Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1909-05-02
GREAT TOURING
SEASON IS ON
ALL PARTS OF COUNTRY ARE
AFFECTED
A. A. A. PLANS COMPREHENSIVE
SCHEME OF SIGNS
u
All clnhs of Nation viii Be Asked to
Cooperate in Aiding to Give
Impetus to Auto
Diversions

The greatest touring year in the MS
tory of automobiling Will De lhduSu-
rated this season. From all parts OF
the country come indications that mo
toring for pleasure, both by prlVale
owners and through club runs, Will pc
more nonular than ever. The A. A. A.
Glidden cup contest, which has always
been a great stimulator of touring, VIII
to a large extent set the pace IN the
west. In addition, scores of CLUBS are
planning to hold members runs lasting
from one to three or four days.
Tours of this SORT where the eleinent
of competition is not too pronounced
are genuine educators To the owner
touring provides the keenest enjoy
ment for himself, his family and
friends. while giving him, at the same
time. a better understanding OF the
possibilities of his car. Automoblle
touring has improved in hundreds OF
places the ordinary village inn or tav-
ern; 1t has developed new pleasure re-
sorts: II has demonstrated the CONNER
cial possibilities of the motor car in
rural districts, and above all, 1t has
given a greater impetus for good ROADS
than any other agency in the United
States. ., :. n.u.d
with the good roads activity has
grown the demand for satisfactory in
formation. 1t is a pleasant thing for
the autoist to know just where, In
1000 or 1000 mile journey he will find
good roads, but it is equally as import
ant for him to know how to reach them.
Hence, the demand for route cards,
maps and sign posts. The lack of these
requisites in the past has inflicted mis-
cry upon more than one touring party.
In a few isolated cases local pride has
asserted itself to a proper care of sign
La q
tain whether he Is on the right road,
and whether he is going to or away
from his destined place. 1t is not too
much to say that to the growing popu-
larity of the automobile, more than
anything else, is due the excellent sys-
tenn of sign board information now sup
piled in most of the favorite touring
localities. But much remains to be
done, and the American Automobile as
ISOLATION, through it's touring informa-
ton bureau, under the Craftsmanship of
Powell Evans of Philadelphia, has in
augurated a national campaign for the
securing and dissemination of touring
information in all parts of the country.
Appeals Sent Out
Appeals have been made to every one
of the 200 and more clubs in the A. A.
A. that have not hitherto given serious
attention to this subject, to provide not
only sign posts for the roads in their
immediate vicinity, but also to compile
a clear, comprehensive road map of
their district. In order to facilitate this
work Mr.. Evans has virtually made his
touring information bureau a national
clearing house for such information
and material His idea Is to supply, so
far as possible, uniform signs and uni
form road maps, and the favorable re-
spouse that his requests have met with
in many parts of the country indicates
the readiness Of automobile clubs to
provide these aids to comfortable tour
ing, provided the impetus is given in
the right direction.
AS first step toward this policy of
national touring Information, Mr.
Evans has asked every automobile club
in the country to appoint its own tour
ing information board, and the chair
man of this board will be a member of
the A. A. A. board
Three sizes of road signs have been
adopted, and these will be supplied
with the proper lettering from the main
office at Philadelphia By this plan
the necessary signs can be furnished to
the various clubs at a cheaper rate
than could be secured in small uuanti-
ties by individual clubs, and at the
same time the system of uniformity is
maintained. These signs are First. a
double distance and direction sign, i2x
sc inches; second, a single distance and
direction sign, 12x30 inches third. four
types of danger signs lettered accord
ing to their particular significance as
danger indicators