Los Angeles herald., 1910-05-22
TOURING CLUB IS
AID TO AUTO|5TS
Oruanization Conducts Bureau OF
information for Owners
of Machines
OPENS NEW HEADQUARTERS
Entire Building to Be Given Over
to ConvenienCes for
Motorists
OPENS NEW HEADQUARTERS

NEW YORK, May 21.-With the
opening of the enlarged headquarters
of the Touring Club of America IN lts
new building at the corner of seventy
sixth street and Broadway this week
and the consequent widening Of the
scone of its work, 1t is anticipated by
the thousands of motorists in this VI
cinity who have become familiar with
the organization that during the next
few months touring throughout the
United States will be stimulated to
greater activity that ever before.
At a Luncheon given in the new four,
story home Of the club, fully equipped
with every device for attracting the
attention and adding to the convenience
of the touring motorist speeches were
made by men prominent in the auto
mobile world, who pointed out the
value of an organization formed TOT
the sole purpose Of supplying such IN
formation as would greatly enhance
the possibilities of state and nation
wide travel on the part of pleasure or
health seekers owning automobiles D.
w Jones, ''the Edison of automo-
bling" and inventor of the speedom-
eter and Give map" declared that 1t
should be the aim of the club to extend
its membership to half million.
After SDeRCnllldhlIB
concluded and before the visiting mo-
torists had driven away In the cars
which lined Broadway during the
luncheon, the guests were shown about
the new home, which resembles q great
railroad office or Cooks agency IN
Europe more than club, on account
of the near at hand equipment FOR
quick information. Details We're eI-
planned by A. L. Westgard, the presl-
dent, who for thirty years has been
gathering road information about Eu-
rope and America that has given MN
the reputation of being tho most COM
petent touring expert in the world, ana
by Frederick H. Elliott the secretary,
who recently resigned from similar
position in the American Automobile
association in order to extend the work
of the Touring club.
WILL SUPPLY INFORMATION
They demonstrated that while the
Touring Club of America is engaged
in the philanthropic work Of encour-
aging touring amid the beautiful scenes
in which the country abounds. II
is also conducting a very practical
work for the notorist, wherever he
may be, in supplying him with exact
and authoritative information as TO
Just how to find such scenes, and, wnat
is more important, how to find his way
back again. It is interested In the
good roads movement in general way,
hut also tells where good roads al
ready built can be found. In addltlon
TO supplying exact data regarding
tours in any part Of the United States
and Europe 1t manages the shipping
of cars by rail or water, insures the
cars of its members and secures
licenses for them.
''The IT. C. A. is doing work OF
which the country has long been in
need. and, III my opinion, is bound TO
become almost universal among auto
mobilists," said President Westgard'
when prevailed upon to give an inter-
view. "It is doing the work of Sc
curing faultless information regard
ing the road conditions. including ac-
conmodations, along the roads over
which q man may wish to traVel In
making a tour, no matter If from New
York to San Frisco. For no 1urthel
cost than its actual membership Zee OF
S5 ii furnishes information to any ex-
tent regarding any subject concerning
motoring The members have the road
experts of the T. c. A. constantly at
their command to suggest new anu
fascinating tours and to tell them how
to take them. 1t has other experts
constantly at it's command In the shape
of already prepared disc cards, printed
on one side of the card, giving every
detail for a distance of one hundred
miles. Each card fits on the "live
map" which can be placed before the
eve of the driver. and, revolving me-
chanically with the motion of the axle
beneath the car. tell him just where
he is and just where to turn, or can be
used without any mechanical appli-
ance. Members receive this informa'
tion free of charge as often as they
ask for 1t.
HAS DATA ON ROADS
"You probably have no idea of the
skill and magnitude of this club. 1t is
great central bureau of dependable
touring information, or, rather, bu'
reau of road experts. It's road experts
have either travelled over every import
ant road In the whole world, or have
dependable information from those who
have. They can sit down and dictate
offhand a description of any tour In tnt
world, telling you distances, kind o.
roadbed, grade, suitability of route tC
vour car, what you will see, best no.
tells and all details with astonishing
readiness and completes. What the L
c. A. tells you is not theory and guess
work and boow knowledge. but tn
practical experience of its road experts
"In my opinion" concluded Mr
Westgard, "the rapidly growing mem
hershp is due to the realization OF
the part of the motorists that the chic
means of promoting motoring through
out the country is accurate information
and that all motorists should join to
gether to further cause which VIII
bring about better road conditions"
Secretary Elliott, who was largely
instrumental in building up the A. A
A., and who Is an enthusiast in regard
to his new work. had this to say:
"I feel sure that can speak for tn
Touring Club of America when l sa!
that it is the purpose to nationaliz
it on the same scale as the TOURING
Club of France, which has built up
perfect system of information regard
ing touring canditions in that country
and has a magnificent and exceedingl,
popular home in Paris. 1t Is my plal
to extend our organization as rapid,
rs possible. 1t is hardly necessary t.
say that the T. C. A. does not regart
speed tests and racing as within 1T
sphere; it confines itself entirely t
accommodating its members and lend
ing is moral influence to such move
ments as will benefit automooilist
generally"
TWO CENSUS CASES CONTINUED