The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-08-14
Lob. 0 TRIP
:. LOCAL MAN
..a God and Fam
= Outing.
JIS AND RETURN
Journey Made in Fast Time-Many
Adventures Along the
Route.

Whitman Osgood has the distinction !
OF being the first man To make an auto /
mobile trip To the St. Louis Worlds Fa:r /
and return. He reached his home IN /
Washington Wednesday brimming over
with enthusiasm.
In speaking of his trip he said; Il /
left Washington in a canopy top, ten |
horsepower tonneau car. July ]. 1 was |
accompanied by my wife. two children |
and Clarence Thomas. my colored chauf- |
feur. We took the National Pike, MAX /
ing noon and night stops, according TO |
the schedule and maps of the American |
Automobile Association for the St. |
Louis tour. We passe,- through Fredcr- |
Eek, Hagerstown. and Cumberland, Md. |
then. turning north through Bedford. |
Pittsburg. and Washington, Pa, where |
We returned TO the National Pike and |
went direct through Wheeling, Zanes-
vile. Columbus, Indianapolis, and Terre
Haute 10 St. Louis.
The trip had taken US in all about
twenty days. only twelve Of which were
spent in actual travelling. This makes
our average about 100 miles per day, 10
make which il is necessary TO consume
from twelve TO sixteen gallons Of saSo-
lene per day at a cost ranging from II
10 . cents gallon.
w e spent one week at the ldlr ana
started home two weeks ago, making
the return trip in fifteen days, travel
and stOp-OVer time. We carried a com
plete outfit Of necessary accessories such
tires, extra parts. etc. and the ma
chine stood the journey remarkably well,
showing little evidence or its hard usage,
save great deal Of mud, the loss OF the
canopy top, which we discarded. near
Wheeling, and the lock OF the two rear
mudguards. We could have retained
these, but decided TO leave them at
Hoo -~fsrrr IN n ha1
weight
Repair Bill Too Large.
The repair bill was entirely too large
and was due TO the fact that there Is all
along the route a disposition TO over
charge. I also had 10 spend a great
deal OF money in extra parts,
but this was due to the expense caused
by telegraphing and paying express
charges for quick delivery. With the
experience / have gained since July l
could easily take the same trip with the
same people. along the same route, in
the same car, saving so per cent Of the
money I spent this time.
The condition of the roads was
varied. They We're good In Maryland,
but all Through Pennsylvania We struck
lnothing but abOminable stretches of
ground which are not worthy Of the
name of roads The roads OF West Nir-
ginia were in q fair condition. and there
was a noticeable Improvement in Ohio.
Near Columbus is a stretch Of seventy
or eighty miles, that IS smooth as as
phalt. The roads IN Indiana were good,
but those Of Illinois are inconceiyably bad.
l found the condition Of the roads 20
be pretty fair index TO the prosperity
and Intelligence Of the people living
along them. Where the roads We're good.
there were well-kept. prosperous farms.
and bright. hospitable people Along
the bad roads were nothing but desert
ed homesteads. and surly, Ignorant PEG
pie.
.'Of all horses. the white horse IS the
most TO be dreaded-we were very, very,
cautious whenever one came in sight.
They are nervous and uncomfortable, and
like the mule. another quadruped great
" dreaded by the autOlST, the White
horse Will show no evidence Of fear un-
I'll he Is within a few feet OF the ma
chine Then he bolts with might and
main. usually Overturning the Occu-
pants who were Incautious enough 10
allow too close an approach. We always
stopped the machine and led the horse
by, consequently. We were the cause
or only two accidents. and in only one
OF these was any one even slightly in
Jured.
I'VE lost about two hours daily
through such stoppings, and / was
forced TO the conclusion that the farm
ers OF Pennsylvania and Indiana are
less intelligent than their animals
Hardly six occupants OF all the vehicles
we passed manifested any knowledge
OF controlling fractions. horse. The
Dest way Is 70 gran the brute BY its
nose and cut on the breath. This always
has a hvpnotically quieting effect.
Had Canned Goods.
In none OF the farming communi-
ties was l able 10 get butter or milk
Il IS all shipped to the city, and when
at country hotels. although surrounded
by an abundance Of crops. we were
served only with canned goods. Also.
"a all Tgv
the foot 10 the head-a condition / can
only account for with the statement
that the men use only their pedal eX-
tremities during the day, and hence
Iet a little blood rush TO their heads
AT every stop we were surrounded
by gaping crowd which regarded us
as mountebanks. piled innurnera bic
questions, and made comment after com
msnt on our appearance and what not.
We gained friends everywhere on ac-
count OF our consideration for vehicles,
something every autOmobiist does not
take the time 10 bestow.
Speaking OF vehicles reminds me that
In almost every case where there was
= woman IN the case. she would Try 10
get out before the carriage stopped
usually travelling some distance with
one foot on the ground and the other
on the step; finally landing IN the road
nat on her back, and legs In the air.
The position was. Of course, embarraBs-
ing. and many oaleful CLEAN was Sis
Taken as whole, our trip was a
great success. Once near Cumberland
we came near going over the mountain
side and several times we were in
tight places; but the skill with which
Thomas managed the machine always
brought US speedily out OF danger
A Delightful Trip.
For one having a light machine OF
the character ! used, with gasolene stor-
age capacity Of not less than twelve
gallons and an equal amount OF water
supply, II ne has plenty OF time at his
disposal and ships extra tires 10 the
various destinations ahead OF him, there
ie no more delightful trip TO be had
There Is a degree Of pleasure and ex-
hilaration produced by an automobile
trip which is not given by any other
form Of lOcomotion.'
phNIhMc pECEIHE