The Washington times., 1907-09-08
TOURISTS
DRIVE TO
MANASSAS
Route of Seventh Sunday
Trip Through
Virginia.

The seventh of The Sunday Times
weekly tours for the benefit Of Wash
iugton autoists was made on Monday
last, September >. in a Wayne touring
car, model K, the party consisting Of
Mr. Hartman, driver; Edward Long,
DR.. Grafton d. p. Bailey, and the repre-
sentative of The Times.
Manassas, Va, as the objective point.
With the clouds hanging over them
and with a fair knowledge Of the road
conditions staring them in the face this
jolly party faltered just a bit when the
hour for the start arrived. hoping for
favorable change in the weather.
Conditions did change ana at II o'clock
the start was made for parts unknown
from the Washington home of the
Wayne auto. 1913 New York avenue, and
continued west on New York avenue
10 Pennsylvania avenue. thence west on
Pennsylvania avenue to NJ street, thence
continuing west on NJ street to Thirty
fourth street. Here you turn to your
right and cross the Aqueduct Bridge
then bearing 10 the right YOU pass
through ,Rosslyn, Va. and continue
along this road, which is known as the
old GEORGETOWN Pike" passing the Ar
Engton brewery on your right
Pass the Brewery.
From III g brewery keen straiga+ ahead
passing through an undeveIoped coun-
try with road confronting you that
gives the autoist anything but encour-
agement- Just here 1t IS not hiIly. but
very sandy. After about five and a half
miles Of this sort Of running is left be-
hind, and you are suddenly confronted
with group of country houses. stores.
etc, and before YOU have time TO realize
just what has happened you find YOUR
self In Falls Church. Va. about seven
miles from Washington. You enter and
leave Falls Church by way of the main
street. Just after leaving the town turn
sharply 70 the right on the first road
that crosses your path. This road is
very bad and requires :he strong, dur
able car 20 stand tho test
To one familiar with the fertile South
ern soil this road would appear some
what like the broadside OF rs1fe of
the Blue Ridge, ard much care should
be exercised to avoid break-doWns stops,
as the going IS very narrow and stoAy,
and is apparently seldom Travelled.
While the attention OF the driver IS
largely consumed in selecting his path
way here, you are, however, compen-
rounding country and the many his
toric incidents, which this barren but
naturally rich section recalls
BerTyfeld to Fairfax Courthouse.
After three miles or more YOU are
next confronted with the village Of
Berrydeld. Passing through Berryfleld
you follow the same road, bearing
slightly to the left and this is the route
direct to Fairfax courthouse.
Upon reaching Fairfax Courthouse the
party was greeted by one of Colonel
Mosby's Heutenants on horseback and
q good representation of the towns
population, who extended a cordial wei
come and gave vent to Colonel NIosby's
war cry. For the benefit OF those who
may feel a bit hungry in making this
trip il might be we'll 20 state that at
Fairfax Courthouse meals can be pro-
cured at the hotel but il is well TO sus-
gesJ right here that fun equipment and
supply for the machine be carried from
the start as there are no supply houses
anywhere on the trip.
The autoists footed through Fairfax
Courthouse by the same road upon
which they entered and followed 1t TO
the railroad crossing of the Falls
Church Electric Car Line. Beyond the
tracks YOU take the first left hand fork
OF the road. This Is about one mile
from Fairfax Courthouse. and is the di-
rect road TO Centerville.
Here Is Bad Going.
1t might be suggested here that -much
assistance can be had by following teIe-
graph lines. This road is known as
the old Braddoclz road, and received its
name from the headstrcng British Gen
eral Braddock, Of whose surveying staff
Washington was chief. It was his staff
Of surveyors who planned and cut this
road which runs through a wild cOun-
try TO Fort Duquesne.
This stretch of road is something ter
rife, with almoet absolutely no bottom
except that in recent years the few
travellers have built what is generally
known as a corduroy road. 1t Is com
bination of brush, tree limbs. etc. with
but a scaIt supply of earth covering,
and. barring an occasional glimpse Of
solid bottom. such is the character of
road for about FIVE miles, to say moth
ing CT two streams to be crossed, each
averaging from four to eight inches deep
In dry weather and are not fordable
at all by automobiles in wet weather.
Ii any autoist has a car which he de-
sires TO put through hrst-cIass endu-
rance test let. him drive it from Fairfax
Courthouse TO Centerville.
At Centcrville greetings were extend
ed by the entire population, men, women
and children. dogs. chickens, and one
old SOW. The sight was a happy one
and The Times representative could not
resist the temptation Of a photograph
of this happy group representative as
IT was of village life in ''Ole Virginia"
After a few minutes chat with the
population, the party continued on its
way Upon leaving CentervilIe turn
sharply to the right on the road just
beside the blacksmith's shop. Continue
on this direct road, bearing a bit to
the right ana then a bit TO the left.
but do not get OF the road, which, how
ever, is easy to hold for there are no