Los Angeles herald., 1907-04-15
MEXICO TO HAVE
GOOD AUTO ROADS
COUNTRY PEOPLE SUBSCRIB-
ING TO FUNDS
Much Work Has Already Been Done
by Individual Enterprise-lnter-
prefer Needed at Thomas
Factory

Good roads will soon be the rule In
Mexico and automobiles will be the
cause is the opinion Of Edward g.
Westlake of Chicago. Mr.. Westlake'
who is an authority on motor cars
recently made an extended trip
through the country with William A.
DeGress in the latter's Thomas Flyer,
and in writing Of his trip says:
"Although there is not to be direct
government appropriation for auto
mobile roads for some time on account
of the fear that the people will think
the government officials are fixing
highways for their own comfort, there
will be no lack of capital to do the
work. Already the country club mem
bers have contributed enough to make
miles of road. Peon labor is cheap
materials are always at hand. either
lava rock or some of the easily
crushed granite Of the mountain
ranges.
"There is a stiff grade Of several
thousand feet on the Cuernavaca trip.
involving a climb to the 1l,OOO-toot
mark. The climb on the Toluca road
is steep. but did not bother us. II
will be less than a year, in all prob
ability when tours to these cities VIII
be weekly features for the residents of
the City of Mexico.
"Six years ago there were deep
bitches and causeways leading to the
elegant homes in the city where today
the streets are asphalted under an
agreement of the contractors to keep
them in first class condition for a
period of ten years. This wise pro-
vision, suggested by President Diaz
himself it is said, cost much more
than anything In Chicago and an au-
tomobile glides about the streets as
If it were the most noiseless machine
in the land.
"Tour out into the environs in al
most any direction except toward
Lake Toxocco and you will find men
at work improving the roads for au-
tomobile touring. At Cherubusco the
are remarkable and will
be supplemented soon by a half-mile
speedway for private use of the club
members.
"Embankments along the drainage
and irrigation canals are to be widened
and prepared for touring. Inasmuch
as these will afford a hard and almost
'dobe road surface for eight
or nine months in the year the value
Of these roads will be appreciated by
tourists
Some one counted up not long ago
and found that there were sixty-four
trades and professions represented in
the work done on motor car before
1t could be completed. At one of the
factories in the country, however-that
Of the E. R. Thomas Motor company
at Buffalo-there is one which he did
not include. IL is that of interpreter.
John Kruchten holds the position there
and he can write and speak English,
German, French, italian and Spanish.
ALI of these are called into use every
day, except Spanish.
Most of Kruchten's work is con-
cerned with the members of the for
eign engineering department of the
The men who compose this
can all speak more or less English,
but when technical matters come up
and even the slightest mistake or mis-
understanding must be carefully avoid
ed the interpreter has his work cut
out for him. Kruchten has held the
position of interpreter in a number
Of hotels in the country and has served
In the United States navy, where his
ability with languages served the Of
fcers of the ships he was on in good
stead. He is also a gas engine ex-
pert and has designed several speedy
motor boats.