Evening star., 1946-10-16
Bergman Welcomed
By Historical Society
As Honorary Member

Clifford K. Bergman. veteran
Evening Star cartoonist, last night
was extended honorary membership
in the Columbia Historical Society
Congratulating Mr.. Bergman on
becoming the fifth honorary men,
ber in the history of the society, F.
Regis Noel, president, described the
cartoonist as IAN independent in
dustrious genius who seized oppor-
tunity, and, even in advanced years,
does not retire for he cannot help
but toll at an occupation he loves
and adorns"
"He makes cartoons but never
throws harpoons, Mr.. Noel de-
clared. HE has fair for lampoon-
ing without hurting those whom he
criticizes, although most of his
drawings have the deadly effect OF
squarely hitting the bulls-eye"
The ceremony honoring Mr.
Bergman opened a meeting in the
assembly hall of Brookings Institu-
ton, 722 Jackson place NV, and
was followed by a talk by A. Left
wich Sinclair, jr, on THE History
of the Automobile in tie District
of Columbia"
Goes Back to 1892.
Mr.. Sinclair traced the develop
ment of the "horseless carriage"
from the Duryea carriage in 1892
which, he said, antedated Ford's first
vehicle y by one year-to modern
times.
Gasoline driven vehicles, he re-
called, are a comparatively recent
development. They were preceded
by steam propelled cars, never too
popular with the public, which show
ed an understandable reluctance to
ride in carriage that had boiler
full of steam under the. seat.
Speed laws and traffic restrictions
meant nothing to the early drivers,
Mr.. Sinclair related. When motor
ist hit a pedestrian in Paris at the
turn of the century, he. said, the
luckless French pedestrian was
usually hailed irto court to be fined
for straying into the automobiles
path.
IL MPH Limit.
When speed laws did go into effect
here, in 1906, they limited cars to
the reckless speed of IL miles per
hour on the straight-of-way, 5 miles
at street crossings and 4 miles
around turns.
Uniform automobile licenses were
unheard of at first. Washington
cars bore licenses of varying sizes,
shapes and colors, according to the
whim of the owner, until September
Is, 1907, when a standard black
enamel plate with white numerals
was introduced.
From the beginning, diagonal
streets and avenues were headache
for the Washington motorist, espe-
cially since the original traffic laws
provided that motor vehicles moving
north or south were to have the
right of way over those headed east
or west. Mr.. Sinclair said compass
should have been standard equip
ment here in those days.
Recalls Forgotten Makes.
A mere recitation of the names of
the countless early automobile man
ufacturers brought nostalgia men,
ories to many of the historical
society members. A car known as
the Washington, built by the Carter
Motor Co. and assembled in Hyatts-
Vile, Md. was popular here from
1909 to 1911, Mr.. Sinclair asserted.
Other names, now. all but for
gotten, were the Zip" the "Klink," "
the Darling" and a model known
as "The Seven Little Buffaloes."
The automobile industry has
come a long way in half a century,
Mr. Sinclair concluded, citing its
production of $4,000, ,000,O 900 worth
of war materials during World
War II.
Mr.. Noel terminated the business
of the meeting with the announce
ment that a committee had been
appointed to prepare for the 1850
celebration here of the 150th ami
versary Of the establishment of the
seat of the Federal Government in
the District of Columbia.
Paul B. Cromelin was announced
as chairman of this committee,
Roger Robb, secretary; c. F. Jacob
sen, treasurer, and H. S. Middlemiss,
reporter.
Church Supper Planned