The Lafayette advertiser. [volume] (Vermilionville [i.e. Lafayette], La.) 1865-19??, 1909-11-30
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 80, 1909.
From New York to Atlanta by Auto
mobile.

mobile.
To The Advertiser.
II l am willing to give to the readers
of this paper on account Of the recent
automobile endurance run from the
metropolis Of America to the gate city
Ct the South, in which ] took part as
TIE guest of the White Star Automo-
Vie Company, it is because Of the in
teGesting relationship this notable I'M
A9taking bears to the important ques-
don Of good roads now agitating the
whole country.
This endurance run, or contest,
which was projected by the Atlanta
Journal and New York Herald, had
for its principal object the building up
Of public sentiment among the Alreri-
can people for a national system or
highways. Two great and Influential
newspapers pledged their united ef-
forts toward enlisting the sympathy
and support Of the press at large, and
OF the powerful automobile interests
of tha country, il a concrete and
practical movement to further the
GAUGE OF good roads in America.
The plan employed for this purpose
was unique and effective. During the
past sunumer scout motor cars were
dispatched from New York city and
Atlanta to map out a highway be-
twee,I these two points for permanent
adoption. The fact was given wide
publicity, and to further fix and hold
the attention Of the public on the
subject, it was announced that $4,000
in cash prizes and trophies would be
awarded to entrants Of automobiles in
the endurance run to be carried out
over this proposed national highway,
and $4,000 additional would be distrib-
uted among the counties or townships
throush which the route would pass
for the best roads shown.
Interest began to grow in the pro-
ject Immediately, ard it increased in
extent md intensity until the culmina-
tic.. - the event four weeks ago, and
1t is certain that the good influence
e this movement will go on making
itself felt for a long time to come.
Sixty-two automobiles were entered
IN this good roads and durability con
test, representing ~thirty-two different
makes of motor cars and ten states
e the Union, to-wt: New York. New
Jersey. Massachusetts. Pennsylvania.
North Carolina. South Carolina, Vir
ginia, Georgia, Florida and Louisiana.
The tour was carried out under
rules and regulations formulated BY
the Automobile Association Of Ameri
ca, and the enforcement Of these rules
end regulations devolved upon the fol
lowing officials: Referee, Winthrop
n. Scarritt, ex-president Of the Auto
mobile Club Of America; checker, E
L. Ferguson, secretary of the Auto
mobile Association. Of America; good
roads judges, Chas. H. Hoyt, United
States superintendent of road con-
struction; Jos. Hyde Pratt, state geol
agist Of North Carolina; A. L. West
cart, president of the Touring Club
Il America.
The tour started from Herald
Square. New York, at 9:45 a. N. Oct
3, and the sixty-two official and con
testing automobiles were preceded tc
the Battery by an escort Of mounted
police and an honorary squad of sew
0ty-tive motor cars from the New
York Automobile Trades Association
A. the Battery the escorts babe fare
we'll to the c~on:esting cars which were
to the c~ontesting cars, which were
then ferried across to Staten Island
It was q brilliant and impressive
"send-of" that Gotham gave to tht
eager and good -natured touring part,
bound for the Southland on that beau
tiful Monday morning to spread ths
welcome gospel Of improved high
ways.
The run for the first day was from
New York to Philadelphia (99 miles,
by way Of Staten Island. The moor
stop for lunch was made at Peril
Anlboy, N. j., and the night stop wa,
Philadelphia.
The second days run was from
Philadelphia to Gettysburg GIG
miles), with q OOH stop for luncl
ct York. Pa. and night layover a
Gettysburg. Pa. By special arrange
ment provision was made for tb
contestants and their guests to driv
over the historic battlefield Of Gettys
burg. It was q never-to-be-forgotte
pleasure. The run Of the good road
tour through Gettysburg battlefield
was featured by the presence there Q
. Confedeate veteran. Col. George l
Carson. ST., Of Commerce, Ca. VIII
VA the only civil war veteran of tn
tour. Standing on the summit o
Little Round TOP. whose commandin