
proving many health advantages grow
ing out of motoring and legs still appear
to be in evidence.
Another reason sometimes set forth as
to why 1t is a fallacy to own an auto
mobile Is the time taken to look after
1t. They point out the necessity of hav-
ing to keep the radiator full of water,
also the battery. They speak of the at
tention which should be given to clean
Ing car, keeping 1t supplied with oil
and gasoline and the like. They forget
that the owner of an automobile comes
to have q real affection for the car
and that all the little attentions he
gives it from time to time in time spent
in a very enjoyable fashion.
It appears difficult to make out q
good case for not owning an automobile,
Most OF the arguments turn out to be
fallacious or weak. And most people
have found evidently that the argu-
ments have little weight, for they belong
to families that own and enjoy own
ing automobiles.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-12-29
FEES MAY BE CHARGED
FOR FREAK NUMBERS
Maryland Automobile Commits
sioner Finds Opportunity for
Profit to State in Demand.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
BALTIMORE, December 24-Auto-
mobile Commissioner e. Austin Baugh-
man is considering making extra money
for the State by charging a special fee
to Maryland motorists anxious to
choose their own license tag numbers.
Ever since Baughman announced
that the 1880 license plates were ready
he has been beSieged by motorists re-
questing special or freak numbers. So
heavy was this demand that orders were
issued that outside of Gov. Richie, who
receives No. 10000 every year, no one
was to get specially selected tags. These
orders, however, were not taken serious
ly by drivers, with the result that off,
Gals Of Baughman'S Office continue to
receive demands.
Some States Baughman said, charged
a fee for special numbers, the amount.
being regulated by the numbers that
the motoriSt requests. The fee idea,
he said, consequently was not his own.
1t is believed that fee would make
motorists less anxious to secure special
numbers.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-12-29
MILADY'S MOTORING
BY FREDERICK C. RUSSELL.

corresponding change in the position of
the distributor head, which, in turn,
causes a change in the time the spark
occurs with respect to the position Of
the pistons on their compression stroke.
With anti-knock gases, and usually
with clean engine, 1t Is possible to
run with the spark more fully advanced
before encouraging the engine to knock.
High compression engines which are
now the vogue, however, usually are
not adjusted for so far q spark ad-
vance, but this is taken care Of In the
original design of the engine.
All of which ought to explain to any
woman why the engine knocks and
then quietS down when the spark is re-
tarded. Obviously, If the spark comes
too soon the 1gnited and expanding gas
tends to push the pistons backward.
This effect Is enough to cause a sharp
knock.
A lot of carbon In the engine raises
compression and introduces some other
elements. but any heated particles of
carbon that preignite the gas have the
interesting habit of having the effect Of
spark timing that is too far advanced.
Women who revolt against the OUT
of-date home equipment should carry
the good work to the car and insist
upon having friend husband discard
the old-fashioned rear-view mirror in
favor of something more modern. It
is now considered highly unsafe to use
any mirror that shows a blind spot;
that is, the mirror should give q full
view behind and not cut out large sec
tions Of that view by reason Of the in
truSion Of body posts.
This is being accomplished both
through double and panorama type
mirrors which At in the conventional
position above the windshield, rs well as
by the use of full-vision mirrors which
attach to the left front body post ex-
tended out farther than usual.
Copyright by the Russell serviceJ
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-12-29
new GAS ENGINE
CLAIMS BALANCE
Movement in Opposite Directions Of
Two Pistons in Same Cylinder
Is Principle.
BY the Associated Press

BY the Associated Press.
,REDLANDS, Calif.-A new type of
gasoline engine for commercial use.
claimed by its inventor to remain in
perfect balance at any speed, has been
developed here by H. A. johnson.
The principle is the movement in op-
posite directions of two pistons in the
same cylinder. The gyroscopic action
Of the pistons and opposite whirling
nyWheels, Johnson says, with the angu-
larity Of the connecting rods, keeps the
engine in balance and eliminates vi
bration, which is one of the problems
OF installing commercial engines In
far.-l machinery
The experimental engine has devel-
oped five and six horsepower with 400
and 2,l00 revolutions a minute, respec-
lively, under test. 1t weighs $50 pounds
This weight can be reduced 100 pounds
In refinement, the inventor believes
Friction caused by the additional pis-
ton, johnson pointed out, is more than
made up in the elimination of moving
parts necessary in other engines.
With multiple -cyltnder construction
the weight could be reduced to i've
pounds per horsepoweNs johnson saRss
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-12-29
WASTE WOOD USED
FOR MOTOR FUEL
"GaSogen" Device Is Product
Aftermath of War and
Poverty.
BY the Associated Press.

80
SAN FRANCISCO. - Running auto
mobiles on gas generated from wood is
giving California lumber company
what Is equivalent to free motor fuel for
some Of its trucks.
It is being tried out by other indus
trial organizations following demonstra-
tons before United States Army officers
OF the invention Of two brothers of AL
SAGE, France.
The gas generation attachment, appli-
cable to all motors that are operated by
the ignition OF vaporized gasoline, is
termed a "Gasogen." It Is product of
the wars aftermath in q part of Europe
so impoverished that the cost Of gasoline
had become burdensome.
viii Produce Device.
Although not expectant that wood or
solid" fuel will supplant gasoline as
an automotive power to any consider
able extent, Col. Jean p. Imbert, one
Of the .co-inventors, who has brought
the device to America for production in
this State, believes that it will meet an
economic need in fields where fuel bills
for rough trucking are a considerable
item.
At the San Francisco Preside, the at
tachment applied to a Liberty motor
hauled 80 tons.
Operated on wood costing up to Sc
per cord, compared to use of gasoline at
20 cents gallon, the latter cost of /
cent per ton mile was found to be cut
to " cent per ton mile.
Savings Pay Drivers.
In industrial services such as lumber
ing or cane sugar, where Semi-waSte
products can be had for burning, the
savings in fuel costs are enough to pay
the wages of truck drivers, Col. Imbert
declares.
The burner, five feet tall and two
square, Is attached at the side Of the
truck. The fire is started with char
coal and famed by a blower which
minutes to establish t he generation
and circulation of the gas, after which
the process is automatic.
To Offset this disadvantage, carbur-
etors and gasoline tanks have been pre-
served on the machines at the Pre-
Sidio. The start is made on gasoline
and the switch in power Is made after
the engine has run a few minutes.
In the burner, all Of the gases de-
rived from the destructive distillation
OF wood are generated but the non-con-
densible gases are burned.
Outweighs Gasoline.
The others pass through four clari-
fiers and filters, running crosswise Of
the machine under the chassis, and the
impurities are removed and washed out
in water condensed from the steam.
From the CHARTERS the gases go to the
engine and are ignited by spark in the
same manner as gasoline.
The weight of the fuel Is two and a
half to three times that Of gasoline.
Refueling is necessary every five hours.
The attachment is applicable to air.
plane engines, but the added weight
would materially reduce the cruising
radius of plane.
For aeronautic uses the only adj
vantage, Col. Imbert says, would be the
reduction Of fire hazard in an imper-
feet landing and the providing of a
source OF power in remote sections of
the world, such as the Arctic regions.
where gasoline must be transported
long distances.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-12-29

It doesn't add many miles to the days
run, and it does increase the danger
of driving, to speed up Internationally
and pass other cars on q crowded high
way. A steady rate of travel that keeps
up with the average speed Of the cars
on the road will bring you to your desti-
nation Just as soon.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-12-29
Nations Highway Bill.

The Nation is now spending more
than $4,000 ,0o0, 900 a year for the con-
struction and maintenance Of streets
and highways. while the Federal Gov
eminent is only contributing 1000, 900
annually to this program, which is the
very basis of national prosperity, ac-
cording to the District of Columbia Di-
vision of the American Automobile
Association.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-12-29
Tax Raise Cited.

Eighteen States raised their gasoline
tax rates this year, according to George
z. Keneipp, manager of the District OF
Columbia Division Of the American
Automobile Association. They were:
Colorado, Florida, Indiana, Kansas,
Louisiana, Minnesota, Montana, Me-
braska, North Carolina, North Dakota,
Ohio. Oregon, Pennsylvania, South
Carolina. Tennessee, Vermont, Wash
ington and Wyoming.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-12-29
A Careful Driver.

From the Wheel
Hey, YOU" yelled the trafIic cop at
the amorous driver. why don't you
use both handS2"
wheel" grinned the irrepressible youth
at the wheel.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-12-29
Sectional Registrations.

The East North Central States have
IS per cent Of the motor vehicle regis
trations, while the Middle Atlantic
States rank next with % per cent.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-12-29
Protect Valves.

II you drive over slushy or unpaved
:. roads II Is especially important to pro-
tect every valve with dust cap. other
wise the valve cap and the threads Of
- valve stem viii be damaged.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-12-29
China Auto Ownership.

There are 1900 people to every car
in China as compared to $3.50 in Rus
STA, according to the District of Co
mobile Association.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-08-15
sHANGHAI. CHINA, july 10, 1925.

SHANGHAI, China, July 10, 1929.
One Of the greatest difficulties aboAt
the understanding of China was DEM
onstrated to US within Q day OF our
arrival here in Shanghai, when, at q
luncheon and a dinner on the same
day, we had the question Of extra
territoriality presented to us in abso-
luteIy contradictory terms. Which
would leave us considerably confused In
mind were it not for the fact that
everybody knows that this question has
as many answers as there are Inter
eStS."
Shanghai itself is a city of contra
dictions. 1t is bewildering in its con-
trasts. Take for an example the very
water approach, up the immensely wide
mouth of the YangtSe. into the Whang-
poo, twisting and turning for IL or
more miles from the confluence Of the
two streams. Steamships and junks,
motor launches and Sampans contend
for the right of way in the channel.
The old and the new are in evidence
side by side. junks that look as If they
were built simultaneously with the car
avcls of Columbus and ocean liners
fresh from the shipyards OF their, con-
struction.
The Whangpoo is one Of the most
Shanghai Is port of first rank in
Asia, with an enormous flow Of imports
and exports. Here are not only the
ships that ply the ocean waters, far and
wide, but the steamers that 60 up the
Yangtse miles and miles and miles into
the interior of China. After the larger
ships have locked they are moved out
to the midstream. where, moored to
buoys, they are lightered Of their car
goes Thus there are three lines of
ships, two along the shore and one be-
tween. and their crews and great
swarms of stevedores work night and
day to clear them and send them on
their way.
Vivid Contrast Between Races.
Here is presented. wildly, the con-
trast between the races. The French
Bund," stretching along the Whang-
poo for a mile, from the intersection
of Soochow Creek, is lined on the west
ern side with massive buildings, some
of them suggestive of the skyscraperS
of New York and of a pleasantly varied
range of architecture. Across, on the
northern end, is q riverside park, at
the entrances Of which stand Chinese
policemen asking incomers for their
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-08-15

tween. for street, on the SIDE by the
gates was an aAnnamite policeman, with
his conical uniform hat. On the other
side was o Chinese policeman, wearing
the cap of a soldier.
1t Is not altogether safe for tourists
to pass across. one of these boundaries
into the native quarters, unless accom-
panied by dependable Chinese guides or
by squad Of Chinese-speaking Shang-
hal Westerners. In the first place. the
streets are narrow and crooked and the
way is easily lost Then. too. decidedly
unpleasant things have happened over
in those quarters. to both men and
women. It is related that within
fortnight Western woman, taking a
dependable rickishaw boy as her guide,
went into a shop in the Chinese city
south OF the French concession and
after short time she was guided out
side by a couple of Chinese who averred
that they would show her along q way
where her hoy" could not go. as he
must stay by his rickishaw She fool
ishly permitted them to guide her, and
later was found stunned. with her purse
gone. Fortunately, no worse happened
to her.
d. Trustworthy Guides Advised.
Not every rickishaw boy is to be
trusted, 10 seems. One chosen at ram
dom IN the street and told to go into
the native city on a. sightseeing trip
may prove faithless. 1t is always best
for the visitor to Shanghai to use only
trustworthy guides and aides, chosen
from the hotel ranks" and identified.
Today our party pushed through the
crowds at the opening of one of the
tiny streets leading into the native city
and spent half an hour there in de-
lightful enjoyment of the blend of
Eastern aromas, the pulse of myriad
population, the calls Of the vendors. the
clash of the cymbals of peep-show
barker, the whines of the beggers and
finally. q sight of the famous willow
Tree Tea House." pagoda-like struc-
ture perched on the edge of tiny
pool, supposed to be a replica of that
famous willow tree pattern" on the
chinaware of universal use. The like
ness is not striking. But it seems that
no visit to Shanghai is complete with
out at least a peep at the Willow Tree
Tea House, even though one does not
venture to enter it's doors.
Jade and jewels, crystals and beads,
set and unset gems tempt the wanderer
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-08-15

through these little streets, which in
most cases are covered with ''punp''
nlattingS. often several stories above
the pavement. But woe betide the I'M
wary purchaser Of such goods, most of
which are base limitations, and all OF
which are at a price-at first asking
that is wholly out of proportion to value
Little English Is Spoken.
Little English is spoken in the native
city. Some of the Chinese know French,
which was spoken here as a foreign
tongue before the English settled down.
But the only sure means Of communi-
cation is by the native language, i'll the
Shanghai dialect, which Is quite distinct
from that of Peiping.
Going back through the French con-
ceSsion, to pass across to the north
side, one gets into the Jurisdiction of
the International Settlement. governed
by the Shanghai Municipal Council
Its chief sign and token just now is
the Sikh policeman. tall, handsome,
bearded person in khaki, with a close
bound turban. He makes an ideal traffic
cop" rendering equal justice to all
street users, and smiling blandly at all
tangles and troubles. but capable of
swift action and harsh measures when
need arises. Along the Marking road,
now the chief business street of Shang-
hal. lined with the largest shops and
department stores. the Sikhs-by the
way, for the benefit of those who have
not yet mastered this word. it should
be said that it is pronounced Seek
are in some cases stationed on one side
and Chinese police on the other In
the French concession the Annamese
and the Chinese face one another
across the boundaries, with mutual
hatred.
Up in the northern sector, on the
frontiers" between Settlement and ma
tive city. the barbed-wire entangle-
ments erected during the Communist
troubles Of a short time ago are still in
evidence. Indeed. they are also to be
found in the southern sector But those
in the northern part Of Shanghai are
the more impressive, great stretches Of
the most vicious-looking wire ever
twisted. Some of them are in the forms
of veritable "cheyauX des frise," on
frames 20 feet or so in length, capable
Of being pushed or rolled into position.
Here and there immensely heavy iron
gates are being set in place. new in
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-08-15

vestments in security. Concrete .pilla
boxes at strategic positions. notably ct
concentrating street intersections, give
the town a military appearance. SmalI
concrete sheltersg hardly diScernabie
from house walls, lately have been set
up. ;
The point of all this show of defense
IS that nobody quite trusts the futures
There undoubtedly is a universal hoe0
IN the foreign settlement that the pres@
ent Nationalist government will endure
ana grow in strength and wisdom And
the happenings of the past few days at
Peiping. where Chang Kai Shek has
been taking the deciding tricks in the
current game OF bridge, have heartened
eVeryDody-SaVe perhaps those who
profit by turmoil Nevertheless, .:one
never can tell i'll China. And especially
one does not know how far the Boz,
SheViSt virus has spread through the
body polite OF this nervous land. AcroSS
the street from the Astor House, where
l write. the former Russian headouAr-
tiers building is closed and barred and.
supposedly empty. But it is known tor
certainty that Russian agents are
even now busy in Shanghai, fomenting
trouble
That is why the wire is kept in the
streets. why the gates are being hung
and why the discussion of the question
OF extraterritoriality seems so futile.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-08-15

ment twisted around his waist, furious
ly accusing smiling elder Of some In
justice, and restrained only by force
from attacking his oppressor; artisans
pounding metal sheets or saving wood
or weaving baskets; bakers pounding
and rolling their great masses Of
dough and mixing fresh patches and
putting the thick slabs into ovens. the
heat Of which blares out into the suns
rays.
Few Minutes and MOdernity.
All this is just a few minutes away
from the scene of Western activity, in
motor cars and rickishawS. Step into
one of these two-wheeled cartS--there
are always scores of them awaiting
hire-and wave a hand toward the up
per Bund and in five minutes one passes
from China into some Western city.
This afternoon, following a morning
drive in the country and tiffin at the
suburban villa of one of the American
business men, We drove in four or five
cars through the concessions and set
Elements, across the frontiers" in diff
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-08-15

sampan boatmen twisting their little
craft through the narrow spaces of
shore berths; junkmen and their fam
lies swarming over an almost solid
block Of touching decks; peddlers 60
ing up and down the street with their
wares in baskets, mostly food wares;
merchants sitting at the edges Of their
shops, philosophically waiting for the
trade they know will come eventually:
children squirming in and out Of the
maze of travel, mostly naked in the
Summer heat; woman fruit vendors
washing their wares at hydrant; tenn
porarily idle men clustered on an empty
truck engaged in lively game of cards;
q small boy. clad In q rag of a gar
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-08-15

passes, lacking which there is no en-
trance. To the south of the park
are the pontoon docks for the ferry
boats, which swarm with passengers
One who strolls down the Bund,
through the French area and thence to
the Chinese Bund, realizes the fact
that here is the meeting Of the East
and the West And the lon-mixing of
the two is likewise illustrated II one
goes on down to the junk wharves,
meeting in the course of q mile or more
not another Westerner. Coolies grunt-
ing and chanting their rhythmic sing
song" as they strain under their bur-
dens, slung on their bamboo poles i;