Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-06-23
MOTORISTS DIGEST
BY CLAYTON GRAFT.

MOI many years ago the average
profitable life of an automobile was
considered to be four years. Constant
improvements and better understand
ing of the. care of automobiles resulted
in an indicated average life Of seven
conditions made by the National Au-
tomobile Chamber Of Commerce for the
ear 1928 reveals that cars averaging
~ years were being put on the junk
pile. Certainly the later model cars
are more durable than their predeces-
sors. so It would indicate that the
pride Of ownership of more modern
models is responsible for the decline.
The appearance and performance
means more to the average user today
than formerly, and the large stock of
older cars of the streets even before
they are completely worn out.
The State of California has Just
completed a highway toll bridge LILO
miles long over San Francisco Bay at a
cost in excess Of $7,500,000. It Is re-
ported to be the longest highway bridge
In the world. It will reduce the run
ming time Of motor vehicles between
San Francisco and the great valleys of
California and cities in the southern
hour. It is of ample width and with
out turns, the only break being a draw
for permitting ships to pass from the
bay to the Golden Gate and the Pa
cific Ocean.
An insurance company sometime ago
ventured to join the large family of
installment dealers. In bulletin re-
Gently issued by the company, they ac-
kVAa tHn
with which SO much additional protec-
ton Is sold to the motorist, as he Is
glad and willing to pay a sum such as
$10.25 for six months, whereas it was
very hard to sell him on the single
payment plan of, say, $50. They point
out the possibility through this method
Of so many more car owners carrying
protection, not only for themselves, but
also for the "other fellow" that 1t will
probably have much weight In the
drafting Of compulsory insurance laws
now before the Legislatures Of large
number Of States.
"Bootlegger" In Washington suggests
a person who makes business Of
manufacturing and dealing in intoxi-
eating beverages in defiance Of any
and all laws to the contrary. There
Is a new type Of "bootlegger" intro.
ducing himself to the motor buyine
public in many parts of our country
who makes a practice Of locating fac.
tories that have an overproduction Of
new cars, so that he can buy their sur
plus at such ridiculously low price.
that he can way undersell the legiti.
mate dealer. In some localities this /.
being done to such an extent that Il
Is having q tendency to destroy the
confidence Of the buying public, not
only In the car being offered through
this channel, but in all makes. The re-
failing Of motor cars, until the advent
Of the "bootlegger," has been conducted
on high standard, with practically nc
price cutting, although occasionally ar
overallowance on a used car amounts
to about the same thing. The more
substantial companies are decrying this
method Of distribution, and from the
number Of protests sent up viii prob
ably ind a way to deal with this new
type Of "bootlegging."
It Is interesting to note the increas.
ing popularity of closed model cars
A few comparative figures tend to show
open models. In 1921 figures fur
nished by the Department of Com
merce showed total of 22t per cent
of closed cars manufactured. In 1926
they had passed the $3.50 mark, as
the records show 56.5 per cent. The
figures for 1928 reveal that of all the
passenger cars produced, 88.5 per cent
were Of this type. The indications fol-
1929 are that there will be a very
slight change Of last years proportional
ratio.
Last week the National Automobile
Chamber Of Commerce In New York
City and various automotive factories,
especially at Detroit, report an I'M
usually large number of visitors from
all quarters of the world. Most OF
them are especially interested in
studying our methods Of mass produc-
ton and getting first-hand informa-
ton on dealer problems. Many of
these foreigners are also interested in
the most recent developments Of high
the British Isles. concerning the con-
struction OF passes around cities,
Strengthening Of roads and bridge ap-
proaches.
We frequently read how the manu-
facturer Of soap or matches or some
other commodity makes enough to
build the equal Of the Washington
Monument, or If placed end to end
Now comes the news that automobiles
are being built at such a rate that II
they were stacked end to end, each
days production would reach 40 miles
One days output would make a solid
line from Washington to Baltimore. A
weeks output would reach from here
to New York and months output
down into Florida.
He who never looks at his tires when
they are inflated wonders what caused