West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1903-11-05
200 NILES on AUTO.
From Baltimore 10 Aurora and Return
Going Through Three States.
From The baltimore News.

miles and extending over an inter-
val of little more than month,
through the mountainous regions of
Maryland, Virginia and West vir-
ginia. Mr.. Shaffer made the trip
in an eighthorse-power auto car.
He tells of many thrilling expert
ences with the people of the differ
ent localities, and gives an interest
ing account OF the nature of the
roads and other characteristics OF
the country through which he
travelled. In his mountain travel
alone, Mr.. Shaffcr traversed over
s4o miles Of the rou CHEST noun
tains--ranging in length from to
8 miles--in this section of the
country.
From Baltimore, Mr.. Shaffer pro-
ceeded along the National Pike to
Hagerstown and thence by the way
of the Winchester Pike continued
to Winchester. The National Pike
is reported in very good condition,
but Mr.. Shaffer asserts that his best
road was a s3-mile stretch on the
Winchester Pike, between Martins
burg and Winchester. That road
is of limestone and is kept in the
best condition. 1t was there that
Mr.. Shaffer sped along at his high
est rate OF speed--2S miles an hour.
After leaving Winchester the auto
moblist proceeded along the North
western Pike, running through
West Virginia, on his way to Auro-
ra, where he spent two weeks with
his relatives.
For about IS miles he met with a
tolerably fair road, but from that
point to Capon Bridge, w. Va, the
condition of the road began TO de-
cline greatly, and from Capon
Bridge clear up until after he had
crossed the Backbone mountain
Mr.. Shaffer met with the worst and
poorest kept roads on his tour.
That section is under the care of
the different counties through which
it runs, and some of IT has not been
repaired for at least three years.
Homeward bound. the tourist
made their way through Oakland
and Accident to the National pike,
which they reached about eight
miles the other side of Grantsyille.
From Aurora TO Accident another
long stretch Of good road was en-
joyed, but from Accident to the
pike the condition again became
very poor After reaching the pike,
and especially along through Car
rett county on the way to Frostburg,
the general condition of the road
was exceptionally good. The dis
tance from Frostburg to Cumber-
land, II miles, over a muddy road
and down the Alleghanies, was
made in As minutes.
Other cities passed through were
Hancock, Hagerstown, Frederick,
Boonesboro and Lisbon. MIR.
Shaffer left Boonesboro ats O'Clock
on last Tuesday morning and arriy-
ed at his place Of business, on
North Calvert street, at 4 O'Clock
in the afternoon, covering the dis
tance Of abou, 90 miles in 6 hours.
The only mishaps to the machine
Of the tourists on their run, other
than little adjusting. were light
puncture, rupture in the tire,
break in the cable and a broken
body spring.
Mr.. Shafer tells Of number OF
amusing incidents occasioned by
the novelty of his machine among
the people of the mountainous dis
tricis, and especially among those
living along the Northwestern Pike.
He states that in a number Of cases
the people became more frightened
and alarmed at the appearance
of the automobile than did the
horses. 'In one instance" says
Mr. Shaffer "while riding along the
Northwestern Pike, between Rom
ney and Hartmansville, a woman,
driving along in a carriage, al the
sight Of the machine fed from her
vehicle and took to the woods.
The same performance was repeated
the case Of man, who driving
along little in advance, of the
machine and turning TO learn the
cause Of the toot Of the horn, drop
ped 70 the ground and remained
there until the machine had again
got a safe distance in advance.
while the horse remained where he
had been stopped by his driver,
comparatively undissurbed.
When the automobilist reached
the Capon river, Mr.. shaffer found
the btidge under repairs, and, in
order to get his machine across the
/ river he soae ohf;oc1 - - =.