Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1907-01-16
MAP OUT ROAD
FOR AUTOMOBILE
TOU Ri
THATCHER SOON TO START
ON 1900 MILE TRIP
VIII Drive Through Heart of
the Rockies in Midwinter
From Albuquerque to Du-
range, Denver and San
Francisco.


Charles w. Thatcher, the ~adVentur-
o,s cross country newsdealer. whose
trips alone the Santa Fe cut-otI nave
won him the notice of newspapers
east and west, returned TO Albuquer-
Que early yesterday BEHIND nus teanl
Of hardy mules, closing his last "Trip
over the CUTOFF line.
Trains are o operating on the
cutoff with sufficient regularity 50
that something of a nail service nag
been established. Thatcher Woulu
stlll be welcomed in the grazing
camps with his newspapers ana mas
zines hut since fine mails are com
ing in there Is not the necessity o.
he roadside news delivery whlcn
made the venture one, not only Oh
pleasure. but Of profit. while the con-
struction was under way me last
trip was to Texico and return a IRE
mendous drive under the most laNor-
able circumstances. but under winter
weather one of exceptional hatdshlp
and monotony. The round trip Was
made this time In considerable hnder
four weeks. -,
A week from today Thatcher will
start on his trip from albuquerque
through the Rockies to San Francisco:
I'm this Journey the newsletter VIII
drive his mountain mules something
more than 1000 miles, He VIII pc
out Indefinitely and will penetrate
with his wagon regions which nave
hitherto been considered impassaple
save for the pack mule. The IDEA OF
the drive to a Francisco originated
with MIR. Thatcher when he was con-
sidering the extension of his news SER
vice over the proposed Arizona q
Colorado railroad and the Rio Grande
Western. This trip he proposed and
still proposes to make in a high power
motor car. The proposal found II way
into the newspapers, n instantly the
attention of automobile manufacturer
was attracted. Suggestions and offers
were received by Thatcher, and finally
a proposal from a well known ofGahl-
zation of motorists TO prospect a
route across the Rockies to the Pacltlc
coast for transcontinental automobile
travel. The undertaking appealed
strongly to Mr.. Thatcher and he is de-
termined to do the work. All arrange
ments have now been completed FOR
the Journey, which Will be n OF eX-
ceptional hardship at this season
since 1t will take the prospector INTO
the tallest Rockies.
From Albuquerque Mr.. Thatcher
will go To Durango by way or the san
Juan valley. From Durango ne VIII
work his way north into Utah ana
Salt Lake, returning thence by a new
route to Denver. Turning at Denver,
he to make the drive to san
Francisco, finding everywhere a ROAD
Which with the least amount OF work
will be feasible for automobile travel.
The trip has appealed to magazines
and and during a con-
siderable portion of the trip Mr.
Thatcher will DE accompanied by cor
respondents. He does not know 10Y
long he will be IN the omen, but IT
will probably be for three and possl-
bly, for four months.
The start will be made from the
Morning Journal office next Wednes-
day morning. From the Journal Mr..
Thatcher to drive TO the
Denver Post, thence to the San Fran
cisco Examiner, both these news
papers having also a lively Interest in
the undertaking.
He will start prepared for the hard
est kind of a mountain trip. The tough
mountain wagon will be loaded with
camping outfit, provisions, PICK
shovel and ak, which will come into
service. not only in making camp. but
in investigating several of the prehis-
torlc ruins OF northwest New Mexico
and southwest Colorado, which the
traveller will visit. Four dogs. all OF
them special pets. will accompany the
prospector. and he will have with him
his INDISPENSABLE camera and his
equally indispensable rifles and six
shooter. Extra heavy clothing will be
carried for the trip through the higher
Rockies, and the cold which will be
encountered in the Durango district.
The trip will be watched with the
greatest interest by motorists, since a
practicable route through the Rockies
for heavy cars is a pressing need.