Evening star., 1932-06-19
In the Motor World
BY G. ADAMS HOWARD.

| the depression period is considerably
! less because of diminished use OF cabs.
The possible margin Of profit to oper-
ators Is now down to point where cost
elements have been calculated to the
last decimal Of cent. But with tie
new national tax on gasoline. tax1cab
operation averaging eight miles to the
gallon Is now increased approximately
one-eighth of q cent q mile without
considering other increased tax costs Of
lubricating oil and tires. In some
is added to the State gas tax the tax
cost on the fuel Is increased to l cent
for each mile Travelled by cab. AS
less than half the average total cab
mileage Is revenue producing. this means
that the maximum tax cost OF passenger
carrying cab miles will be close to 2
cents in the future. Exclusive Of COM
mission to drivers, which as rule are
based on total cash intake, no other
single factor such as insurance, main
tenance, depreciation, tires and licenses
equals the item of cost imposed by taxes.
World Gas Production.
According to the United States Bu-
reau of Mines Of the Commerce Depart
ment in a preliminary report, the world
production Of natural gasoline totaled
49,877,000 barrels during 1881. a de-
crease Of 9,234,000 barrels, or 1876 per
cent, from the record total of 50, lii 900
barrels reported for 1890. The decline
IN world production resulted from the
drop of 9,665, 900 barrels. or 18.4 per
cent, in the output Of natural gasoline
plants In the United States, as produc-
ton in foreign countries increased from
6.481 900 barrels in 1880 to 6,9l1 900
barrels in 1881, a gain Of 430, 900 bar
rels or sc per cent.
The output Of foreign plants has
formed an increasing proportion OF the
world total during the five years for
which data are available, advancing
from So per cent in 1927 to 1879 per
cent in 1881, while the portion provided
from domestic production, conversely,
has dropped from 94.2 per cent in 1927
to 86.1 per cent in 1881.
In general, the increases or decreases
in natural gasoline output recorded for
1881 were in approximate relationship
to the changes IN crude oil production.
as most Of the natural gas treated for
the recovery of the lighter natural gaso-
line fractions Is produced in conjunc-
ton with the output Of crude petro-
leum Rumania, Russia GU. S. S. RI
and Argentina reported substantial in
creases in crude oil production and cor
responding gains in natural gasoline
output, while such countries as the
Netherland East Indies, Persia, Peru
and Venezuela, in which crude oil pro-
duction was curtailed during 1881, re-
ported smaller output OF natural gaso-
line. This relationship is not applicable
to other countries. such as Trinidad and
Ecuador, where the recovery Of natural
gasoline is rather recent development.
Testing Auto Fabrics.
Drivers who bounce around on auto
truck seats all day have been enrolled
in the cause of textile science by lead
ing clothing manufacturer of Chicago.
To find out how long their fabrics wear
against laboratory tests, the firm has
furnished snappy topcoats and other
garments to truck drivers. At regular
periods the men report with their coats
while textile experts examine the ar
ticles for signs of wear. The expert
ments have proved the accuracy Of a
special abrasion machine which rubs
fabrics together to see how long they
last, and has also revealed interesting
things about seat upholsteries.
In general, garments last from two
to three times longer against mohair
velvet or velmo upholstery" said an
official of the firm recently. This ma
terial is the 'kindest' of all to clothing,
the driver and abrasion tests have
proved. Automobile seats covered with
mohair velvets insure less wear on the
clothing, and garments do not shine
even after long exposure to this mate
rial"
The topcoat idea for truck drivers
has more than paid the costs, officials
declare. in spite Of the fact that one
driver failed to show up after receiving
a particularly natty coat.