New-York tribune., 1909-03-21
START OF PATHFINDERS
NEW YORK TO SETTLE
RACE ROUTE.
Car That Won Paris Contest Bears
Letter from Mayor McCleIlan-
Escort of Automobiles.

Aria cheers waving bandkerchefs and the toot-
fng and shriesing OF automobile horns and sirens
the Thomas car that won the New York-Parts race
left the City Hall yesterday noon on the start Of
another long journey-to Seattle When George
Miller, who WAS mechanic on the same car on the
last leg OF International contest, waved good
by the working out OF one OF the most important
features connected with the New York-Seattle en-
duranoe contest for the Robert Guggenheim trophy
was begun. Miller and the Thomas car will be the
pathfnders for the racers who on June are to
begin striving for the honor and glory Of being the
first TO reach the Alaska Tukcn-Pacifc exposition
IN an International transcontinental contest
The start of the pathfnders made an official
municipal occasion. Not only was a letter from
Mayor Mcclellan to the Mayor Of Seattle given ts
the rathfnders delivery but there an infoT-
NAL reception for them in the Mayors Office, at
which in the Mayors absence. his secretary acted
ss host L. ". Redington. the route expert; G W.
Eaton and = s. N Eley were Millers companions
sp6 Redington bears the letter from Mayor Nc
CleIlan in which he wishes. behalf Of the city
Of New York all SUCCESS 10 the Alaska-fukon-Pa-
ciAc exuosition and 10 the State OF Washington
Scores Of autornobilists who knew that the path
finders 70 start from the city Han gathered
there at noon. many OF the machines being gayiF
decorated with banners and bunting and carrying
ra-ties ~ flag wayers These machines lined up
and greeted the pathanders with a savo OF toots'
shrteks and cheers when they emerged rom the
City Hall got into their and began their jour
new Many Of the cars accompanied the Thonlas
sion Was somewhat imposing. There was a stop
uptown for luncheon, occasion which was I'M
proved ss affording outlet for more enthusiasm
and then the journey was resumed the escort OF
decorated automobiles in the mean time having
been largely augmented
The pathfinders will 90 from here 10 Foush~
keepsfa and Albany, thence through schenectady,
Rochester and Buffalo 10 Erie and Cleveland AT
Cleveland 3 modification Of the original route VIII
be tried and a more southerly path taken Inls
will lead through Indianapolis and St Louis, and
thence TO Kansas City and Denver. BY thls
means the black gumbo mud will be avoided
F-ona Denver the road leads TO Granger Wyo-'
after which the route will again be switched 10
take advantage of the recent ection Of the Wash
ancton Legislature. which abs appropriated sl2oeoO
for making new and repairing old roads to help the
Alaska-Eukon- Pacific racers.
The hardest part Of this route the psthhnoers
zir fnd within a hundred miles Of Seattle Here
.hev Will be confronted by SnoQualmie Pass
where even June. there is generally thirty feet
o4 snow It IS believed that the Washington leg1s-
lative appropriation viii decrease the difficulties at
this point
The racers themselves Will start from the City
Hall They will be lined up there on June l.
when President Taft Will press button, thereby
opauing Of the Alaska -Yukon-Pacifc exposition.
signal will be flashed Mayor Mcclellan at the
came moment. and he will order the start OF the
race.