The San Francisco call., 1909-10-17
GREAT WORK DUE
TOAUTOMOBILEM[N
Motor Car Solves Many Knotty
Questions Affecting Pub
lie Highways


future augurs well for an early arrival
at the point where California will be
referred\t to as the possessor of the best
highways in America
MOVEMENT GROWING
At first the labor of securing good
roads was confined principally to those
adjacent to centers where the automo-
bile was in the ascendency. From this
the network has been extending until
today many centers heretofore out of
the path OF commerce are now brought
within a few hours of the city. IN
many instances these centers afford
just the field for the motorist. whether
he be cruising leisurely along the coast
or sought some favored spot in which
10 spend the Sabbath or holiday.
Seeing the vast procession Of pleas
ure seekers adhering to the already
perfected highways, the resort keeper
added his mite 70 that of his neighbors,
49, soon an agitation was started that
resulted in the model turnpike sup
planting the tortuous. rutted road that
formerly served the purpose of ingress
and egress.
GOODS ROADS AN ADVERTISEMENT
On every booklet is now printed
Good Automobile Roads" Thus the
Improvement is valuable for more than
one reason. II brings not only the
auto bOt the dollars that go with it.
This fact was just recently given
emphasis in the south, where absence
Of good roads was a barrier to that
class Of traffic that has aided so ma
terially in building up California. San
Diego which boasts many attractions
both as a winter and summer resort,
solved the problem of good roads by a
large bond issue, and already the ef-
1ects of this step are being felt. Los
Angeles county set the pace by pro-
viding bond issue that guaranteed the
perfection Of it's main thoroughfares
and constructing new ones.
These facts have done more to ad-
Vertise the country than anything that
could have been attempted and have
drawn thousands TO the coast and held
them.
AIDS BUSINESS
Many new centers that heretofore
enjoyed but a vague memory with the
traveller and home seeker suddenly
found themselves on the map and are
the strongest adherents to the good
roads movement While the automo-
bile owners initiated the movement II
has grown until its supporters are
numbered in every walk of life
One thing that has served to aid in
tI-is regard is the large area Of coun-
try offering investment. but which has
been considered inaccessible. save by
wagon. Values in these regions have
doubled and quadrupled with the ar
rfvaA,of the good road. and the settlers
have nor been slow to recognize its i'm
pOrtance.
With all his satire and that of equal
literary lights. Bill Nye could not ac-
COmplish one-tenth in awakening the
public to the necessity Of good roads as
has the automobile.
IMPROVEMENTS FOLLOW
Its Importance as quick means of
travel to and from small towns to the
city brought with it the question Of
suita bic avenues of traffic These in
turn brought the question of proper
tire dimension in the maintenance of a
good rOadbed. Despite the amount Of
preaching wasted on the farmer in an
endeavor TO persuade him to see the
advantages Of wide tires ii remained
for the initiators Of the good roads
movements TO also fix the conditions
governing these questions.
Thus many old ideas were wiped out
and new ones that redounded to the
benefit Of all have followed in the wake
Of the automobile.
SOUTH TO THE FORE
The advantage of good roads was
never more vividly portrayed than in
the orange belts Of the south. This
industry, combining, as il does. scenic
beauty with profit taking, soon recog-
nized the incongruity of a flower
hedged grove and an inadequate road.
Now il is possible for both grove owner
and traveller to spin over miles of
properly graded and constructed road
ways. either by automobile or other
conveyance.
The fever became contagious and ex-
tended to the ranches, and the county
turned its attention 10 extending these
boulevards to the remotest centers.
From settlements small hamlets grew
into cities, and being located along
perfect roadway soon came to be con-
sidered but an extension of its sister
municipality.
FOREIGNERS ALERT
Foreign countries have been quick to
recognize the Importance OF such high
ways, and are benef7ting to the extent
Of millions of good American dollars,
AFFECTED principally through the fact
thS one can tour the continent by au-
ton4Obile without fear Of finding any
but bOulevards en- route
once America fully develops its roads
to the same degree, extending them to
the many points Of interest, such as
Europe has done, this stream Of dollars
viii turn homeward.
Recent instances OF shortcomings IN
this regard were given in the cross
country runs from the Atlantic to the
Pacific. The principal feature of these
trips was contained in the number of
instances where the path finder either
became lost or stalled in the mud.
II is easy to conceive the change
that would take place were IT possible
TO start from New York and tour
across country without the present at
tendant hardships.
QUESTION A LIVE ONE
The good roads question, which has
long been espoused by Governor Gil
lett, is one of equal Importance with
any in the state, and needs still fur
Their support to accomplish the aims
sought. IT is only when the question
is brought home through its neces-
sity that its fun Importance is recog-
nized. and there is still much work to
be done in educating the public to the
advantages that lie in perfect road
system.
While for a time it was considered
as a matter lying principally with the
automobile owner, there are so many
greater and stronger features to sun
port It that it takes on different form
and the automobile is but a.second-
ar,- ~oucf6 oraff0n in fho end