FIRE FROM THE SKIES

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 83, 4 October 1930, Page 24

FIRE FROM THE SKIES

AMERI&A. WARNS PILOTS

Aeroplane pilots and passengers have been placed in America under the same restrictions a- motorists in■ regard to throwing lighted cigarettes, cigars, or any other burning material over the side. Tho man in tho air arid on the highway is now in the same category in regard to outdoor lire rules^

The air commerce regulations contain a provision against dropping or releasing any objects from aeroplanes that would endanger life. or damage property and this is declared to include lighted cigars and cigarettes. Notification to this effect has been sent to the 9000 pilots registered in the United States, with a warning that the penalties provided for violations will be strictly enforced.

The loss from forest fires in America is so great, and carelessness on the part of passing motorists so frequent a source of their origin that what practically amounts to a "drive" on the part of the authorities against offenders threatens to take place this summer. Wasted forests, ruined watersheds, burned up wild life, and fireswept recreational areas have beeii of incalculable loss in recent years. So heavy is the drain that both in the United States and Canada there are now aeroplane1 patrols for. spotting fires and carrying fire-fighters to tlio scene to cope with the outbreaks. -

Eusty rims cause damage to the tire walls; when a rim becomes rusty it should be polished up with emery and re-enamelled.

In Prance half a million motorists received licences during the last year under the new driving test, which has been made extremely severe. Candidates are now required not only to show their ability to drive a car, but also to provide adequate mechanical knowledge. They must also be able to answer questions regarding the rules of the road. Women, in this respect, far surpass men. The percentage of rejections is very high.

Different methods are used by the various States of jjie American Union to fix -registration fees for passenger vehicles. The most common is weight, which is used as the basis in 19 of the 48 States; horsepower is used in 13. Other methods are: Flat rate (three States), cost of vehicle (three States), horsepower and weight (five States), value (one State), flat rate and weight (two States), value and weight (one State), cubic displacement (one State-)-

Small stone cuts in the tires should be kept filled with some good tire-filler. This will keep out water and oil, which are injurious to tire fabric, and will add many miles to the life of every casing. Oil is very injurious to rubber. Inner tubes should never be thrown carelessly among greasy tools or oilcans. Wrap them carefully in cloth and keep them in a strong cloth bag.

| A battery's efficiency and life dej pend upon the care it receives. Thousands of .batteries die of thirst. A storage battery should be examined every week in summer and more frequently on extended tours, and every two_ weeks in winter. The solution should never be allowed to get below the top of the battery plates. When replenishing the solution always use distilled water or, in emergency, clean rain water.

The installation of radio outfits on motor-ears is not passing in" America without some objection on the part of a section of the traffic control authorities. The argument is that a driver cannot give his whole attention to the proper business: in hand, the driving of the car, when it is so divided between driving and listening. Against their argument it is urged that motor driving is practically "mechanical" or "automatic." It is an interesting question and fair matter for debate. It could hardly be pretended in America, for instance, that the broadcast of baseball or the next prize fight would not dis[tract a driver's attention from the proper business in hand any more than one could conceive the average driver in New Zealand to bo unaffected by the broadcast of a Hanfurly Shield match. Some readers will recall a recent article quoted in these columns giving an, unqualified condemnation of tho socalled "automatic" driver, efficient driving depending on constant alertness. ...