davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-01-25
USE OF ASPHALT
CREDITED TO ROMANS
Standards of Highway Construc-
ton They Established Have
Lived Through the Ages.

The Romans, recognized as the great
est road builders of history, were the
benefactors OF civilization through their
gift of the use of asphalt in highway
construction. The expansion of Rome's
great road system ended with the dis
indignation of the empire, but standards
of highway construction were eStab-
lished and have lived through the ages.
Modification of what the Romans
learned has been chiefly in detail.
Modern roads are built on the same
plan of leveling and grading marked
routes, providing for drainage removing
filling this trench with broken stone,
applying pressure TO consolidate the
mass and then Surfac'ng with stone set
in binder of asphalt.
The large granite blocks the Romans
used for surfacing gave way to the
more easily obtained smaller stone used
by later road builders. Use of small
stone originally was measure of econ
omy and convenience. but since has
been found to have been the correct step
technically providing the pliability re-
quired for wheeled traffic
Granite and wooden blocks later came
into use for surfacing, the wooden blocks
being largely responsible for the intro
duction Of oil and other bituminous
products in road work with the idea
of providing a dustless and waterproof
surface
Breakdown of the feudal system and
establishment Of central government,
especially in France. gave the modern
macadam road its real beginning This
'dea of waterproof, drained road sur
face spT oad 10 England where turnpikes
were developed ana has reached its
modern me- LIBERALIZATION in the thousands
Of miles of macadam, oiled and asphalt
roads throughout the United Stats.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-01-25
AIR SEATS EXHIBITED
Pneumatic Cushions Attract Inter
est at New York Show.

Hailed as the greatest improvement in
riding comfort since introduction of the
balloon tire, the exhibit of pneumatic
seat cushions on the fourth floor of
Grand Central Palace drew a crowd
of interested cnlooksrs at the recent
New York Automobile Show.
Pneumatic seat cushions, although
new in this country, have been used in
European cars for many years. The
automobiles of King George and the
Prince Of Wales were among the first to
be equipped, and now pneumatic seat
cushions are standard equipment on
several British makes. In this country,
however. their use has been limited to
a comparatively few custom jobs-built
for certain social leaders, financial ty-
coons. picture stars, etc, who
first became acquainted with their I'M
usual comfort on imported Jobs,
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-01-25
"MAJ0R OVERHAUL" HELD
THING OF THE PAST
Preventive Service Now Has
Eliminated This Need, Says
Sales Manager.

Declaring that the progress in auto
mobile design has made the once pop
ular major overhaul" virtually thing
of the past, w. S. sherwood, accessory
sales manager. stated that preventive
service, 1.-The new order of the day" will
prove great boon to the motoring pub
lie and those in the automotive indus
try as well.
THE value of this preventive service
is becoming more established every day.
1t is resulting in better performing cars
with lower upkeep cost to the owner.
1t is resulting in more activity for the
service station, as motorists instead OF
delaying an inspection of their cars
until they break down are visiting the
service station more often for preventive
service check-up.
THE trend toward preventive MAIN
tenance does not mean that the car
owner will be called upon to spend
more for maintenance. 1t means that
through periodic inspection and minor
repairs his car will be in better condi-
ton. much safer to operate and easier
TO sell as a used car"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-01-25
A. M. A. JOINS STARS CAMPAIGN
AGAINST HIGHWAY DEFACING
Motoring Body, Through General Manager,
Voices Opposition to Impairment of
Scenic Beauties.

bitrary exercise of police power and I'M
constitutional. The only alternative,
from a legislative standpoint, has been
an attempt to regulate road signs by
taxing process, which the courts have
held must be reasonable.
Thus under the New Jersey act the
tax of cents per square foot a year
has been but little deterrent to outdac.
advertising companies, which have
merely added the tax to the cost of the
concession and have proceeded merrily
on their program of obliterating Amer
ica's scenic beauty by placing signs at
every advantageous point.
Boycott Suggested.
The one solution, from the motorist
standpoint, seems to be a boycott of
concerns using space with the outdoor
sign companies.
Outdoor advertising, it will be noted,
Is generally supported ov manufacturing
concerns of large proportions. Once the
advertiser Is conscious of the fact that
his use of outdoor signs incurs the dis
pleasure of the motoring public, rather
than gaining of good will, he will
promptly yield to public sentiment.
mat the campaign against billboard
advertising is having some effect NAV
be found in the fact that certain mem
bers of the Association of Outdoor Ad-
vertisers have voluntarily asked fol
Government regulation of billboards
Until comparatively recently, the out
door advertisers have been inclined to
ignore the swelling tide of protest
against offensive billboards.
Seeks Government Aid.
Their association has recently de-
clared that it seeks Government CO.
operation Ito do away with the evils of
present-day outdoor advertising" The
public interest and the interest of the
outdoor advertiser, however, are radi-
cally opposed. BY cooperation" the
advertiser hopes to effect a compromise
whereby their eyesore and offensive
signs can remain in place.
What the public demands is the res
toration of the countryside to its natu-
raj beauty.
- Aside from the purely esthetic as
pect of the question, there is the para
mount question of safety.
Road signs are designed to obstruct
and attract the attention of the motor
ist. Courts in the District of Column
bia and in many States have repeatedly
held that an automobile is a dangerous
instrument.
Causes Distraction.
Yet. Notwithstanding this fact and
the need for caution and safety at all
times in the propulsion and handling
of an automobile, the road sign is ever
present in the hope that it can lure,
for f1eeting glimpse, the attention of
the motoriSt as he sits at the throttle
of his machine.
Advertising has its proper place in
the American scheme of business. but
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-01-25
TALK OF HARD TIMES
is HELD RIDICULOUS
Auto Sales Vice President Cites
Hundred Billion Doll@
Market.

with hundred-billion-d dollar market
at our doors, many are crying hard
times" said w A. Blees, vice president
in charge of sales for the Oakland
Motor Car Co.
Frankly. I've lost all patience with
the calamity howlers. We've become
soft. Things have been too easy and
when they got a little tough we lost
our nerve. We cry hard times when on
all sides of us live l22 900 900 people
who are eating and sleeping and living
in houses and wearing clothing and
driving cars just as they did in the
past and will in the future. These con-
SumerS represent the biggest and richest
market of all time
These 122,000,O00 people spend
nearly 100000, 600, 900 annually. Think
of it! Nearly $4,000 900 900 per week
There's market that ought to mean
business for somebody-a market three
or four times as rich as that which
provided prosperity at the turn of the
century. And we sit and whimper
about it!
Even with this enormous market at
our doors there are people out of work
I have the greatest sympathy for them
and fol their families. But sympathy
and crying about hard times will not
solve their problem. Every one of US
owes it to his neighbor to buckle down
and with courage meet the present
situation and lick it. That's the way
our sturdy American ancestors would
have met the problem. They really
had hard times. What would they
think of the present generation if they
could return today and hear us talking
about hard times and wondering about
the future? Undoubtedly they would
recommend less talking and more
action.
We have an ample field for more
action. The volume is there. Those
companies who fight for business with
hgh-value products will get it,"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-01-25
BY THOMAS ]. KEEFE.
General Manager, American Motorists
Association.

%ASoONAoNASAa"
Good roads are being constructed in
the United States on the average Of 81
miles every hour of the working day.
This means that during a single year,
approximately 77000 miles of highway
will be surfaced or built for the use of
the motorist.
Along these 77,000 miles of highway
there will be built hundreds of thou
sands of billboard signs; big and little
signs. good and bad, all of varying size
and in various states of dilapidation.
One thing the motoring public can be
certain of, they will be so strategically
located that they will flaunt their mes
sage into the eyes of the motorlst
whether he likes 1t or not.
Sentiment Growing.
Public sentiment, rapidly being crys-
tallizcd, through the press in such cam
paigns as The Washington Star is now
conducting, is growing loud in its de-
mand that this ravishing of the Ma
tons scenic beauty be stopped
What is the motorists attitude toward
this Haunting, at every turn of the road,
in the motoring public'S face. the thou
sand and one "rticleS that the adVer-
tiser has to SELF
Almost without dissenting voice, lie
is opposed to it. His opposition in the
past has mostly been of the passive non
resisting form. He has vaguely hoped
that somebody would do something
about it. From time to time he mas
seen where sporadic attempts have
been made to curb the growing Of
fensive unsightly evil.
The plain unadulterated truth Is that
little, if any, success has met the at
tempts of Legislatures to curb bill
board hogs that continue their steady
encroachment upon the unorganized
motorist and passive public.
From legislative standpoint, New
Jersey, under the able guidance of State
Motor Vehicle Commissioner Harold G.
Hoffman, has probably done more than
any other State toward the elimination
of billboards.
That State, under an act, effective
January /, 1880, imposed a tax of 3
cents a square foot on outdoor adver-
Using and required companies and in
dividuals engaged in the business to pay
an annual license fee of 500.
Has Done Little.
The act. however, aside from pro-
ducing some revenue to the State, has
done little except to eliminate some OBJ
solete and illegal signs. New signs,
however, have been erected, conforming
to the act, and it is doubtful if the net
results accomplished by the act have
done much in the way of net reduc-
ton in any road signs.
The complete barring of billboards
from property adjacent to highways has
been held in several States to be an ar
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-01-25
READING INSTRUM EMIT
PANEL MODERN ART
Gauges and Meters on Dash
Broadcast Many Messages
for Motoring Millions.

Reading between the fiickers of the
gauges on the instrument panel of the
modern automobile is becoming fine
art for experienced drivers, according
to advocates Of the theory that every
little movement of the meters has a
meaning of its own for those who want
to get more smiles to the gallon. Mil
lions of motorists, they maintain, are
in tune for the more subtle messages
which the gauges continually broadcast.
1t is not generally known, for in
stance, that the ammeter can warn of
an incorrect carburetor mixture or that
the speedometer is capable of telling
the driver if the two rear wheels have
locked. Nor is the oil pressure gauge
suspected of being able to check the
condition of piston rings and the gas
gauge the efficiency of the valves in a
vacuum tank.
The instrument panel is a happy
hunting ground for the driver who
knows how to interpret the messages of
the meters. If, for example, he is driv-
ing car equipped with q certain type
pressure gas gauge system, he will know
that all is well if the indicator drops
back to the empty" mark every so
often. This tells him that the gauge
is responding to every change in the
tanks cycle of behavior.
When an experienced motorist started
his engine he noticed that the oil gauge
did not show action. While there was
the usual reason to suspect a faulty
gauge, he wisely switched off the en-
CINE and decided to avoid any risk of
damaging the engine. In thinking the
matter over he remembered that he
had given instructions to the garage
man to drain off the crankcase and re-
fill with fresh oil. Apparently some
inexperienced helper had flushed out
the engine with kerosene.
What had this to do with failure of
the pressure gauge to function? That
is what several of his friends asked,
though each had made an effort to
raster this cryptic instrument. The
explanation, of course, was simplicity
itself-the oil pump had gone dry of
oil and would not prime on the kero-
genp
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-01-25
rs PER CENT OF AUTOS
MADE IN LAST DECADE
Research Bulletin States 33,567,
ga Produced in United States
Since 1920.

Seventy-five per cent of all the auto
mobiles manufactured in the United
States since 1900 have been produced
In the last 10 years, according to a
bulletin issued here by the American
Research Foundation.
"Of A 1929, 817 motor cars produced in
this country Ietween 1900 and the end
Of $780," says the bulletin, "33, SCI, 944
Aave been manufactured in the last
decade. Only 10,761,873 cars were pro-
dllced between 1900 and the beginning
OF 1921. In other words, the automo-
bic output of the last decade has been
more than three times that Of the two
decades which preceded IT,"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-01-25
PENDULUM HELD
SWINGING BACK
Dodge Sales Manager Be-
lieveS Times Are Better
and Improving.
BY A. VANDERZEE.
General Sales Manager. Dodge Brother,
Corporation.


Corporation.
We enter the new year fully CON-
vinced that from IS to 90 per cent of
the purchasing power of this country is
intact. That being the case, there is no
reason why those motor car manufac-
turerS with products representing real
values and priced right, who have an
unshaken belief in the ability of this
great country of ours to snap back to
normally, who have business courage
and faith. should not have a normal
year.
Temporary Loss.
The 10 to Is per cent OF the purchas-
ing power that has been lost temporarily
is represented by the reduction from
normal employment. StatiSticians show
this to be only 10 per cent and Is among
factory workers mostly The remainder
of the loss comes from curtailment OF
the incomes of the 80 per cent gain
fully employed.
Today America moves on rubber
tired wheels. Approximately 5000, 900
families own motor car. And no one
ever has built an automobile which will
not wear out. An average of 100000
people have bought new automobiles
every year for the last five years repre-
SenCing in money about $4,000, 900 900
year, greater dollar volume than
that done by hundreds of other bust
nesseS rolled into one.
There always have been what are
called the three necessities of life-food
clothing and shelter. During the last
few years, within the memory of all of
us, new necessity has arisen-the
necessity for individual transportation
automotive transportation. So today the
most vital things to modern existence
have become: Food, clothing, shelter
and transportation.
Importance of Auto.
Just to get some idea as to how i'm
pcrtant the automobile has become let
me tell you that more money was spent
last year for automobiles than was
spent for either food, clothing or new
homes.
OF course, the automobile industry
cannot flourish by itself-others must
keep step with it. But believe that
within the last few months there has
been national coordination which
has set the pendulum swinging toward
prosperity. Times are better and they
will improve.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-01-25

certainly it is no part of good judg-
ment to permit an advertiser to so con-
Struct his billboard that it will catch
the attention of passing motorist and
cause possible danger to himself and
others.
The dictates Of common sense make
this apparent to all except the roadside
advertiser whose dollars and cents are
involved. He cares as little about the
safety of the customers he attempts II
appeal to as he does about the pr>ser-
vation or restoration of the eountry's
natural beauty.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-01-25
ONLY PHYSICALLY UNFIT
SUBJECT TO AUTO TESTS
Maryland Commissioner Favors
Reregistration Bill Before
Legislature.
Special Dispatch to The star.


BALTIMORE, January 27-Only in
very few cases would automobile
drivers be required TO take driving tests.
provided the Legislature votes for re-
registration of drivers in Maryland, ac-
cording TO E. Austin Baughman COM
missioner of motor vehicles.
Al present, he pointed out, there are
drivers who could not pass the rigid
tests Of eyes and physical efficiency
such as are now required Drivers who
received licenses several years ago and
have since suffered physical dlsabii-
ties which prevent them operating ma
chimes still hold operators ca DIS.
Baughman's office has been unable to
leern the identity CT these persons.
A rereglstrat icn would remove from the
records OF the commissioner of motor
vehicles more than 100000 dead"
names and would create a higher stand
ard Of driving. Many men and women
whose physical condition is such that
they are menace to other drivers
.v0Gid be the only persons who would
se compelled to take another driving
test before receiving cards.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-01-25
BUS TAXES HIGH
Report Says They Threaten Devel-
opment of Transportation.

Taxes on commercial motor vehicles
are already so high that they are
threatening the development of high
way transportation, statement issued
at the close of the session Of leading
truck manufacturers in the New York
headquarters, of the National Autono-
bile Chamber of Commerce declared.
Recent surveys made by the truck
industry into the taxation of highway
vehicles were cited in support Of this
sennSlnsion.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-01-25

Can Opener Needed.
From the American motorist.
Prospective buyer of a very small
motor car: "Er-how does one get IMP"
Salesman. you don't get into it,
sir, you put it on
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-01-25
HORSEPOWER REDUCED
Tests Show Old Spark Plugs Lose
Motor Energy.

Tests show that a motor In which
spark plugs had been used for more
than 10000 miles developed 31.2 horse
power when run at an engine speed
equivalent to 20 miles an hour. The
same motor run at the same speed
equipped with new set of plugs gave
horsepower reading of $50, an in
crease of SO horsepower.
The Washington times., 1931-02-07
Harlem RaCketeers
On Verge of Failure

NEW YORK, Feb. 7 GN.s).
The policy game racket in Har-
lem, which has been steadily fall
ing off during the last few
months, was believed on the verge
of insolvency today.
"Sure-thing" gamblers, accord
ing to current reports, bet every
dollar they owned or could bor-
row on what turned out to be the
missing number-612-with the
result that the lottery bankers
were unable to pay off the win
ningS.
The lottery figures formerly
were taken from the clearing
house reports, but since that or
ganization began publishing its
statistics in round numbers to foil
the racket" the customs receipts
made public daily in Washington
are used instead.
According to the operators Of
the policy, yesterdays killing by
the gamblers was not due TO luck,
but to leak" of confidential in
formation in Washington.
The Washington times., 1931-02-07
POTTER'S FIELD
LOSES VICTIM

George Garrett, employed regu-
larly until he. became too i'll to
work several months ago. will
not be buried in Potter's Field.
Neighbors have subscribed a fund
to provide a funeral fitting for a
faithful father of three children,
one of whom was born while Mr.
Garrett was dying.
The Associated Charities, ap-
pealed to by the widow, who is
penniless, to provide a burial for
him, declared that they have
funds for living people only.
He Died Wednesday
Mr.. Garrett died in Gallinger
Hospital Wednesday. His wife was
in the same institution. having
given birth to a baby on January
%. Because of Mr.. CARROTS in
ability to work. the family had
been dependent upon charity for
existence.
One of Mrs. CARROTS two
other children is in Virginia with
an aunt. The other is with an
other relative in Washington.
Mrs, Garrett. who is ready to
leave the hospital, is to be sent
to the home Of her parents on
Pennsylvania Avenue extended.
Will Be Reunited
The Associated Charities said
today that they will arrange to
have Mrs. Garrett and her two
other children reunited when she
leaves the hospital. They said
that they would keep the family
from suffering. but that relatives
should supply the greater portion
of aid for them.
The Associated Charities, mem
Der of the Community Chest,
said that no funds are provided
for the burial of people in such
cases as that of Mr., Garrett.
The Washington times., 1931-02-07
K. Of c. HONORS
PAID TODARR

Charles w. Darr, senior mem
ber of the law firm of Darr, Darr
4 Espey, and former president of
the Washington Chamber of Com
merce, has been appointed mas
ter o. the Fourth Degree knights
Of Columbus of Maryland and the
District of Columbia, it was an,
nounced today.
Mr.. Darr, who has been a mem
ber of Keane Council, of the
Knights of Columbus, for more
than 25 years, was grand knight
of the council for seven years,
and has served in many admin
strative capacities during his long
service. He is also president of
the Knights of; Columbus evening
school.
The Washington times., 1931-02-07
CARUS|'S DEATH
To CAUSE VOTE

Before anyone can assume the
formal duties of president of The
Board of Education it will be
necessary to hold a formal cleo
ton. it was declared today by
Harry o. Hine, secretary to the
board.
Asserting that DR.. H. Barrett
Learned. vice president and pre-
siding officer since the death of
DR.. Charles F.. Carusi, president,
will continue to act in his pres
ent capacity until the formal
elections, Mr.. Hine prophesied
that selection of a new head will
probably be made within a
months time.
DR.. Carusi is the first board
president to die while in office
and therefore the problem of
electing a new president in mid
year is an unprecedented one,
Mr.. Hine said ,> i
The Washington times., 1931-02-07
Col. 0. S. Eskridge
Rests in ArLinqtOn

Services for the late Col. Oliver
S. Eskridge, who died at Walter
Reed Hospital last Thursday, were
held at the grave in Arlington
National Cemetery this morning.
Chaplain Ralph C. Deibert Off
ciated and full military honors
were rendered, the escort meeting
the cortege at the Fort Myer gate.
Honorary pallr carers were
Major Generals Fred w. Sladen,
commanding the Third Corps
Area. Baltimore, Md; and Hugh
A. Drum, Inspector General of the
Army; Brig. Gen. George S. ST.
monds and Colonels Julius T. Con-
rad, Thomas w. Darrah, Charles
D. Heron, H. L. Cooper and
Claude H. Miller.