The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-12-07
ALONG AUTOTOUR
An American Party Takes Grand
Journey Over Europe.
Spent Many Months Visiting
Points of Interest.
CROSSED THE ALPS.
Had a Pleasant Time in France.
and Italy.
Found the Machines Equal to
the Task Throughout.

Los Angeles, Dec. From an auto
mobile journey of 5000 miles through
England, Wales, France, Switzerland,
Italy and Germany, o. T. Johnson Mrs.
Johnson, and other members of their
family and friends have just returned.
They travelled in two big seven passen-
ger 60-horse power touring cars, a
Stearns and a Thomas, and spent many
months on a remarkable Journey.
Now that the long tour is ended Mr.
Johnson is an auto enthusiast He de-
clares the motor car is the most prac-
teal vehicle for touring purposes that
is made. The country was passed
through leisurely, and every place of
Importance was visited. There was no
delay for railroad trains, no bother
with ticket agents, and no danger to
the occupants OF the cars during the
remarkable journey through contin-
enf. E
The party crossed from New York to
Liverpool with their big machines on
board Once in England the motor
cars were the mode of travel. The
cars crossed to Brighton, and were
shipped over the channel to Boulogne.
From Boulogne to Paris the run was
made without special incident, A1niens
being visited on the way. From Paris
the tourists went to F'ountainbleau,
The journey down the Rhone valley
was one of extreme beauty. The
country is likened by Mr.. Johnson to
southern California. Though plenty OF
rain bothered the travellers while in
Paris and the country roundabout
after entering southern France balmy
days made touring delightful
Through a country rich in soil and
dotted with pretty farms the autoists
travelled, past fields of waving grain,
and beside full-bearing orchards OF
walnlits and apricots. and through
acres Of widespreading vineyards. AT
Marseilles they remained for three
days enjoying the beautiful scenery.
The roads were excellent. The cars
could have travelled many miles each
day but the trip was made by easy
stages, as there was no desire to traVei
fast. Another stop was also made at
Vichy, the famous watering place.
Through southern France Mr.. john
son found the farmers using quantities
of American machinery, reapers, and
binders all of the latest makes. The
harvesting is done by American made
machines which are skillfully handled
by the peasants.
From Marseilles the cars were sent
along the Riviera to Toulon and
Cannes, thence to Nice and Monte
Carlo. From the fine road along the
Riviera the motorists turned their cars
toward the French Alps. Another stop
was made at AK les Bains, after Which
the cars skirted the edge of Lake Gen
eva to Montreux and Veivey. Passing
the Castle of Chillon, the machines
were left at Visp, while the tourists
visited the famous glacier at Zermath
Italy and the famous view of Lake
Maggiore opened before the travellers:
From there they crossed to Fiado ana
through the st. Gotthard Pass to
Goshennan and Andermatt. Here
novel experience delayed the travellers. |
The law allows motorists to pass over
the roads only between the hours OF
and o'clock In the morning and after
z O'Clock at night. 1t was necessary |
in order to reach point IL miles dis
tant after hours. that a team be hired
to haul the cars. Behind two horses the |
motorists were slowly drawn over the
road from Goshennan to Andermatt.
The big cars were drawn along the
splendid road at a walk, the lazy horses
taking their time as the drivers lolled
on the boxes The delay caused by |
hauling the teams inconvenienced the
who were obliged to pay an
excessive bill at the journeys end.
From Andermatt the tourists Travelled
to Luzerne and passed through the
Bruenig Pass to 1nterlacken. They
visited Gruenwald and saw the wonder
fui ice grotto there. An interesting
sign over a particularly good stretch of
road attracted them and they sent their
cars ahead. They were Obliged to re-
turn, however, and on turning into the
main road found a liveried official with
eleven receipts ready. Each member Of
the party was fined Sc for travelling over
The road in a motor car.
They passed next through Basic and
on through the Black Forest In Ger
many to Baden Baden, Heidelberg and
where stay of two days
was made.
Dresden, Leipsic, Berlin, Potsdam and
were passed and the party
reached Cologne, going thence up the
Rhine Valley to Coblenz and Moselle,
the home of the grape growers and
wine makers. Here the finest of roads
were found, and travelling was most de-
lightful.
Another stop was made at Trfer and
the motorists then travelled over the
old Roma road to Metz on the French
border. They entered Verdun and
coursed to Paris, and went to New
Haven by way of Dfeppe, passing over