Evening star., 1938-03-04
TO OPEN
USED CAR WEEK
More Than 100 Old Autos
to Go to Funeral Pyre
Tomorrow.
BY G. ADAMS HOWARD.

ny ". NDnWS f1OV AMI.
District used-car week will be of
to big start tomorrow when a parade
will launch the seven-day period In
which 1t is hoped stimulus to busi-
ness generally will result in the Ma.
tional Capital.
This parade of obsolete cars, mum.
bering more than 100, will be led by
Maj. Ernest w. Brown. superintendent
of police. and George E. Keneipp
manager of the Keystone Automobile
Club.
This plan Is the result OF the meet
ing called by Commissioner Melvin C.
Hazen Wednesday, when q committee
Of 10l civic and business leaders met
at the District Building, in effort to
cooperate with all the States to get
used cars moving. It was the con-
sensus that II this is accomplished
new cars can be sold, which will mean
that the automobile industry with all
its allied lines will prosper, and be a
great factor in ending the present
recession.
Safety Factor.
Not only does the business angle
predominant. but a safety factor is in
volved. With the expected sale of
used cars, at present at bargain prices,
they must be put through rigid re-
construction for mechanical perfec-
tion. Those found wanting will be
escorted to gigantic bonfire planned
for their permanent disposal. Sal
wage from the flames will be used for
charitable purposes.
All of this Is the result OF the con-
ference recently held here by Presi-
dent Roosevelt and various automo-
bile manufacturers who came to the
conclusion that movement, nation
al in conception. will be one OF the
best ways to aid business and employ
ment. The manufacturers through
out the country have raised 81 SOC, 600
to further these aims.
1t Is more than buy-an-apple week.
1t is proposal to every citizen to do
everything in his power to put WASH
ington and the Nation back in pros
perity lanes. The automobile indus
try has proven to be very much of a
barometer of industrial health. If it
goes we'll the probability is that all
businesses will also.
Bands to Play Gay Dirge.
The parade OF used cars will start
from Washington Circle tomorrow aft
ernoon at 2:30 o'clock Many of them
will have to be towed. Modern used
cars will precede them and several
bands will be in the line. Leaving the
circle the procession will 60 east on
Pennsylvania avenue to Fifteenth
street, thence south on Fifteenth street
TO Pennsylvania avenue, east on Penn
sylvania avenue to Fourth street and
Constitution avenue. east on Constitu-
ton avenue to Third street, north on
Third street to New York avenue, east
on New York avenue to West Virginia
avenue NE. where the big bonfire is
planned, probably to be held Tuesday
night. The funeral pyre of the old
derelicts will be supervised by the
American Automobile Association.
The Goodyear blimp operators are
arranging a plan of carrying one of
these old cars aloft and dropping it
among its burning once-faithful asso-
clates of the old-car DAYS.
Used-car sales In the United States
have fallen OF to the point where ap-
proximately 100000 used cars we're in
the hands of the $4,000 automobile
dealers throughout the country at the
beginning of 1888. it is stated. a con-
dition which is said to have a direct
bearing on the automobile industry
as a whole and other industries de-
pendent on 1t.