Newspapers / Firestone News (Gastonia, N.C.) / June 1, 1961, edition 1 / Page 2
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ANYWHERE, U.S.A., is as close as your road map. Motoring vacation ists like Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Varnadore and daughters Deborah, Janet and Diane can appreciate com pleted portions of the Interstate road program. Almost 12,000 miles of these "superhighways" are planned for use by mid-summer. Mr. Varnadore works in the me chanical depart- ment at Gastonia. ☆ ☆ PROGRESS REPORT m Go Far, Easy On America’s Superhighways Going places on vacation, traveling on busi ness, or just out for a weekend visit to a neigh boring state—the nation’s almost 85 million drivers of motor vehicles this year will roll along on more and better highways than ever before. Because of the improved highways becoming available, and because Americans want to travel more and more, the average motorist will drive far and in little time. Unless a motorist drives exclusively on toll roads, his total transportation cost is likely to be lower. More important, his travel will be with greater safety. Reason for the bright outlook: Superhighways —12,000 miles of them—of the Interstate road program planned to be open by mid-summer, when vacations begin for most people and high way traffic reaches its peak. Of the 12,000 miles a-building, only 2,264 miles will be toll roads. Foi’t Or More The remainder are toll-free expressways, with no stop signs and traffic lights; all will have controlled access and almost all will be four lanes or more. Average travel speed on them is 60 mph, compared with 50 mph on most of the standard U.S. and state routes. Driving is easier. All entrances and exits on these roads permit smooth merging of traffic. Lanes at least 12 feet wide and shoulders 10 feet mean more traveling pleasure and added safety. Besides the Interstate program, urban and rural highways are being overhauled. More than 112,000 miles of these have been widened, re surfaced—and in many cases, rebuilt—since 1956. This project is as important as the Interstate program because use of superhighways would be limited if feeder lines were not in best con dition. Most travelers agree with highway experts that all this work on our roads is long overdue. The Interstate program, begun in 1956, is set for completion by 1972 when a 41,000-mile network of multi-lane and controlled-access highways will be completed. They will link every major metro politan center in the nation. Itll cost $41 billion, but this in only about one-third of the immediate economic and personal benefits that will be realized. Less Cost And Safer, Too Estimates are that there will be only about one-fifth the wrecks and injuries on these roads as there are now on our standard systems. Safe ty observers believe that, when completed, these roads will reduce highway fatalities by 4,000 to 5,000 each year. By driving the new Interstate highways or toll roads whenever possible, motorists will spend less time enroute. Savings in time are worth while. Recent studies indicate that each minute in travel saved is worth almost two and one- half cents. On a 2,000-mile trip, when the average speed is 60 mph rather than 50, the saving is almost $10. The average motorist knows a good road when he sees it. Toll roads are being used on a ratio of four-to-one over parallel, lower-standard routes, even though toll charges make the cost higher. The good news of highway improvements is just beginning. Work is underway on almost 5,000 additional miles of Interstate routes. Edison Enshrined In Hall Of Fame Harvey S. Firestone Jr. paid tribute to Thomas Alva Edison June 4, when a bronze bust of the inventor-scientist was dedi cated in the Hall of Fame for Great Americans at New York University. The bust was unveiled by two of Mr. Edison’s sons and a daughter; Charles Edison, for mer governor of New Jersey and former Secretary of the Navy; his brother, Theodore Edison, a research scientist; and their sister, Mrs. Madeleine Edison Sloane. Mr. Firestone is a trustee of the Thomas Alva Edison Foun dation, sponsors of the cere mony. Other than members of the Edison family, the company chairman was the only partici pant in the program closely ac quainted with Mr. Edison during his lifetime. Thus far, 89 Americans have been elected to the Hall of Michael L. Ballew is assigned to duty with the Navy Supply Depot at Bayonne, N. J., and is finishing his high school work as part of his schedule there. Michael is the son of James Ballew of Carding, and Mrs. Ballew. He is in the main tenance department at the depot, and for a time was assigned to Fame. The Edison bronze bust was the 86th placed in the Hall. Three others to be enshrined are Wilbur Wright, co-inventor of the first man-carrying, powered airplane; Henry David Thoreau, naturalist and philosopher; and Edward Alexander MacDowell, composer and music educator. QUOTING OUR CUSTOMERS They’re Satisfied In All Directions At the Gastonia plant a twister tender wondered, “Just what have I contributed toward customer satisfaction after our tires have gone to market?” A weaver and a fabrics inspector asked them selves a similar question. Maybe their answer is in the letters the company receives from pleased customers. It is doubly satisfying that these letters repre sent a good cross-section of the country, as these examples show: John W. Lee San Jose. Calif. When I bought a new Chevro let in 1955 I insisted that it be equipped with Firestone tires. I drove my new car fast and hard and 20,000 miles rolled up be fore I realized it. The tires were worn but the spare had never been out of the trunk. It was at this point that I was sold on Firestone “500s”. My first set of four were driven 35,000 miles, then recapped and driven an other 20,000 miles. In 90,000 miles of driving on Firestones, over all kinds of roads, I have never had a flat tire. Our current car is a ’59 Chevrolet station wagon and I never concern myself with tire worries. Your Firestone “500s’’ are proven insurance to me. John A. Frye Marlboro, Mass. In 1950 I bought a Plymouth equipped with four whitewall CORNELY ADVANCED [N JOB AT AKRON J. M. Comely, once a member of the Gastonia Main Office staff, has been named manager of accounting for the company’s Akron, Ohio tire plants. Mr. Comely replaced H. L. Broad- foot who was recently promoted to comptroller of Firestone’s Des Moines, Iowa plant. Comely, 39, began working for Firestone in Akron 17 years ago. He was graduated from the Uni versity of Akron and completed a year of graduate study at Northwestern before joining Firestone’s College Training Class in Accounting. Firestone tires. These tires have been on the car for 10 years— and 31,000 miles. One was taken off a month ago for a minor crack in the wall; the other three are still on the car. This is real service. E. H. Hansen Racine. Wis. I think you manufacture the best tires available. I drive a 1956 Chevrolet and have slightly over 50,000 miles on it. The whitewall Firestone tires, which were the originals on the car, are still good for five to ten thousand miles. This probably does not set any record, but it certainly speaks well for your product. Dr. Richard F. Patterson Mobile. Ala. I have appreciated the Fire stone tires on my 1960 Ford. They have gone 30,000 miles and still have some service left. Driving included roads in cold mountain country and steamy Gulf Coast weather. I have not even been troubled by a flat. Congratulations! After reading these letters, one employee reflected: “People from coast-to-coast look to Fire stone products for quality, out standing performance, depend ability and service. Our constant efforts on the job will go far to keep these people our satisfied customers.” From 1950 to 1954 he was chief accountant for the Gastonia plant. He returned to the gen eral accounting office in Akron and in 1955 was named factory auditor for the Akron tire plants. From 1959 to his recent pro motion he was a company audi tor. One interesting thing about opportunity: It always comes disguised as hard work.—Second Shift Overhauler work on the USS North Carolina before its “retirement.” In the Navy since last April, Michael attended Ashley High School, Gastonia, and in sum mers worked several months as a pin setter at the Firestone bowling lanes. He was home re cently on a leave of several days. His address: Michael L. Ballew SA, First Division, Bldg. 72; Navy Supply Depot, Bayonne, N. J. THE MASTER WE A VER Good Manners For Vacation Good manners go well with a vacation. While you’re traveling away from home, do you trespass on private prop erty? Leave a smoldering campfire? Are you a litterbug? Do you steal signs and road markers . . . deface milestones? And do you pick flowers intended for everyone to enjoy? Filch shrubs to take home with you? Probing questions—these. Appreciation for the things you enjoy on a trip, and your thoughtfulness of others will add to the pleasant memories of your vacation. Tir«$ton« SfSWg reporters June. 1961 Page 2 Volume X Number 7 ☆ ☆ ☆ Published by The Firestone Tire & Rubber Company. Firestone Textiles Division, Gastonia. North Carolina. Claude Callaway. Editor Charles A. Clark. Photographer Carding—Payton Lewis, Jessie Ammons Cloth Room—Margie Waldrep Industrial Relation s—Flora Pence Main Office—Bea McCarter Quality Control—Sallie Craw ford. Louella Queen, Leila Rape Spinning—L illie A. Brown. Maude Peeler, Mary Turner Spooling—Nell Bolick, Rosalie Burger, Ophelia Wallace Mechanical Department — Rosie Francum Twisting—Vera Carswell, Elease Cole, Annie Cosey, Katie El kins. Catherine Fletcher Twisting (Sales)—Elmina Brad shaw Warehouse—N a n c y Cloninger. George Harper, Albert Meeks, Rosevelt Rainey Weaving (cotton)—Ruth Veitch Weaving (synthetics)—Mary E. Johnson, Irene Odell Winding—Ruth Cloninger, May- zelle Lewis
Firestone News (Gastonia, N.C.)
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June 1, 1961, edition 1
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