The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1907-08-25
Annapolis
Auto Trip
Difficult
Rain and Bad Roads the
Feature of Sunday Run
to Annapolis.

morning Of the start, every thing indi- /
Gated a disastrous and undressing rip |
from this city to Annapolis in the big
four-cylinder. 24-horsepower Columbia
that left Washington carrying a repre- /
sentative OF The Times. a photographer. |
two passengers. and the driver, Otto G.
jacob. on last Sunday morning at 8
O'Clock. The general uneasiness on &C
count of the state Of the weather was
added to by the fact that an unknown
and. SO far as automobilists are con-
eerned, an unfrequented road was TO be
Travelled.
The objective point of the trip was
Annapolis. and the purpose Of the run
was TO delve into the Maryland woods
and search out the quickest and most
direct route to the capital OF the State
so that those autoists who wish TO fol-
low would have the road clearly mapped
out for them. enabling them not only 70
travel that way without unnecessary de-
lays. but also that they may know the
coed stretches of road from the bad
There are doubtless many roads that
lead into Annapolis. One living in that
city NAV lead you to believe that there
are as many as led into ancient Rome.
But unless one is anxious 70 make an
endurance test with his machine 10 see
lust how much It can stand without a
serious breakdown, the writer strongly
advises against the route followed by
the exploring party.
The Columbia machine which was
used is manufactured by the Electric
Vehicle Company Of Hartford. Conn.
and a trip of over 900 miles to Hartford
was made in the same car used just
a. ~
OF those large. substantial looking ma
chimes that inspires confidence and IN
stinctively leads one to believe that his
destination viii be reached without mis-
hap. All the detail appointments OF the
car were fully in keeping with the gen
eral plan Of elegance OF the whole.
Owing TO the length OF the trip, s
O'Clock was the hour set 10 make the
start. but with the usual delays and a
half-hearted hope that the sun might
appear. the start was deferred until 3
Leaving the Dupont Garage. the local
agents for the Columbia. at 2020 NJ
street In a downpour OF rain, the party
was soon out Fifteenth street northeast.
ard at its end turned gradually to the
left, reaching the BladeHsburg turnpike,
q stretch Of road more or less familiar
Until one reaches Bladensburg this
turnpike is a fairly good piece Of road
and, with the exception OF a few thank
you, ma ans" Is excellent riding
Just as you are entering the little
village Of Bladensburg a small iron
bridge is crossed. probably fifteen yards
in length Immediately on the other
side of this bridge you turn sharply to
your right, which throws you in the
general direction Of Annapolis The
road TO the left at this point goes 70
Laurel, and there is a route into the
Maryland capital that way. bat as the
road to the right was shorter and had
never been mapped out, that course was
determined upon.
The fun began Just as the party was
leaving Bladensburg when series OF
long sandy hills was encountered. These
lasted for about four miles when a
stretch OF a few miles was reached
which came nearer resembling a choppy
sea than a Maryland thoroughfare.
Before reaching this road, however, you
take the left fork when a fraction bet
ter than nine miles from washington,
following the telegraph poles. When
your speedometer has registered eleven
niles you cross an iron bridge over a
railroad and turn Immediately 10 your
left on reaching the opposite side. For
the next three or four miles there are
several cross roads that are passed at
right angles. but these do not concern
You and the main road is easily kept
by following the general direction you
are travelling.
After. seventeen miles have been COW
cred, you pass through the little village
Of Collington. AS the road is seldom
If ever used for automobiles the citizens
OF the little burg have not seen ut to
put in a supply house and should YOU
break down you are entirely at the
mercy OF your kit.
Leaving CollingtOn by the same road
you enter, which bears slightly TO the
left, you are again soon in the heart
Of the Maryland woods. This little
village seems to be the dividing line
between two distinct kinds Of soil.
Heretofore, with the exception Of the
sandy hills. the road seems literally to
be painted red" so marked is the clay
streets. A very much better country
and more prosperous looking farms are
now passed. although the roads are even
worse, IL possible.
AAeSE IdNellnS INenty-one and two
tenth miles the party's first stop was
occasioned BY an unavoidable accident
The ruts IN the road had washed down
fully eighteen OF twenty inches. Ieav-
ing an elevation Of that height down
the middle Of the road for about 1--WE
feet and over which 1t was impossible
to pass either the front or rear axles
In attempting 20 pass this obstruction
hy running on the outside of the road
vita the left wheels and down the cen
ter or the elevation with the right ones
ciod OF earth gave way. and the ma
chine fell into the ruts driving the real
axle with the differential and steerinf
gear far into tie hard soil. These
parts had TO be dug out Of the sand
and the elevation leveIed before ths
auto could proceed. From the quick
chug. chug, with which the machin,
responded to 8 turn Of the crank on,