Los Angeles herald., 1910-10-16
HALE MILLION PERSONS
SUMMERON MOTOR TRIPS
American Scenery and Points of
Interest Are AIIuring
to Autoists
Robert Bruce, secretary Of the A. a.


A. saws in the New York Herald:
During the season just ending prob
ably half a million people have toured
by automobile through the sections Oh
this country which are noted for
scenery. climate or other attractions.
There are at least 100000 automobiles
in use in the United States today, and
assuming that half of these were used
for recreation, carrying from two to
seven passengers each, this estimate
of the number of tourists will seem
conservative.
Travel has always been favorite
method Of obtaining education anu
amusement, but in earlier days the end
of the tourney, not the journey ltSeu,
has been the attraction. Luxurious
as are the modern Pullman cars IeW
would care to spend a whole vacation
in one. Travel by automobile, on the
other hand, is a pleasure in ltselI, ana
its more enthusiastic devotees do NOT
even trouble themselves to select a
destination
The great advantage of automobile
touring over other methods OF traVel
is that it brings the traveller close To
the country. OF course, some auto
mobilists still dash through at 1orty
miles an hour, without glance at the
most charming valley or hillside put
they are only to be pitied. The wiser
tourist takes his time, and is never
too hurried to pause to admire a view
or pluck a handful of wild flowers.
Touring in this fashion is an enjoy
ment that never pals. Each day run
brings new scenes and new adventures,
which will be recaned around the nre-
side on many a winter evening.
No way of spending a vacation can
be more beautiful or inVigorating than
automobile touring. During the day
the tourist neper feels fatigue; the
ever changing procession of scenes and
events keeps the interest always
aroused. Yet at night the tourist Is
early to bed, and enjoys his ten hours
of dreamless sleep. At meal times his
appetite is a source of wonder and dis
may to the American plan hotel,
keeper.
OF course, no matter how BEAUTIFULLY
tired and hungry the automobilist may
be at the completion of the days run
he desires good food and a comfort
able room to make his enjoyment COM
plete. Formerly the hotel of the aver
age country town was apt to be want
ing in these particulars, but during re-
cent years harder tourists have blazed
the way, and have gradually taught
the hotel men how to care for the more
particular city folk. What is more, the
number of automobile tourists has
grown so remarkably that the hotels
have found it profitable to cater to this
new trade.
Such is the spirit of good fellowship
among automobilists on the road that
they are always glad to share with
each other their information of hotels
and roads. Then too, the automobile
clubs act as clearing houses of touring
information. This is especially true
of the great national group of 222 clubs,
the American Automobile association,
with a total of $1,000 members.
Through the touring board of the big
organization in this city members may
always obtain the latest news of roads
and routes as well as the names and
rates of the best hotels and garages in
the cities through which they intend
to pass. On many occasions the board
has prepared complete itineraries and
other necessary information for tours
of several weeks duration.
Not only is the association of service
to the individual automobilist, but it
also cares for the interest of auto
mobilists as a class. The laws govern
ing the use of automobiles have been
greatly improved during the last few
years, but they are not yet perfect.
At present each state is at liberty to
make its own regulations, which may
differ in innumerable respects, and the
automobilist who passes through half
a dozen states during a fortnight's
tour may sometimes be a law breaker
quite unintentionally. Ignorance of the
law is no excuse, but there is a limit
to what may be expected of the human
memory.
The A. A. A. constantly exerts it's
influence to obtain the passage of more
uniform and equitable laws in place of
the arbitrary ones still in force. It's
ultimate object is the enactment of a
federal law which will replace all state
regulations with federal license which
will be good from Maine to California.
Owing to it's wonderful roads, it's
scenic and historic attractions. Europe
is still the promised land of the auto
mobile tourist. Every year sees doubled
the number of American automobiles
which pass through Southampton,
Cherbourg and Havre. Here the par
ticular advantage of automobile tour
ings, its freedom from time tables and
it's nearness to the life of the country
are especially enjoyable. The tourist
by train rushes from Havre to Paris,
stopping, perhaps, at Rouen on the
way, and thence, perhaps, to the Ri
viera; but the automobilist sees 100
charming Norman villages and drives
between provencal vineyards and olive
orchards.
The legal restrictions on passage
from one European country to another
are hardly more onerous than those
on travel between state and state on
this side of the Atlantic, q happy con-
dition which is due largely to the eff
forts of the foregn touring clubs.
These are united in an association
known as the Ligue Internationale des
Associations Touristes, of which the A
A. A. is the American member.
Most of the half million tourists of
the season have by this time returned
to their homes, ready for another
years work, but resolved to take the
road again next summer. Meanwhile
hundreds of factories all over the
country are building. the automobiles
which carry them. In the amount of
capital invested and the number of
workmen employed, this industry has
become one of the first rank, and an
important part of the commercial or