Evening star., 1936-05-31


been nothing short Of phenomenal, ::
the national motoring body's state
pnsss. declared.
Growth in trailer use has been re-
fiected at touring counters Of affiliated
A. A. A. clubs throughout the country
as the trailerites require much more
extensive tour mapping than do pas
senger car owners. Previously, rout-
ings generally were made for a week
or two but the trailer traveller fire.
quently seeks information for trip
lasting year or more and covering
the entire country.
Economy, comfort, and absolute
freedom of travel have been principal
factors in the gaining popularity OF
the highway homes. Persons fortunate
enough to have comparatively long
vacations yearly, and many retired
business and professional men make up
the greater part of the trailer army;
while a large number of people, es-
up their homes entirely and now live
permanently on wheels.
"A great many trailer manufacturers
have appeared almost overnight, Of
fering a wide variety of models to fit
every taste and pocketbook, and are
doing a landoffice business.
Already the trailer fans have Or
ganized at least two informal associa-
tions, the Tin Can Tourists of the
World and the Automobile Tourist As
sociation, which sponsor regular meet
ings of the trailer population in various
sections of the country.
Parks and camps, specially de-
signed for trailer occupancy, dot the
country, many providing special run
ming water and electric light connec-
tions that can be fitted directly to the
trailer bodies.
"Trailers unquestionably have come
to stay and it is more than probable
that an ever-increasing number Of
roaming bungalows will participate in
the annual outpouring Of highway
travellers"
The number of Americans touring
In their own cars over the far-f1ung
highways of the world will be greater
this year than ever before, the foreign
travel division of the A. A. A. predicts.
Forecast of banner year for motor
vacationing abroad was based on a re-
port by the foreign travel division
showing that the number of cars ship
ped abroad for touring in the first
quarter of this year was nearly 45 per
cent greater than in the correspond
ing period of last year.
This growth in popularity Of for-
eign motor touring" the report of the
A A. A division declared, "is contin-
uation Of trend that began in 1884.
Motor vacationing abroad began gain
ing substantially in that year and has
continued to expand rapidly ever
since, until today the volume is con-
siderably higher than the previous
record year of 1880.
Low, stabilized ocean rates, ease
of travel, economy of operation and
improved service facilities all have
been important factors in stimulating
this mode of travel. Through agree
ments worked out by the A. A. A. with
foreign governments and foreign mo-
Tor clubs, the national motoring body
can issue all necessary documents in
advance of sailing. Through these
agreements customs duties have been
eliminated and motorists experience
little or no delay in crossing inter-
national borders.
LAS to economy, it has been found
that when there is a party of two or
more who plan to travel four weeks or
longer in distant lands 1t is actually
cheaper to use ones own car than de-
pend on other forms of transporta-
ton. That many economy minded
travellers choose to use their cars in
foreign countries is borne out by OFT
records, which show that the great
majority of vehicles transported abroad
are of the low or medium price
classes"
The motor car industry's assembly
that indicates a 5000, ,000-unit year
output for some time to come and,
because that volume has been reached
only once before in its history, the
question Immediately has been posed
as to how many vehicles the present
highway system can absorb, an Asso-
ciated Press dispatch declares.
DR.. Miller McClintock, Harvard
University traffic expert, recently told
automobile makers that congestion
already has become factor in re-
tail distribution and that a rede-
signing of traffic arteries is essential
if the automobile is to have a chance
to fulfill its destiny"
The highest level of output the in
dustry ever reached was the $500, ,000-
vehicle output in 1929. That was a
million more vehicles than the in
dustry ever had assembled in any
one year previous to that time.
In 1880, motor car registration
the number of vehicles in owners
hands and theoretically in use
reached its highest mark at 26 6,545, ,281
units. Only 10 years earlier the total
number of vehicles under license was
less than 100000.
Authoritative estimates Of the num-
ber of cars at present in owners
hands place the figure at close to the
1880 record mark. The suggestion that
1880 brought no serious concern about
saturated" highways is met in traf-
ADMINISTRATION circles with the state
ment that q large part Of the cars
then under license were taken out
of actual use for various reasons,
while at present few cars for which
registration fees have been paid are
not finding place on the highways
at some time Of the day.
Scientific improvement Of high
ways, leading authorities in traffic
assert, not only will tend to reduce
driving hazards and accidents, but
also will stimulate consumer demand
born of a sense Of greater safety in
operation.
"Deadline, or Lifeline?" is the title
Of the first of a series of non-statis-
tical safety bulletins prepared by the