Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1903-08-20
Or. Jackson's Journey from San
Francisco to Burlington in an
Automobile
TEN WEEKS ON THE ROAD
First Man to Cross the Continent in
his W0y-An Interesting story Of
His Experiences Told by DIR.
jackson HimscIf--Praiscs
Vermont Roads

DR.. II. Nelson Jackson arrived in this
city Friday afternoon about five
o'clock in his Wlntun automobile. lu
which,, during the last few months. he
has covered the distance from san
Francisco, Cal. to New York the first
time that the feat has ever been accom-
Ilishcd in machine of this Kind. Or
jackson is enjoying the best of health
after his long journey and does rot
seem the least fatigucd.
DR.. jackson left this city the last
OF January going by rail from here to
Mexico on business. lie then went to
SAN Francisco, and it was there that he
first conceived the idea of making a
trip across the continent in an automo-
bile. After he had been in san Fran
cisco a short time he purchased an au-
tocar. lie first became interested in n
trip across the continent when sitting.
in company with some friends. at the
University club in san Francisco one
day. The discussion came up in regard
TO making the trip across the country,
the other gentlemen claiming That such
a trip was impossible ni. jackson
conferred with his chauffeur. after he
left the club. His chauffeur stated that
he thought the trip could he accom-
plished if n sufficiently strong machine
could be obtained. 1t was SUGG"Stc ed
to DIR. jackson that the trip might he
made by taking the northern route. He
decided Immediately to make tho trip
and after some difficulty procured an
automobile weighing 900 pounds. of
90 horse power and capable of carrying
five people. Three days afterwards
Or. Jackson. in company with his
chauffeur, Mr.. Scwell *. Crocker. start
ed on the long journey. y camping out
1T was purchased and they took with
them a complete set of machinists
tools.
The story Of Or. Jacksons trip is told
by himself in the following letter which
he proposes to send TO the manufa cturers
of the automobile which brought him
across the continents:
While in San Francisco last winter I
purchased two motor cars, and thereby
b came very much interested in horse
less machines | was very fortunate in
occurring tho services of Sewell X. Crock
Or Of Tacoma. Wash. an experienced
chauffeur. My attention was especially
called to the trans-cont mental journey
by remarks made by some gentlemen at
the University club. San Francisco. They
were discussing the difficulties to he mot
with in taking car across tn" CON
tinent, and arrived at the conclusion
that it could not be done. inasmuch as
oil previous attempts of this nature had
failed This led me t. seriously consider
the question and / discussed the matter
with Mrs Jackson and Mr.. Crockcr. The
outcome was that l decided to make the
attempt with the assistance of Mr..
Crocker
After considering various machines and
n, Mr.. Crockers suggestion. | decided
that a "WintOn" was the one | would
use. AS there were no new machines in
stock on the coast. and delay would be
entailed by waiting for the next ship
m"nt. | purchased a "Winton" by giving
n bonus to private gentleman who had
bought one several weeks before and had
it in use Taking the tonneau off ] used
the space for our oqument. which con-
sisted of sleeping bags, rubber mackin-
toshes for the car and ourselves, leather
coats, sweaters, canvass water bag. can
teen, cooking outfit, shot gun. Hno.
pistols ammunition, fishing tackle.
block and tackle with one hundred ara
fifty feet of rope, a nromans axe. "A spade
two Barrett Jacks. q vice, set Of ma
chinists tools and two telescope Valiscs
for clothing. We also carried an extra
five gallon tank for cylinder oil and a
and twelve gallon tank for gas0lcno
We left San Francisco at midday. May
the 23rd. crossing the Bay to Oakland
on the ferry and thence ran through
Haywards. Leavenworth and spent the
night at Tracy. From there we went to
Stockton. and arriving AT Sacramento at
e:30 in the afternoon. Here We spent a
day in more perfectly arranging our
equipment. We then ran to Oroville.
where we were advised to 20 to Andor-
son and cross tho Sorras at that point.
as the roads north of Oroville were in
bad condition. This we did ana began
climbing the mountains at that point
Here leaving sight of the railway We did
not see one again until We arrived at
Ontario, Oregon.
Leaving Anderson we made for Iron
MN t.,in -i,,tr