Interesting Items Gathered from the Four Winds
Tire Dealers Form Association.
Action toward the permanent organization of the motor car tire and accessory dealers of Fresno was taken recently when thirty dealers met at the Commercial Club. The organization will be known as the Fresno Automobile Tire and Accessory Dealers' Association, and meetings will be held the second Wednesday night of each month. C. H. Williams was elected temporary chairman and E. E. Thompson temporary secretary. A committee on organization was appointed as follows: George R. Murdock, C. H. Williams, L. M. Mendelsohn, G. S. Waterman and C. H. Cobb. The promotion of better business co-operation among the dealers and the prevention of price cutting are the objects of the association.
Some Stealing.
Since the first of last January, automobile thieves in Philadelphia have stolen 162 cars, valued at $181,195. Of this number the police report that 136 cars, valued at $145,000, were restored to their owners. Almost every one of the stolen machines was dismantled and its parts replaced by the parts of other stolen automobiles. At present the Philadelphia police are investigating a new brand of automobile crook, "the planter." He insures a car worth $400 or $500 for $15,000 or $2,000, and then conceals it or hires somebody to run away with it. He reports to the police that the car is stolen and at the end of sixty days collects the insurance money.
Watch Where You Stop.
A New York court has held that when a teamster stops his wagon diagonally across the highway, leaving an insufficient space for an automobile to pass in the rear of the wagon when the car is in plain sight, he is guilty of negligence, and the employer must stand for any damages which result to the automobile by reason of the same.
Eastern Rubber.
In order to meet the competition of Far Eastern rubber, which can be produced for half the cost of collecting rubber in the Amazon district, the Government has employed experts to instruct the rubber collectors of the Amazon in more scientific methods of tapping trees, and has provided for a gradual reduction.
High Gear Reverse Helps.
It has been proved in the present European conflict that on touring cars serving for reconnoitering purposes a highly geared reverse and a duplicate steering set, allowing the car to be driven stern first, are most valuable adjuncts. On this type of car there are two reverses, a low and a high, and a duplicate set of sparks and throttle controls on the emergency reverse steering wheel. For raiding purposes this type of vehicle is invaluable. It can run into positions which the driver of an ordinary car would consider extremely dangerous, and can get away again with ease. The amazement of the attacked troops is great on finding that the attacking car can move astern as fast as it has come ahead.
A New Scheme.
Aiming to introduce a new convenience for its patrons, a garage in Detroit has arranged to take care of all packages sent to those who store cars with it, and place them in the cars of those to whom they are consigned. This plan, which is no extra expense for the garage, makes it much easier for the business men who leave their cars there during the time they are in their offices, is calculated to get them a much larger patronage.
Want to Go to War.
At a meeting of the Toronto Chauffeurs' Protective Association, of Toronto, Canada, three hundred men offered their services to the military authorities. A message sent to Major-General Lessard from the meeting stated that of the number thirty were ready to leave at once. Men of experience who could handle and do mechanical repairs on every kind of motor vehicle offered their services. Several of them had military training.
Beauties of Winter Motoring.
Days when the mercury is around 30 hardly appeal to the automobile tourist unless he is equipped with pocket heaters, foot warmers and similar accessories. However, if any autoist wants to see some sights of real beauty, let him roll his car out on the Columbia River Highway, now open to the public.
Every waterfall along the road is an immense pillar of ice. Every shooting bit of spray is seemingly caught by Jack Frost and transfixed where it fell.
It is a sight well worth the trip and one which likely will not occur again for several years, as it takes at least a week of consecutive cold days to freeze the falls as they are now.
Multnomah Falls is a column of ice from top to bottom, over which the water still is spurting, and the column is getting bigger every day. The smaller falls are frozen almost solid.
Near Latourell the spray has been driven to many of the surrounding rocks and the scene looks like a bit of fantastic stage artistry. Many of the trees have their load of ice and the whole is a composition of formations rare for this part of Oregon.
Real Work.
The latest thing in the London "smart" circles is for wealthy women to get together a couple of motor cars, fit them up as ambulances and start for the scene of the war.
Miss Maxine Elliott is the latest to do this, in company with her close friend, Millicent, Duchess of Sutherland. They are, of course, all licensed by the Red Cross, but it is more or less open to the fair owner to choose her own sphere of usefulness.
Miss Elliott's splendid car has been fitted out with all the latest appliances for the comfort of four wounded and a nurse. It probably will be used for transporting wounded from the hospitals behind the lines to the base hospital.
Dead Line.
Throughout the downtown section of Grand Rapids a white line painted along the streets, six feet away from the running boards of the trolley cars, will hereafter keep motorists confined, is a resolution submitted to the city council. The plan also provides that another line, running across the street fifty feet from any intersection with another street shall warn motorists where to stop when held up by traffic regulations.
Delivery Motor in Norway.
Norway is gradually increasing the use of motor delivery wagons, and it appears only a question of time before they largely take the place of horse drawn vehicles, especially for transporting lighter articles. At present there are about 150 motor delivery vehicles, including 14 motor trucks, now in use out of a total of about 700 motor cars in Christiana and 1,100 in all Norway.
