14 GASOLINE PRICES NOT IMPORTANT More Than Offset by Lower Price on Cars and Tires "1 can't see the reason for all this excitement about the price of gaso line," says Horace T. Thomas, chief en gineer of the Reo Motorcar Company," nor can I understand why some folks who ought to know better, take the matter so seriously. "Of course, if there were the slight est chance of '4O-eent' gasoline in the near future, or even a chance that the present prices would continue, it would be different. Hut anyone with even the most superficial knowledge of condi tions knows that is impossible. "No one worries about the price of aluminum—though that is now twice its normal price. Nor brass, nor lead. "The price of steel is high—but no body supposes for a moment that those prices will obtain after the European war is over. "War conditions and war prices is the answer to the gasoline situation as to the others. So tar as New York is concerned, that city is an exception to everv rule anyway. At this time it is impossible *'2 f, re 'ght into New York, so most of it is hauled from far-distant points •—and the rest is shipped in by express. That is the reason for New York's 30- cent per gallon, and, of course, it is for the moment only. "We are exporting tremendous quantities of gasoline to Europe. In Tact, since the Gallcian, Rumanian and Russian fields are inactive, we are sup plying the world with gasoline as well as all other petroleum products. 'I noticed the other day that twelve r»ipr tank steamers had cleared on the same day—the biggest day's shipment ever made. And every available tank fhip is in service. The Standard Oil Company is rushing work on thirty of the largest tank steamers ever built. Why, just think! Practically all the cooking at the front is done with gaso line. Then there are 40.000 motor trucks to be fed, as well as myriads of r [reedy aeroplanes. Every automobile n Europe is doing double duty—and little attention can be paid to economy In that service. Tremendous quanti ties are destroyed, too. in storage places by enemy aircraft and shells. "Surely there's ample reason for the present shortage and for the present prices. They are war-time conditions, that is ail. And they will end with the ■war. In fact, we are at the peak now • —prices will go no higher and may be expected to come down any day. "I ncid on tally, i have it on pretty good authority that oil producers, like men In other lines, have been quick to take advantage of the situation and to tem porarily advance prices just because they could. In fact, I am told that in <>rde rto uphold'prices and for specula tion purposes, a very large proportion i of the oil wells of this country are actually 'plugged'—they are not pump- ' Jng. Nor are these wells controlled bv Standard Oil.' They are independent for ssj? OSl 0 ! 1 part - Right now there are 300.000 barrels of crude petroleum Jn the big reservoirs on the hill at Oil f ity, held for '53.00 per barrel' anil speculators are paying that and mor». There s 'war brides' for you: "Of course, that condition cannot last. In fact there is evidence that it i Is about, over. Producers have been taking the long prices of late at a rate that will surely readjust matters. ' But you say, could not the producers Keen prices up by a continuation of those tactics? The answer is that in normal peace times, just as soon as I gasoline in this country approaches twenty cents per gallon, Russian and Asiatic oils come In in floods. Oil. like •water, soon finds its level—economically lis well as physically. "Some will recall that, just before the I ■war broke out, people on the Pacific coast became alarmed at the soaring prices and feared they would continue. I A company was financed to brina Asi- ! atlc gasoline over—and Immediately thereafter Pacific coast points got the cheapest gasoline they had had for ; years. In short, just as soon as the i price of gasoline reaches a certain i level it begins to flow back this way • —and to stop competition before It set's I pcrious. otir distillers cut prices That ■was the real reason for the various price cuttings in the past: not the sup posed 'war' between the trust and inde pendents. Only the war prevents that lIOW. there is an Impression abroad thai the supply will some time run out. [ can't sec it that wav. '•'"or example, .lust consider this: hereas. formerly only 7 per cent. »f the crude oil was available for gaso lino .to-day. because of Improved meth ods of distilling and improvements of carburetors ami motors, o,"i per cent, of crudo oil Is rendered suitable for engine consumption! And new wells by hundreds are being: opened up everv day. and better proeesses or distillation. • Ml experts tell me 1 lint the need for a Kerosene carburetor 1 has passed— that they now know how, and it only re mains to Install the equipment, to break np the kerosene molecules into gaso line molecules, to render ail that Is now sold as kerosene, available for power purposes. Runk—--that stuff about a shortnpre— Pure bunk It's like the tales of ex hausted coal tields and timber forests •N.o Feneration now living will see that shortage. lime was when those com modities were wastefully used and sold S .w tban lho,r .\aHie as compared vith other commodities— but that is the whole story. us , ''""sider it from another angle—-that of the atunmobile user lie no concern over the present vblrh ( , wa " satisfied with that .V,T obtained, say. three vears ago He is getting more miles per dollar ■?#» y n !' Kot despite the i HpJ? nr ?„I", prw—-even at war-time ft u o fo , 't'xuybc news to him. but ii srettiriK more miles per gallon out of the low-test fuel to-day than he got from his high test gasoline then. And there is less Maste from evaporation, ete "Reason of course Is the tremendous Improvement In carburetors, motors «nd in automobiles generally. Whv, we us to think nothing of It when our mo tors spit and coughed and back-fired on starting in cold weather—with real gasoline,' too. Who ever experi ences that trouble now? Why cold ■weather Is the same as warm to a good automobile motor nowadays. "\t. won " r . vears aco Ileo the Fifth sold for Sl,S!>r,. Tn-clav tlio price of that model Is sß7.">. And It Is a vastly better ear, because of Improve ments we have been able to work out In the meantime. • o /vK ynu have to pay 52.750 to 53,000 for a ear the size of the New Tleo Fix—and every motorist knows It was not possible to produce present flay qualltv at nny price then. To-daV that seven-passenger car sells for $1 '- InO—five hundred dollars difference In both eases. At twenty cents per gal lon that would pay for 2,500 gallons of w,l,ch would men 1,000 to •10,000 miles. Ts gasoline hltrh? And if so, what matters It when the cost per mile Is less than one-fifth of one cent per passenger? "I on Indefinitely showing that the Increased efficiency of automo biles and motor trucks, due to Im provement In design and manufacture has more than kept pace with the price of and more than offset the difference In cost of gasoline, and will continue to do so. AUTO STORAGE— First class, fireproof garage open day and night. Rates reasonable. Auto Trans. Garage SATURDAY EVENING, v »- HARRISBURG TELEGRAPH MARCH 25, 191(5. Empire Model Stays at About Same Price Nearly eight years ago the first Em pire car was built. It was a twit-pas senger roadster that sold for $950.00 and achieved remarkable popularity. I .Since that time the cost of material ! has been greatly reduced as improved ! machinery made cheaper the manufac turing of the various parts entering into the construction of motorcars. This lowering of production cost left two policies open to the automobile btiiider, either to continue the use of the same parts with a reduction in the ! price of the car or the maintenance of l about the same list price, enlarging and refining the finished product by the use of heavier and sturdier parts. This latter policy was adopted and rigidly adhered to by the Empire Company. The result has been a continuance of a four-cylinder model refined and en | larged, season after season, always at a list price between S9OO and 1960. It was not until the beginning of the pres ent season that the price was exceeded and then with a big six-cylinder type of car at less than $l,lOO. "This season has shown most em phatically the wisdom of the adherence to this policy. We laid out our pro duction schedule for a four-cylinder type with more refined and roomier body than we had ever offered, and with longer wheelbase and-more powerful motor the price was maintained at about the same that had heretofore prevailed In the four-cylinder Empire. The popularity won by this car is re markable, but is even surpassed by the demand for our six-cylinder type, a big car that has been held light in weight and therefore economical in operation, and we are to-day carrying orders for practically ever one of these cars we can build this season," says K. J. Hor witz, general manager of the Empire Company. Winter month production that ex ceeds the most active selling months of ariv previous season in the company's history indicates the popularity of the new Empire models. Since the begin ning of the season all manufacturing activities of the company have been centered in the Indianapolis factory. Vastly increased production facilities were thereby provided, and this, with the fact that the company, forseelng the conditions to prevail, ordered all ma. terial contracted for delivery as quickly as possible, has placed the Umpire Company in a most advantageous posi tion to care lor this greatly increased business. Women Benefited by the Good Roads Movement "Who has said a word about what good roads are going to do for women," asks C. E. Hoin, of the Miller Auto Comnany, distributor for the Haynes "Eight Six." "We have had dinned in our ears that good roads are going to profit the gen eral public by cutting hauling costs, vivifying the country, booming real es tate values, but no one has so much as intimated that good roads have bene fits in store particularly for women. They might well feel that they have been slighted. "Women and automobiles have been marked as boon companions. A few women drove cars when they were cranked by hand. But since the advent of the self-starter, and improved steer ing devices, the connections between milady and her automobile have been especially close, for women may non take their cars and go where they please, so long as streets and roads are good. "There is no getting around the fact that the automobile has made a pret tier, healthier, and more self-reliant woman. The woman driver to-day can thread through traffic expertly," and she is heating chauffeurs at their own tricks in city driving. "Just now few women venture tak ing their cars out over country roads alone. Thoroughfares outside city lim its have offered rigors and discom forts, that she is unwilling to put up with on a pleasure spin. Uusuallv tin trip out through the country Is post poned until Saturday or Sunday, when a man can preside at the wheel. "Level and solid roads, kept up the year around, are going; to place the Sunshine and good air of the country at the feminine driver's pleasure every day in the week. Highyay Improve ments will make a wholesomer woman by extending: her touring; radius In parts where she needs most to go. There Is nothing that will smooth out a tangle oi household affairs like a dash through fields and woodlots for a good breath of fresh morning air. "The man of the house will find that a morning spin will place a pair of as sparkling eyes and a face as flush with color opposite him at lunch as he is likely to see for days to come." Jackson to Increase Production on Fours The splendid reception Riven Its light weight high duty four-cylinder motorea model "3 4" has caused the Jackson Au tomobile Company to double up the production of this model to meet cur rent demand. "On every side we had heard that lite 'Four' was doomed —that it would only be possible to sell 'Kour' cylinder motors to people who wanted a cheap ear. Hut it seems that there is a large body of motorcar buyers who are not all interested in multipiicit.\ of cylinders," states Howard K. Mat thews. sales manager of the Jaeltsou Company. "These careful, conservative purchasers are seeking quality of work ;»ii>'ship. llexihility of power, mechani cal excellence and stamina rather than figures. And witli these buyers model '34' has made a great hit. "Two years ago we would have thought it impossible to secure such freedom from vibration and such smoothness of operation from apy four cvlinder engine. But perseverance anil skill have wrought wonders and this Jackson '.l4' motor, a long stroke 'four'- cyllnder high duty motor is vibration less at 2,700 revolutions per minute or at a speed of lifty-miles an hour. This balance, which is really unheard of In a 'four' gives a new conception of four cylinder possibilities. "To illustrate what I mean when f speak of flexibility it was only the other day that a customer who was taking his lirst ride in model ':S4' re marked It was the smoothest running 'six' lie had ever known, and turning to me said he didn't know we were making a 'ijlx.' When I lifted the hood and showed him a four-cylinder motor he was simply amazed." 25,000 Cadillac Eights Shipped in 17 Months The shipment of a seven-passenger, eight-cylinder Cadillac to the Boston distributor from the Detroit plant on March 16, marked the delivery of the 25.000 th Cadillac Right since produc tion of this type began. It is only a little more than seven teen months ago that the Cadillac Com pany worked one of the greatest revo lutions yet witnessed in the automo bile industry. This was in the produc tion of a car equipped with an eight cylinder, V-type engine. How great the intluence exerted by the Cadillac was evident at the automobile shows the past winter by the number of cars ex hibited with V-type engines. Figured at retail prices, the value of the 25,000 Cadillac Rights built thus far reaches the stupendous total of more than $50,000,000. Motorcycles Play Big Part in Military Maneuvers The Indian motorcycles which were engaged in dispatch service at the businessmen's military instruction camp at Plattsburg, N. Y„ last Fall astonished many of those attending, who had not previously seen much of motorcycle operation, it was stated upon the breaking' up of camp. Cap tain Raynal C. Boiling, who organized and commanded the motor machine gun battery from squadron A. says that the Indian machines were invalu able. Differences in speed of the vari ous motorcars and motor trucks made It necessary to divide the dozen or fif teen cars into two or three sections, and sometimes twenty miles would In tervene between the first and last di visions during the day's run on the way to camp. In making a noon or night stop the motorcycles made it possible to keep In touch with all the different divisions and ears, so that the problem of communication was well solved. The Hendee Company furnished an experienced operator, J. D. Krts, to In struct soldiers In handling the Indian machines, who, according to Captain Rolling proved to he a first rate soldier as well as a remarkable motorcycle op ereior. The work of the riders at Plattsburg consisted of scouting to liuU if routis were in'ttcticublc for the Quality First f The Gala Going of the 3400 r. p. m. Chalmers Will Enchant You The peppery pick-up of this energetic car has balanced to the weight of a hair; a perfect balance put color and tang into popular-priced motoring of power is required and delivered by each of her that was neveT there before. six cylinders ; and finally all useless weight, pressure, There's delight in every revolution of her en- ? nd friction have been removed from all reciprocat gine—and there are 3400 revolutions per minute * n £ parts and bearing surfaces, every time the crankshaft attains its maximum There is undreamed-of riding comfort in the speed, which is the highest ever developed in an even, pleasant stream of might that flows at any American stock car. and every speed to her rear wheels. Her glad, gala going springs from the terrific One rejuvenating jaunt with your foot on the speed of an engine that was built, however, for accelerator of this ruly, spirited creature, and you'll much more than mere car speed. know why she has cast her spell over 740 American Great force unites with obedience. There are cities, sparkle and response in this 3400 r. p. m. Chalmers Until you know how it feels to release the that you'll look for in vain in most cars with delicious rush of power from a 3400 r. p. m. engine, high-speed engines. you'll never know the delight of real motoring. By checking the awful kick of her motor down The performance of this engine gave me the to a point that corresponds to 60-mile-an-hour suprise of my life —and I expected a lot from her si-eed, her engineers were able to give you instan- She ' s off like a hare after every crossing stop fl ' ght fOT with never a sign of effort or hint of fret. She slim g s from speed to speed like a dream-car. She hits the lou save $l5O to S2OO per year in gasoline bills hardest grade with the lightest heart. I know, and many miles to the life of your tires by because I've put her to every conceivable test driving the 3400 r. p. m. Chalmers. And what she>u do for me she ,„ do for yQIL Her riding comfort matches her economy of . performance—and both spring from the same causes. louring Car or Roadster, SIOSO Detroit. ihis is why: her heavy, hardened crankshaft is Colors: Meteor blue, or Oriford maroon with gold stripe. Ideal Automobile Co. Lebanon, Pa. York Garage & Service Co., York. Pa. Snyder & Wingert Chambersburg, Pa. C. T. Romberger, Elizabethville, Pa. 7 A. D. Shatzer, Greencastle, Pa. *" / s New Eberhart Garage, Geo. F. Eberhart, Prop., Gettysburg, Pa. M. E. Sclilegcl, Thoinpsontown, Pa. 1019-1025 Market St. motorcars or to open up a passage! through the woods carrying messages ; and telegrams from one part of the j Held to another during sham battles; as well as between the camp and town, i bringing up fliers of the aviation corps on the tandem seats of the machines and similar services. Since the season for field maneuvers ~aroftf»Am*rkm ENSMINGER MOTOR CO. THIRD AND CUMBERLAND STS. Distributors. Mn Ensminger Motor Co. Third & Cumberland St#. DIS'I'ItHJUTOIIK ended last Fall the Hendee Company lias received additional orders for ma chined in the N'alonal Guard organiza tions of both New York and Washing ton, 1). 0., and has also Increased the equipment of machines which the Scripps-Booth Roadster Cost $800; electric lights and starter; Houk wire wheels with extra, wheel' and tire. German silver radiator shell; electric door latch. A thoroughly up-to-the-minute car, almost new. A bargain. OPEN EVENINGS The Overland Harrisburg Co. 212 North Second Street "RECIPROCAirAuTOMOBILETNSURANCE OTHERS HAVE S.WEI) 3.V„, WHY NOT YOU? Pennsylvania Indemnity Exchange, Philadelphia Ask For MtenUnrc A. lj. HAM*. Agt.. Patriot Bldg. , United States Signal Corps installed ' | last Spring. The machines for military ! use are finished in olive drab to cor respond with the prevailing color in 11 army Held equipment. I The Overland-Harrisburg Co. Automobiles ground,, FIREPROOF GARAGE mf( \ |RI 1 10*14 Tcet. painted <7l flfl II u r * °* b< faet ° r '' i,uu I 24-gauge Steel—Rear Window Wire Glaaa 4||L C. FRANK CLASS Union Trust Bld-g.