Los Angeles herald., 1910-10-16
Pacific Highway Association
Formed at Seattle to Assist
in Building Thoroughfare
AUTO HIGHWAY. CONTINUOUS
Automobile and Good Roads
Clubs Asked to Work for
Favorable Legislation

BdniNtu DIT OGdlll6 last AiAOAAAht
be fostered by every automobile asso-
citation on the coast particularly and
by individual autosts in general; for
it is an effort to connect three coun-
tries by an international road, by the
best, most direct route for motor travel.
1t could be very nicely be styled "Un-
der Three Flags" highway, for it will
extend many miles into Canada and
into Mexico.
While the representation at the Sc
attic meeting was composed of enthu-
siasts from Victoria and Vancouver.
b. c., and from Seattle and Portland
only, the invitation to attend was gen.
eral. But a good start was made ana
Judge j. T. Ronald of Seattle made It's
first president. All omicers were elect
ed to serve only to July, 1911, as in the
meantime every effort, will be made
for a big convention at more central
point on the coast, and every automo-
bile club asked to send delegates, as
also delegates from good roads asso-
Citations and other civic bodies inter-
ested in good roads. 1t is not intended
to sink the identity of any association
by merger into the larger body, but
a central organization can do more eff
fectiVe work and It's directorate Should
be made up only OF directors of the az
filiated clubs, that executive action
could be quickly taken without series
of special meetings having to be called
AS the construction of this particular
highway takes on an international
character it would be most advisable
to have as members at large one each
from the three countries, appointed by
that branch of the respective national
governments that has control over
highways in general who would be
% off oil aXaqtItiWa
sions, for in the course of the ROADS $
construction and maintenance national
assistance might be required.
But dwelling particularly in this ar
ticle on the American side of this high
way building undertaking, the Paclhc
coast states aifected-Wa Washlngton,
Oregon and California-haVe each their
state and minor automobile and good
roads associations, and hundreds OF
miles that would be embraced in the
international highway are at present IN
a high state of upkeep, and the ex-
penditures must be borne by the eiti-
kens of such states. OF course this is
an undertaking asked for mostly in the
interests of good highways for motor
ing, and should in the major part be
worked out by autoists. California has
tie largest memberships in it's respec-
tive automobile clubs; and the South
ern California Automobile club is the
largest on LIlG COdSl. IluAldACdS VI ihAASS
of roads have been secured for the pub
lie through their efforts, and thousands
OF dollars of their revenues have gone
to encourage such good roads building;
SO 1t cannot be said that autotsts are
selfish in their desires for good hign-
ways. Naturally in the present IN
stance il is the construction of but one
road-through three countries-that Is
looked for. Ell Canine Real is the log
ical route for California. Supervisors
of counties through which 1t passes
should be appealed to lend their best
efforts toward making 1t possibility
Much of this work has already been
taken care of.
In all probability Oregon. autoists
have done more, pro rata, for good
roads than has California. 1t has been
brought about by the close affiliation
of the Oregon State Automobile as
sociation. the Portland Automobile
club and the Oregon Good Roads as
sociation. Their main object has been
to get laws enacted to enable the yari-
Gus counties to bond their property to
build highways and to make a school
house campaign In the interests of
good roads. They have won by an
educational and object lesson campaign
rather than by antagonism and over
riding the people. AS one Portland ems
thusiast puts 1t: "Our county courts
and commissioners are inclined to favor
us In every way and manner and vir-
tually grant us anything we ask for"
One member of the Portland Automo-
bile club has gone further In the mat
ter than any other man on the Pacific
coast He is actually constructing a
highway from Portland to Mt. Hood.
Now all the foregoing leads up to one
vital question: What assistance is the
A. A A. going to render Pacific coast
autoists in their efforts to get good
roads in general and the international
highway in particular?
This big national body of affiliated
automobile interests has not done and
Is not doing all that it might for Pa
cific coast interests. We are so far
away from national headquarters that
our needs have been too much over
looked. Not as regards racing, in the
building of tracks and keeping up speed
courses, but in the more serious side
of assisting in good roads movement.
A distinct racing bureau and a legis-
lative bureau should be maintained at
national headquarters, that all inter
ests might be looked after at the prop
er time. 1t will be better to maintain
the one national organization If that
section west of the Rockies can be as
sured of more attention. California,
oregon and washington have one
sixth of the registered automobiles in
the United States, but an inadequate
representation on the A. A. A. direc-
torate.
AS matter>of fact the western spirit
is very much on the order of going
ahead on it's own initiative, but where
they have pooled interests with one
big body, western people don't want to
be overlooked by their brother mem
bers of the east.
Now the Pacific coast wants this in
ternational highway, and is going to
get it. Concerted action by automo-
bile clubs in getting the right kind Of
legislation is the first requisite. The
majority of legislative candidates of
every party are good roads boosters.
They recognize that the more autos
that travel over country roads, the
greater the possibilities of enhancing
realty values, for those portions of the
country that are accessible by motor
are most apt to catch investors. Let
every auto club have strong legis-
lative committee and work for a closer
affiliation on the Pacific coast.
A. M Young, president of the
Tho. ts-Mercer company, left for
New York Wednesday, where he will
endeavor to get some of the cars that
recently participated in the Wander
bilt cup race to enter for the Santa
Monica road race to be held Thanks