The Washington times., 1907-10-06
Baltimore
Trip Tests
Endurance
Frequent Difficulties Ex-
perienced En- Route to
Monumental City.

Just a bit of advice; II you want 70
go to Baltimore take a Baltimore and
Ohio or Pennsylvania train but leave
the rocky road TO Dublin" severely
alone. There may be worse roads i'll
the world than the one running between
Washington and Baltimore, but they
nave not yet been discovered by auto
mobilsts.
The eleventh automobile trip made by
The Times representative was from
Washington to the Monumental City
on Wednesday.
The ninety-mlie run was made in the
2O-horsepower. four-cylindered Aerocar
which ran from Boston to New York
in nine hours and twenty-three minutes.
At the wheel was one of Washington's
most competent operators, J. 3. Max
well, local agent for the Aerocar. who
had enough trouble with the road 10
try the patience Of Job, but finished
es he started. with a broad smile.
These Faced the Danger.
The party consisted of Mr. Maxwell.
Henry NJ. Browning, Mr.. and Mrs.
Charles Spencer. and The Times repre-
sentative. The start was made from
Fifteenth and H streets northeast at
O:lS CLOCK In Tic morning.
Dashing along the Bladensburg road
at a lively rate the party expected
pleasant drive Of two hours or So, but
twas another instance of expectation
being sweeter than realization, for the
run was the prize lemon OF the season
and all were glad to get back TO Wash
ington.
The first difficulty was experienced at
Bladensburg on the other side Of the
bridge. The rains during the past sew
eral days had washed away part OF the
road. and the mud thrown up by the
swollen creek made the going worse.
Good road was found between Bladens-
burg and Hyattsville. Passing through
Hyattsville Mr.. Maxwell bore on toward
Riverdale. but a few moments after
crossing the railroad tracks at the first
named place, he encountered a gang Of
county road workers who had the pike
dug up and was therefore compelled
10 return TO the center Of the town and
take the side road going to East
Hyattsville.
Back on Main Road.
The main road was struck again at
Riverdale. where the Baltimore and Ohio
tracks were again crossed. Between
Riverdale and the experiment station
Of the Maryland Agriculture College the
road was smooth, level and hard Mr.
Maxwell was able to get up a speed
OF thirty-two miles on this stretch.
After Berwyn was reached the road
grew worse. but the scenery was beau
tiful and almost made up for the IN
fitness of the pike. A number OF deep
gullies and splotches OF sand were en-
courtered after leaving Berwyn.
The autoist contemplating a trip to
Baltimore by way of Laurel would do
well TO get the strongest car made and
have II equipped with shock absorbers.
1t would also be a happy thought for
him to strap himself and party TO the
seat.
Thirty five Per.
After this rough road is left behind
the autoist Is compelled to smile. for
he actually has a mile and one-third
level stretch or macadamiZed road, and
It's dollars to doughnuts that he will let
out the last link and get all the speed
ne can. Mr.. MaxwelTs top speed was
thIrty-Gve miles an hour At Belts
Vile the party was held up by a
freight train. but as The Times pho
tographer was about TO make a pho
tograph Of the hOld-up the train start
ed and the gateman did the honors. A
down grade of about two miles over
ruts, gullies, and sharp-edged stones Is
the next choice morsel served the auto
fists although between bumps and jolts
the travellers have a magnificent stretcl,
Of country before their eyes and a scene
that compares favorabIy with the view
OF the Piedmont section of Virginia as
seen from an observation car.
The approach to Contee is made over
corduroy road. and the car is under q
most severe strain because the major
portion oil the road is up a steep grade
formerly covered with sand. A mile
or two OF good highway Is found aftes
leaving Contee and then, better than
that the traveller Is delighted at the
sight Of a clear stretch OF macadamlzcC
pike. leading into Laurel. This town
the only one of size before reaching Re-
lay affords almost anything the trav-
eler wants. A splendid hotel is to be
found on the main street, but Mr.
Maxwells party had not been travelling
long enough to become hungry, so III,
stop was just long enough for the pho
tographer TO make a shot
GOoQ AoNlCe.
Crossing through the heart Of ths
city the autoist descends a steep hill anC
strikes made road again. On Wednes
day he party was detained some time
by gang Of road workers busy Will
mule teams. steam rollers. and shovels
After the road was cleared the foreman
Informed Mr.. Maxwell that he had bet
ter take the road to Savage. becaus,
the mud on the hill beyond Laurel wa
too deep TO he Travelled over.
Fording n stream flied with sharp
edged stones. Mr.. Maxwell went arount
10 Contee. meeting with rock-covere,
hills. mud holes. ard auagmires. Saw
age was reached at noon. An abrup
turn was made to the right and aftcl
the Savage Cemetery was passed Ch,
troubles % the travellers began. Jus
beyond the cemetery a t1rrn' Is made I,
the left and Mr. Maxwell discovers,
that four miles had been traverseo Il