The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-06-30
ACROSS THE CONTINENT IN AN
AUTOMOBILE.

= was announced yesterday, lie Cal, III dSSoCld-
| ton with the New York Herald, has arranged
for trip across the continent by the latest
achievement OF art and science in the way OF ranspor
tatior-the automobile.
The start will be made on July from the Herald
office and every mile OF the journey will be made by
the machine Its capability for speedy and long dis
lance travelling will be tested only the average
highways OF we'll settled American communities but
across the deserts where the roads little than
trails, and up and down the mountains, where the
grades are in many places steep to be almost
preciptous
By such journey the usefulness OF the automobile
will be subjected TO severe and thorough test. The
trip is therefore which will mark the opening OF
epoch in the history of transportation. In its
way it will be as notable the running OF the first
locomotive across the continent. 1t will demonstrate
the great value OF the machine to the American pub
lie and go far toward fastening the day when its wide
and general will. effect something like revou-
ton in our methods OF travelling
1t is we'll known that successive stages Of civilization
marked by improved means OF transportation
more than by any other single factor In fact moth
ing else profoundly widely affects the trade
the industry and the social life OF community as the
opening OF facilities for travelling and for the
transportation OF freight Every accomplishment in
through wilderness to the opening OF the great Suez
canal, has in proportion its extent changed the
whole life OF the people affected by it Something
than passing sensation therefore will result
from the first transcontinental trip OF the automobile
The new machine is as yet in its infancy. The test
now to be made will reveal its defects for in long
Journeys as well its advantages, and will therefore
be instrumental in bringing about the Improvements
needed to render it more valuable and more conve-
nient than at present. Thus the experiment is Of
scientific Importance we'll of general interest and
is to lead important and far-reaching results
No attempt will be made either by The Call or the
Herald to exaggerate the daily events OF the Journey
into summers sensation. The enterprise is not a
yellow journal freak Tits undertaking for the pur-
pose OF testing the availability Of the automobile for
general in all parts OF the United States and on
roads OF all kinds 1t is therefore an experiment in
the interests OF the public and will be so treated from
start to finish. Every event OF the trip will be re-
ported daily with absolute fidelity and an elaborate
and careful review of each weeks journey will be
given in The Sunday Call. Thus the public will be
kept fully posted as to the working OF the machine
under all sorts Of conditions and along all sorts Of
highways, and every intelligent reader can thus be in
position to Judge for himself OF its practical value
The automobile to be used for the trip is OF Amer-
can manufacture 1t has been constructed not for the
purpose of racing level we'll paved roads but for
use on roads OF all kinds and yet it is expected TO
make speed record that the nation can be proud OF
Mr.. and Mrs Davis, who to make the journey.
are skilled in the OF the machine and can be relied
upon TO make the experiment in thoroughly salts
factory manner. The day for the start will soon
come, and from that time until the automobile and
its passengers arrive at The Call building its pro
gress will be watched with interest all over the civil
lied world