New-York tribune. [volume], April 11, 1909, Page 11, Image 11

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YALK CREW DEFEATED
PEWSV! rtXIt WINS BY
OPEN LENGTH.
Quakers Pull Away from Blue
'Farsity in 'Dual Race on
the SchuylkUl.
!Py Tr>srrsph to The Trtbuut.]
rii-ir.oo'phSa, April j 10l— There was mor« than a
r^ar length of open water between the shells
•when tho Pennsylvania, eight oari-d crew soundly
oefe&ted Ya'.c oil the Schuylklll here this after
noon. The race was over a mile and a half
course, starling at tiie falls ami finishing at the
Columbia bridee. Never fo.r en Instant in th*
e-.'.'.re distar.ee d:d tli? sons of I'll have even a
fighting chance to vtiti. for they were clearly
rt'itrowed by a. crew that did not show any remark
able form. The time was S minutes . r > seconds for
the •winners and S minutes 14 seconds for Yale.
T c only ray of consolation that ih« New Haven
rarsme:! cot was in the fact that Tti<* Eli's scored
*!?!:t walked away from the scrub crew o? the
Quakers nnd "yon by mere than two lengths.
The Yaie jr.cn, ai they ziczasjred in their English
buiit boat, teemed to b<* bereft of all rower. A
complete upset cf form was what the SchuylkiH
rowing expert? called it. for, ult.ioush the wearers
of the B;-j« hr-d given promise «>f their ability to
I.ar.cle th?ir new craft, alien the t^st came they
failed. ]t was evident from tl-o moment the first
Ftroke was pulled that the Tale eight was out
classed a? tar as power in tlKir pull was con
cerned. Physically. the Vale men were a strap
••>i::r. fcttsky^groirp. r.nd .«=.-eii <•;] in better trim
than their Philadelphia rivals. They could not.
liOWTver. connect with their oars with the proper
uaouat cf power, raid consequently every stroke
saw them dropping further behind.
Before the eight bodi~? in the Pennsylvania boat
Tiad doubled up for twenty strokes the boat ivas
f quarter of a length in the lead. Only a des
perate sr^rt by Yale put a temporary check on
Ibe Increasing le.id. but at the three-quarter mile
post, half way from the' finish, there was just ■
»-^reak cf open vai»r showing between U:e boats.
I>own the last half of the course, past the inland
and to the Columbia bridge, the Quakers, with
lhes! same ions measured pull, drew away. When
the signal that the race was over was flashed the
lied and Blue was a good two lengths and a quar
ter in the lea i and pulling further away with
♦very stroke.
One ct the big-g-est crowds 3 hat ever turned out
to set ii boat race on the historic national course
throaged the drives and walks of Kan-mount Park,
sad each one of the houses along boatmen's row
Lad representation on the water. The number of
canoes, targes and fkiffp. each with Its Bide or
Red and Blue banritr. that lined the course wa?
indicative of the enthusiasm that hud been aroused.
A large number of Tale supporters w«»re on hand,
and There were not a few sons of Harvard th^re
to get a glimpse of their rival's prowess.
A stiff Wow frorp the northwest kicked up hii
v.gly iot of wares on the course in the early after
: or-Ti, and as the time for the lirst race drew near
and thene was little abatement in the roughness
.; l>epjin to loo'v as if the racos would have to
be called cfT. ' After -waitirg an hour after the
time originally s^t for the contest of the second
rights, the o!?c3;Us decided that the breeze had
blown i'.srif cut and ihp oarsmen were called to
the start. By the time the preliminary race was
over ~\.r water was fairly culm and there was little
wind blowing.
■ •
■
Tier* ra« a little Jockeying while they were
tvsitiT^: for the fun, and both crews caugi.t the
var-r together at exactly 6:15. Pennsylvania
•.jrr;^ into the !<-a<J at the out^ft, and took the
Tale *ight by surprise. After the initial spurt
»ie crews settled down to thirty-three strokes to
lie minute, and k=pt It up, stroke for stroke, to
tb« trolley 5 rid so. a little past the half-mile mark.
AH the time rciinaylvania was piiUing away, and
i;ow-<\ captain and stroke of +h*> Yale eight, do-
Clded to make up smut- of thr lost (ground. tte
felt !t up to tuirty-five, while Ballari the Quaker
stroke, reduced the spc-t-d of his crew to thirty
rwo. With three rtrokes more to th» minute the
Tale crew was totally unabl* to cor* with the
Pennsjlratnla oarsmen, nnd the result was that
pt th^ Ualf way mark, when the crews had cov
rred ihree-auarters of « mfle, open water was
? l i.;.f. r.:z between the shells.
Maintaining these same s=trolc*>? down past the
mile mark, the crews sat further nr-art. When
T'e throng on the banks saw that the Red and
; . v no unforeseen mishap should Interpose,
would rarely carry the day. round after round
«,f cheers rose In encouragement to the strusr
gU g eight.
-■- ■ last furlong showed how completely Tale
was outclassed- Howe sent the stroke ur. notch
l.v notca to thirty-nine, while tiie Quakers, con
tGiuing In their even thirty-five, not only kept
•:..•,■ but earned slightly. The distance be
... .. crews at the finish was two and one
1-alf lengths. None of the men in either crew
sUowed any ill "effects of the struggle, and tney
mere « : 1 ab'.e to row back to quarters.
c race of the second crews, which came as a
curtain raiser, was won h^aiiy by the Yale con
tinue, t Taking the iead at the "start, they wore
never in' clanger, and finished fresh more than
two lengths ahead of the Pennsyivanians.
T>* fact that this is the first race the Red and
Blue has ever won from Yale led the under
praduates to give the crew un ovation. The last
i ... between the two was in 18S3, when the Quak
er? w*:e badly b'-aU-n, as they had been in the
.. .... l-i ding >• axs.
■ ■
■
, and «x
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■
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_
-
• , •'
i;» r >R EALE.— TEAM OP 1«1GH BRED CAURIAGB
i 1i 1 borttct. not a Irak: ol anjmayj. Adc^ti* l:ooui ltxH,
"■ CLwci »v. *6w jfeak dgr.
THE VALE CREW THAT MET DEFEAT.
OAKSMRN LEAVING FLOAT FOR RACE TriTH PKSSSYIJVASIA YESTERDAY
Carnival at Hand
Some Surprises in Store in Way of Special Features News
from the Row.
. • ie time approaches for
. .■■ fork automobile carnlvaJ
Ing the different
• ■ fort '. " round up
• :.l":: .l": In st..Te
■ ■ ■■
The carnival Is only two weeks off, and dealers
and manufacturers are getting their cars In readi
ness for the different tests to be held during
the week of April 26, and are only awaiting: the
Issuance of the entry blank?. The committees prom
ise to have the blanks oui and the hands of
subscriher= by the first <■: thi.~ w.-ek. In the mean
time, \V. R. Jjee, the secretary, is ready to an
pwer as many questions up 'no possibly can at car
nival headquarters. No. ITS! 1 Broadway, or by 'phone
6.*jS Columbus'.
A baa Isome cai ■ esigned
distribution j i ive tsub
■; tributed the
i. mark and
[ the Ni
displayed in the
• ir;ni.- !!■■: ■ .Mil ihe
■
The hill climb committee has practically finished
its work, and will have its entry blanks out ahead
of any of the other contests. Colonel K. C. Parrfee,
chairman of this committee, has a list of applica
tions for entry blanks which Insures the biggest
hill climb ever held in this country. Alexander
Howe!!, chairman of the dinner committee, is at
work on an attractive menu card, appropriate to
the special occasion for which it Ie designed. The
dinner will take i^ace at the Hotel Marseille at 8
o'clock in the evening of April 28. Dancing will
be indulged in by those who desire to trip the
light fantastic till morning. The icing begins
at 31 o'clock. Reservations should be made to Mr.
Howell.
The voting for king and queen of the carnival
has produced keen rivalry among those whose
r.amep have been mentioned in this connection. The
automobile trade generally has the. penny voting
coupons on '-ale In any quantity, or they can be
had at No. 1759 Broadway. The contest will be
especially brisk for the honor of being queen, as
the vote thus far plainly shows. The candidates
Include various theatrical stars, as well as promi
nent women automobile drivers. Among the can
didates for kins? are leading men in the automo
hiie and tire trade, popular athletes, politicians and
. ity officials The total result of the vote is DOSted
daily in the display windows at carnival headquar
ters.
"Excessl\-e speed and power are no longer the
drawing cards they used to be. even among- the
wealthiest motorists," says General John T. Cut
ting, of the Oldsmobile Company. "The demand is
fora type of car whose recommendations cover the
Held of reliability in actual road work and which
comprises in its make-up those qualifications which
Insure the safety of the occupants. A car of ample
power and moderate cost, embodying all the mod
ern improvements which make for economical up
keep, is the one which will endure."
I
g a flourish
\\. W • Mora sales
5 practlca
Th» Lorier Motor Company announces that Harry
Michener Ralph Mulford and Harry Cc.be. ttve
three well known drivers, will again pilot T.ozier
cars in racing contests this year. '"■ long distance
rkces both on track and road these men met with
Automobiles.
Licensed Under Selden Patent.
Advance In Prices •
of
Matheson 4-Cylindcr Cars
Effective May Ist, 1909
All (-cylinder 1909 Matheson Cars are 50 H.P. chain drive.
New Prices After
Present Prices. May 1. ii r"r "' 1 -
Toy Tonneau $4,350 $4,750
Touring Car 4,500 5,000
Limousine 5,500 5,750
Landaulet 5,500 5,750
Orders for execution prior to May Ist. 1909, only, will be accepted
at present prices. Immediate deliveries.
•v-riTK Our nrt-sont prices are $1,000 below our original prices of 1907
•■" nrd~vl<* which were reduced $1,000 during the panic. The above
'nil- i,r*;- a^'re an advance of S2:,«J to |SOO over present price,:, accord
ing to model.
The Matheson big "Four" is known to be practically indestruct
ible Recent statistics compiled from signed statements ot Matne
son'owners (who, as a class, are the most prominent men of affairs
in 'this country) show the average repair expenses (exclusive of tires
and batteries) per Matheson car per 13.444 miles to be only $38.67.
Printed details on request.
Demonstrations by Appointment
MATHESON AUTOMOBILE COMPANY
Main Mile* <»tli< «-. Impair |.. ,I anil (,:ir:. . (Absolutely Klrrprooft
1886-1888 Broadway, Coiner 62nd Street, New York City.
3STEW-YORK DAILY TRIBUNE. SUNDAY, APRIL 11, 1000.
lerable success last year especially In t-wenty
four-hour races.
The Royal Tourist Automobile Company, with its
salesroom in the heart of '•Automobile Flow," has
been one of the. busy places sinca the beginning of
the pood ■weather. A steady stream of persons
visited the salesroom last week, and if promises
amount to anything this make of car should be
popular in the city this season. Besides having
large salesrooms in Chicago, Boston, Philadelphia
and Baltimore, this company is to ivave agencies in
all of the prin'-ip.-J cities.
The headquarters of the Kissel Kar has been
moved to "Automobile Row," and with the moving of
the salesroom comes the announcement of a chang*
in the name of the concern from, the Apthorp
Motor Car Company to the Kissel Motor Car Com
pany. Fred S. Dickinson, manager of the com
pany, expects an additional line of models from
the Wisconsin factory.
Among the recent purchasers of Fiat cars are
Henry W. Taft and Richard Croker, jr. The for
mer has bought a 45-horsepowei limousine and the
latter a runabout of the sari.-- horsepower.
Having decided that there is not so much differ
ence between ' multlpoiar" and "magnetic" as the
words might indicate, the Warner Instrument Com
pany, of Detroit, has brought suit against the
Stewart & Clark Manufacturing Company, of Chi
cago, on the ground that the latter company is in
fringing- the Warner patent rights to the magnetic
type of speed indicator for automobile?.
It la estimated that fifteen hundred persons have
visited the big plant of the Pierce Arrow Motor
Car Company at Buffalo in the last twelve months.
These visitors were not restricted to buyers, but
Included many well known experts and engineers
from foreign factories.
•
An enthusiastic o^ner of a Steams writes from
Paris to Wyckoff. Church & Partridge, agents in
;. of the great satisfaction that his car I;ae
given him. He gt*'es an Interesting schedule of a
■ ays' journey In Pari,= nnd Italy. Although
• Italy were isi a !>;ul condition because
of rain, the engii-e ran without a miss, and the
troul U ■■ as due to tires.
C. W Kelsey, driver of the Maxwell car in the
Nev. York to Boston en.iurance run. has re
ceived the Campbell trophy offered. Fifteen car*
ed in the run with perfect scores, and to de
- -winner lots were drawn
Ellsworth, Kan.. April 10.— The Thomas path
motor car. which reached Ellsworth last
night, resumed U» New York to Seattle trip to
day.
It maj ne. of interest to those who watched th«
daring trick performances of J. A. Burgamy In
the old bicycle days to know that for the last four
years he. ha? been the driver of a Matheson car.
Mr. Burgamy i* now at Augur-fa. <Ja., enjoying
h'.s honeymoon. He was one of the oldtlme bicycle
riders to break Into the automobile industry in its
infancy, and is considered an expert mechanic. In
Cincinnati, his home town, he has driven the car
which he has with him In the South more, than
twenty thousand miles, and refers to it as a mem
ber of his family. . . ,_, ...
YALE AND HAVERTORD IN A TIE.
Philadelphia. April 10. Yale and Hiiverford played
c tie game In th« last local Intercollegiate aoccor
ne of the season, tho score, being 1 to 1.
• <1 well, and were evenly rnn.t'"hs<l.
Automobiles.
CRESCENTS FAST GAME
BEXSOXHVRST SHIT OUT.
Oceanic Association Team Defeats
Players from the Mauretania.
Playing a fast, consistent game of association
football, the eleven of the Crescent Athletic Club
defeated the Bensonhurst Field Club team on the
Crescent grounds at Bay Ridge by 6 goals to none
yesterday afternoon. The Crescents held the upper
hand from the start, scoring twice in the first half
and adding four more goals in the second. J.
Jeffers, the Crescents' left halfback, made the star
play of the game in the second half, when the
score stood at 4 to 0 in favor of his side. Taking
the ball twenty-five yards from his own goal, he
kept it at his toe for three-quarters of the length
of the field, dodging the entire Bensonhurst team,
and finally landing the sphere In the net.
H. Armstrong was the first to tally and 17. Ken
dall followed suit in the first half. 11. M. Kerr.
the Crescents' tall centre, ehot a couple of goals
in succession in the second half, but was favored
by good fortune. In one Instance the ball struck
the back of one of the Bensonhurst players and
bounded •within the goal and In the other it hit the
bar and fell inside. Kerr shot a third one, how
ever, that wan a beauty. Davy distinguished him
■elf as left halfback for Bensonhurst. The line-up:
Crescents (0). Position. Bensonht;rst (0).
A. Armstrong , Goal Christ!*
H. J. Charlwood Right back MePhc*
W. D. Andrews Left beck Davy
R- Salter Rleht ha'f Ktlroe
H. Armstrong Cer.tr* half Martin
J. JrtTers Left half Humphreys
L. charlwood Outside right Ijewls
H. Kendall Inside right Lnughton
H. M.Kerr Centre Ware
A. Baxter Inside left Bowler
H. J.Beezley '. Outside left y.x^o:.
Referee— E. War« Linesmen — Messrs. Wilson and
BmlthanL is- -Kerr (3». Armstrong. Jeffera, Kendall;
Time of halve* Forty-Jive minute*.
At Marquette Ovai, in Brooklyn, the eleven of
the steamship Oceanic, which has an unbroken
record of victories in games with other seafaring:
teams this season, won a well played game from
the eleven representing the giant Mauritania, by
the score of * goals to 0. At half time the score
stood at 1 to 0 In favor of the !<?al«r3 in the com
petition for the cup emblematic of the Atlantic
soccer supremacy. In the second period of play
three more goals were added, while the Mauretanlas
•were blanked. Don?, inside right in the Oceanic
line-up, scored in the first half, also tallied the first
goal in the second period. Flay, right half, and
Wilson, centre, contributed a. goal apiece. The
line-up:
Oceanic (41. Positions. Mauretania .'Ol.
Painter Goal ;30?"'; 30 ?"'
Mederson Right back Jordan
Murphy Lnft buck Arno ld
Flay.- _ Right half -J a , lsh
Cooper Centre half I |n»Jp
Kelly - Left half Isbester
Oltteno Chitside right p' J/l??
Por^ Ineld« right £>«-nneu
Srp :::::::::::-:::::^^^::::::::::::::^
Bishop - Ins'de li« " a ''^i
Smith Outside left Jar% **
Referee -W. Hull. Columbia Ova: F. C. Linesmen—
Mensrs. Apar and White. Goal*— l>w (2), Flay and
Wilson. Time of halves — Forty-fly» minutet.
HOLLYWOOD IX LEAD.
Victory Over Brooklyn Gives First
Place in Amateur League.
By defeating the eleven of the Brooklyn football
club at I>unwoodie by the score of 2 goals to 0
yesterday afternoon, the fast eleven of the Holly
wood Inn Football Club, of Toikers, assumed the
lead in the Saturday championship competition of
the New York Amateur Association Football
League, but must meet their rivals once more In
Brooklyn before the series will end. The winner
of the aeries will meet the Clan Mac Donalds, of
Brooklyn, for the championship of ths league, now
held by the Cameron?. J. Craig scored for the
home team in the first half, and W. Salmon
clinched the victory with a rattling shot in the
second period of play. The line-up;
Holly-irood Inn (2). Position*. Brooklvns (01.
McArd'ld Goal J}*, ltt
Stewart Right back Milne
Barclay I^ft back CaWlcptt
Christie Right half MeClellan
Oibb Centre half Oppermann
Hill Left half Rydbdre
Salmon Outaide right Foster
Thompson Inside right Holllday
Cralr Centre McNeill
Officer.... .* Inside left Hampson
McLeod • • • Outside left Goodman
Refereo — Mr. Crelghton. Arcadia Thistles. Linesmen
j Burnslde. Brooklyn*, and W. Scobie. Hollywood
Inn. Goal* — Craig and Salmon. Time — Halves Of 45
minute*.
CUP SHOOT AT GARDEN CITY.
Despite a quartering wind, blowing twenty miles
an hour, members of the Carteret Gun Club made
good scores in sweepstakes at Garden City yester
day. The principal shoot was for the Garden City
Gun Club cup. The contestants were Duer Breck
and Newbold Hereck. ea.'h of whom had a leg on
the cup. Breck won, breaking 07 out of a possible
;S0 A prize offered by Breck for a 15- target con
test, wae won t>v Bthelbert Low, after tying three
times with Nlcol Floyd.
Automobiles.
Drive a White Steamer
-
and Tour in Perfect Comfort
No other machine can compare with the White as a "bad roads *' car,
and therefore no other machine can give such satisfactory service in touring
over the average American road.
Owing to the perfect flexibility of the White engine, the driver 'of a White
can accommodate the speed of his car, yard by yard, to the condition of the road,
speeding up on each little stretch of good road and slowing down for each rough
place, without the shifting of gears and without jolting or jarring the passengers.
Therefore, those who tour in White Steamers have far more real enjoyment and
are less fatigued at the end of a day's travel than those using other typos of cars.
The White engine has tremendous power, whether moving fast or slow,
and even in starting from rest, and the car moves through the deepest sand and
mud and up the steepest hills with the same ease and quiet as when running on
the boulevards.
If you own a White car, you may plan your tours without any thought as
to whether the roads are good, £ad or indifferent.
See our Touring Cars at $2,000 and $4,000 — at
our salesroom or. If you so desire, at your door.
The White Company
Broadway at 62d Street
TEX EVCK'S HARD TASK.
Must Fill Four Places in Syracuse
'Varsity Boat.
Syra<- Use.U se. April 10.— With four positions to flll in
the varsity srvell. James A. Ten Kyck. the coach,
fa-ed a serious condition this spring at ■yntcoai
I'nlversity. Although six of last year's champion
ship 'varsity rrow are still in college, only four of
this number are candidates for the crew this year.
Of thes*. Champlin. who stroked his freshman
crew and rowed Xo. S in last years boat, is strok
ing the 'varsity combination, with Captain Fisher
at So. 7: Shimer. Xn. a. Hemenway, No. 5. Oen,
No. 4: Putnrtm. No. 3; Guibord. No. J. and Arm
strong, bow.
The last named steered the four-oared shell which
established the record at Poughkeepsie in 1905. Put
nam. Gere and Guibord were members of last sea
son's freshman crew. This combination is much
lighter' than has usually represented the Orange.
Thirty-nine oarsmen and four coxswains compose
the squad wrjlch has been held over for the Easter
vacation. Some of the best freshmen have been
taken from the coach by faculty and regatta regu
lations, but despite all difficulties it Is expected that
the freshman crew will this year be a contender
for first honors on June 26.
Syracuse has a right to be proud of the record
established at Poughkeepsie in the last five years,
for in this time Syracuse crews have competed in
fourteen races and won seven, against six for Cor
nell and one for Wisconsin. At present both the
intercollegiate championship, so far as Powghkeep
sie is concerned, and the Kennedy challenge
trophies are held by Syracuse.
The 'varsity crew is rowing a new shell, which
trims nicely in the water, travels well and is some
what lighter than the boat used last year, al
though the dimensions are th« same.
For the last five weeks the baseball squad has
been working in the cage in the new gymnasium,
in charge of James W. Heffernan, '04. a member of
last year's Utica State League team. The squad
was encouraged last week by the appearance of
John H. Scully, a former captain and third base
man, who has not played for the last two seasons
owing to faculty regulation?. He has just suc
ceeded in making himself eligible, and Will un
doubtedly be a fixture on the squad. Captain Stein
will do most of the pitching this season, with WhSt
myre and Truax. right-handers, and Cottrell. a
southpaw, to assist him.
This year's schedule, which ha» lust been an
nounced, includes games with Princeton. Fordham.
Columbia. Michigan. Carlisle Indians, Bucknell.
Rochester and several other colleges. W. C. 3ykes.
of Buffalo. Is th© manager of the teair..
GET MILITIA Gl A RI).
Illinois Troop* to Enter Indiana for
Chassis Race.
Chicago, April J». — The official sanction of the
Automobile Association of America, rvas been given
to the Chicago Automobile Club to conduct Its road
races June IS and IS. Th-3 events, which will N
held over the Crown Point- Liowell course, include a
contest for light 'ars and a race for the Cobe
trophy.
Qovamoi M-iisl.u;; of Indiana has ri per
mission for the Ist Regiment of the Illinois Na
tional Guard to enter his state to guard the coarse
on which the races will be held. Governor Deneen
of Illinois requested Governor MarehaJl to grant
this permission, since the contest board of t w e
Automobile Association insisted on a militia guard
for the course before issuing a sanction for the
races. This is the first time on record that the
Governor of one state has allowed the national
guardsmen of another to enter his territory for
such a purpose.
In the history of motoring In this country ther*
has been only one Instance heretofore where the
militia has been officially used for a like purpose.
That wa3 at Savannah, Ga.. last year. Colonel J.
B. Sanbom. of the Illinois Ist Regiment, will com
mand the troops in person. He will take with him
1.000 men. Including th* signal and hospital corps,
and a military- encampment will be located at
Crown Point during the meet.
The Chicagoans are waiting for a final settlement
of the ruiP3 question, which includes a decision as
to th? engine sizes. It has been decided that in the
light car race the piston displacement limit v.ill b*
300 cubic Inches, but so far the contest board ha?
been unable to decide just what limit shall pre
vail in the Cobe cup rao*.
TO PLAY ROLLER POLO SERIES.
New York la to be Introduced to roller polo this
week. Beginning on Tuesday, the New York and
Brooklyn teams will compete at th© Clermont Ave
nue Rink, Brooklyn, in five games, called the
world's championship series. The New York team
will be composed of the players who formed the
providence team, winners in the season Just closed
of the national roller polo pennant, and the Brook
lyn team of those who won the Massachusetts
championship as the New Bedford twn.
Automobiles.
CHAINS LITTLE USED
SAVE LIFE AXD LIMB.
Their Value Said Far to Outrceigk
Injun/ to Road*.
Bf ToWer F. < l»rh»o»
Forbidding the dm el chains as saf-ty devices on
automobile tires will interfere seriously w!th th«
use of automobiles on the highwny*. bringing in
under certain conditions a factor of danger wiilch
will be a deterrent. The Importance of the effect
of the use of automobile." to every farmer and
manufacturer, indeed, to every citizen of the »tat».
is so great that it would seem •*• M consider
whether the objections to the use of chains can
possibly outweigh the unfortunate result of forbid
ding their use on cars.
The automobile has developed faster than the art
of road construction. It must be borne frt mic^
that the roads in mi part of th« world are con
structed to earn' the traffic th«t develops. Traffic
is not outlawed or impeded to suit the highways.
This hi a natural law. However, what Is th« possi
ble Injury due to th« use of chains? Only a frac
tion of the automobiles in operation ever us*
chains. Those on which chains are Baal ha- •
them in the tool box nine-tenths of the time—prob
ably only one day in a month are chains used for
a short time. Is it possible that thai small «s«
can really be the cause of material damage to th«
roads? During the very small time •!•.»!.-.• that
chains are used what happens? On aW straight
stretches, when running fr<«". the wheels are in per
fect rolling contact with the road and the chains
are loose on the tire thread.", and imbed themselves
partly in the tread at th» tire and partly in th«
road. If the road is soft, the chains will com
pact a small area of it. If the total area of th»
road could be similarly treated, It would be greatly
improved. Th far. no objectionable feat-ir- Is
present in the use ->i chains. On the contrary,
every horse that passes, every moment he la on
the road, is digging into and .J!st'.nt»grating the
road.
This brings us to the question of starting heavy
cars, and alas the effect of braking, when chain*
are used. Suca actions take lace at the atari.
for example, of a mile or two run. and for a f»w
feet there, may be Borne disintegration of th» ro*<X
caused thereby; when stopp'ng. for twenty or thirty
feet there may likewise be injury. .'."hen •lewln*
around curves a small surface of lac road may b*
ripped, and cause some damage. But meanwhile
I the lives of tiie pants of the car or of users
of the road may have been saved.
What la the crux of the situation? In a mil«
' run of an automobile with chains on tnere is a
possibility of the road being damaged for a hun
dred feet, but little probability. This means pos
sibly 1 per cent of the time when chains are used.
But chains are used at the most during one of
tijlrty days, that is * per cent of the tim». How
ever, all machines do not use chains *•>• any mean*.
At most the above means that 2 per cent of 4 per
cent, or less than one-tenth of I pi cent of th»
time of operation of automobiles on the highway*.
involves any possibility of damage.
On the other hand, when chains are actually useO
it is for th* purpose of saving life and l!ml>. V
new mode of transportation has come into our
midst. The public will use it. The citizens of th«
state must use It, and they are beginning to se*
the stupendous economic value of its use. The
argument sometimes advanced that^apeeding auto
mobiles use chat) in goo.l weather and may there
fore cause injury- during a larger percentage of
the time of their operation on the highways, is
very logical, but such cases are simply occasional
and attract attention out of all proportion to their
actual happening. This is a Clfferent ques
tion, however, and the state to enacting laws
against speeding, and all right minded motorist*
are co-operating, and will continue to co-operat»
with the state authorities.
Is it not possible that the damage accredited to j
chains on automobiles has really been caused by
different agencies? We have had In the past laws
respecting th« width of metal horse-drawn vehic!»
tires. Have these laws been enforced? Is it not a
fact that the highways have been improved t«*
meat th« requirements of horse-drawn Bai !
which formerly rutted all roads, so that now th«
tire laws for horse-drawn traffic are in this re
spect immaterial?
The Infinitesimal use of chains <.n automobile
tires as compared with the total mileage of auto
mobiles on highways would seem therefore to
cause no logical basis for the restriction which
may be contemplated. Life and limb are saved out
of all proportion to any possible or fancied In-
Jury to roads; and still it is clear that other
ag-jncles may be the cause of the alleged roa^t
damage.
Moreover, the admirable work of the H:shtray
Commission i* rapidly putting the state high-way*
i into a condition wherein the inevitable use of auto
mobiles will, as it must, be accommodated. It
seems clear that th<» chain question id a mere de
tail, although now a necessity in the development
of a great epoch In common road transportation.
The exaggeration of the Importance of the qu<»j»
tton is undoubtedly due to some unfortunate cans*
, that has unjustly singled out this safety devlcs
Autnmofrile-f.
II