Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-07-21
MOTORISTS DIGEST
BY CLAYTON GRAFT.

Union and the District of Columbia
levy q tax of from 2 cents to cents
on every gallon Of gasoline sold to
motorists. Originally this levy was
for the purpose of providing funds for
highway improvement, but several
States Florida only recently joining
the number) have gone beyond the
bounds and are using part of the funds
so raised, for various purposes. We
get a little comfort and a ray of hope
from Congress, however, that will help
Offset this condition somewhat, as
Representative Mcleod of Michigan
has proposed q Joint resolution In
creasing the annual appropriation OF
Federal aid In highway construction
from $4,000, 900 to $225,00o,ooo.
Special motor vehicle taxes are more
than equivalent to all highway main
tenance costs, State and local.
The Rubber Manufacturers Associa-
ton of the United States reports that
the record of 1888 Dos pneumatic tires
established in April of this year was
of May 8,145,3 1858 were produced, which
makes a new all-time record. The pro-
duction Of inner tubes has remained
very steady for the past year, an
| average Of 70000 900 each month. The
| output Of solid and cushion tires has
| fallen to a production of slightly over
so 900 tires per month. The amount
of rubber necessary to make these tires
is estimated to be over 88,000000
pounds and of long fiber cotton about
81 100000 pounds.
In January Of this year there were
| 53,0o1 automobile dealers registered in
the United States, II being accounted
| for in the District Of Columbia.
With motors capable of sustained
| high speed and with motor car regis
| trations advancing so rapidly that the
day of 50,000,000 cars on the highways
| is not far distant, Senator Phipps of
| Colorado and Representative Robson
of Kentucky propose the formation Of
motor-ways commission to consider the
| question Of providing automobile lex
press" highways, permitting high speed
| for through traffic. A large number
| of suggestions have been presented to
the Senate roads committee, and it is
with a view of presenting compre-
| hensive idea of the feasibility of the
different plans to Congress that such
] a commission is needed. Congress
| seems to be fully aware that legislation
is necessary to perfect the Federal sys-
| tenn of through highways at an early
| date, in order to provide adequately
| for the motor traffic of the future.
The National Automobile Dealers
Association reports that approximately
| SO per cent of stolen cars are recov-
cred.
Rubber has played big part in the
! success of the present-day motor car.
| Nearly everybody is acquainted with its
use in various cars in this country.
In Germany the possibilities Of rubber
reducing vibration has been the cause
of extended experiments. They have
successfully substituted rubber air bags
| in place of the steel chassis springs,
with very satisfactory results. They
have perfected rubber engine mount
ing, which practically prevents the
transmission Of engine vibration to the
car. Rubber mounting of the fan has
been found to materially reduce the
noise of and the vibration of this
unit. Much interest exists in the in
| dustry now, with experiments being
conducted with rubber tubular drive
shafts and rubber universal joints.
The net tangible assets of United
| States motor vehicle manufacturers for
| 1928 amounted to 81 1865, 310,508.
The Grand Prix d'Endurance re-
Gently held at lie Mans was won by a
| 6a-liter Bentley car. This race is
| period of "a hours, and the rules
require two drivers for each car. The
| winner covered 1,765 miles for an
average speed of 1884 miles per hour.
| The best round was at the rate Of
81.12 miles per hour. A 4a-liter
Bentley car finished second, having
covered 1892 miles within the time
limit. The larger Bentley took the lead
| In the first lap and maintained its posi-
l
The retail price Of gasoline or motor
! fuel is lower in the United States than
any other country in the world.
The longest continuously improved
| highway in this country is 1880 miles
| long. It runs from the Canadian
| border through the States of Washing
| ton, Oregon and California to the
| Mexican border. 1t is all concrete or
asphalt except IS miles Of excellent
| gravel.
| From data compiled by 'Bus Trans
portation," it Is estimated there are
92,325 buses In use In the United
| States.
With one-half of the year gone it is
predicted that production Of motor We
hicles in this country will be far Ia
proximately 80 per cent for home use
and 10 per cent for export. This will
break all previous records for produc-
ton as well as for exporting.
In 1928 thirteen States showed
decline of motor car accidents, South
| Carolina leading with Q decrease Of
11.9 per cent.
An automobile insurance company
| of Ohio has been conducting study
Of traffic accidents within the State
for Q period Of one years to discover