The Washington herald., 1910-10-09

A vacation automobile tour to New
England during the past month by two
! Washington motorists proved enjoyable
and successful 10 an unusual degree.
The route was chosen with the purpose
OF avoiding the often tedious runs
through the approaches to the larger
cities. and of enjoying greater proper
| ton of mountain scenery than is found
on the route usually taken by way 90
New York City and through the lower
/ part Of Connecticut.
The trip was made in a REQ two-cylln-
der 1910 roadster, driven by Frederick W.
! Swanton. of the Patent Office, accom-
panied by Miss l.. Josephine swanton
| The car was fitted with full surrey seat
| in place OF the usual rear auxiliary seat
/ This proved a convenient space for carry
| ing full complement of baggage which
was protected by a waterproof cover ar.
ranged over the entire rear body OF the
car, while upon occasion the baggage
| could be removed and the entire seating
| capacity made available in the usual
way.
|
| a view TO going as FAR as Boston without
any but the necessary night stops, with
daily runs OF such moderate length as to
allow sufficient time 10 select hotels and
garage accommodations after arrival
each evening. The stopping places
chosen were. IN order. Lancaster. Pa
Delaware Water Gap Poughkeepsie. y.
Y, and Springfield, Mass. The distance
by this route is about $40 miles The
average days run was los miles. ranging
between ninety and rs miles daily. and
run Of this length was found 20 be
easily within the limits of comfortable
/ travelling with the sort Of roads that
were encountered.
First stop at Lancaster.
Starting the first day by the well-known
road through Washington Grove 20
Ridgevile and thence over a dusty but
| otherwise good road TO Westminster, the
regular toll pixies were followed through
Littlestown and AbbottstoWn TO York,
where a somewhat uncomfortable detour
| of three-quarters Of a mile through side
streets 10 the right at the farther SIZE
OF the city was found TO be necessary
on account of the main thoroughfare be-
ing closed for repairs. From here the
fine direct pike 20 Lancaster was fol-
lowed, crossing the Susquehanna over the
mile-long combined railroad and highway
bridge, AS Indicating the general class
1 OF roads met with. the tourists state
that on no part Of the run to Boston did
! the road conditions average any more
! difficult than through the state of Mary
land. while through New York and Mas
| sachusetts the best Of oiled macadam was
the rule, with but a few miles Of rough
surface out OF the entire distance on
the other hand, after paying about s.
IN tolls the first day and a small amount
the next morning. no tolls were exacted
at any place except at two toll bridges
throughout the trip.
At the end Of the first day Lancaster
| offered ample choice or hotels and
garage. 4 start was made In good time
| the next forenoon over good roads north
west through picturesque lands Valley
10 Ephiate, thence over somewhat less
smooth roads through tho agricultural
country of Central Pennsylvania 10 Read
ing, with its background OF coal studded
| hills; again north from Reading. then
easterly. on good roads. through Kutz-
; town, with its large normal school build
| ings on the right, and on through a
fairly level agricultural section to Allen
| town and Bethlehem, with four miles OF
fine macadam between the two cities,
the former being a city Of beautiful resi-
dences along a fine asphalt bouleyard on
a high plateau Turning once more ut
the farther end Of Bethlehem, eight miles
Of smooth. level. thoroughly oiled road
led 10 the town of Nazareth. set on a
long steep slope, making a heavy grade
to climb the entire length Of its Well-kept
main street.
Through Delaware Water Gap.
From this point somewhat rOugher
roads were found for the remaining
twenty-five miles, with rather fire.
quent hills. especially In the vicinity
OF Wind Gap. where the road passes
through a deep Notch in the otherwise
smooth and unbroken range of the Blue
Ridge. Turning TO the right at Saylvis-