The Washington times., 1910-04-05
CONTEE QUAGNIRE
LOOKS LIKE TRAP
Many Opine That Neighbor-
ing Farmers Dug
Hole There.
By Harry WARD.

Washington motorists who travel be-
tween this city and the metropolis OF
Maryland over what is known IS the
Washlngton-Baltim boulevard. have
been experiencing a great deal Of trou-
Bile in tho deep cut just this side Of
Contee. While all other portions Of
the road are dry as a bone this par
ticular spot Is a quagmire and the un-
fortunate motorist who is uct familiar
with the Law Of the land usually finds
mis- car stuck IN the mud up 20 the hub
caps before he IS aware Of what Is hap
peninG. At this stage of the game a
farmer nonChalantly strOlls uD and asks
the foolish question, BE yOu stuck in
the mud2" 1t never fails 10 get the
motorists goat. but the farmer is the e
for a purpose and is never feazed with
the hot reply he gets right of the bat.
AS the car is stuck fast IN the mud and
cannot get out with its over, OWNS
10 the inability Of the wheels 10 get
traction in the soft mud. a team Of
horses is the only thing that viii help
matters. The motOr.s- suggests that he
would like 20 get a team to haul him
out and the farmer opines that for a
consideration ne VIII Irnish the desired
team. The charge IS based on what the
farmer thinks the traffic Will stand II
tho motOrist IS accom- panied by ladies
the charge is usually $40. which IS The
top price. but II the motorist persists he
can generally get the use Of the tenn
for s. After the deal is made the
farmer gets MS team on the spot In
surprisingly short order and the car is
soon pulled out of the mire and sent
on its way with the motorist as mad as
q hornet over the imposition that has
been pracuced upon him.
II IS the general belief Of those who
use the boulevard AT regular intervals
that the COnJee cut IS pUrposely kept
in q muddy condition by one or Two
farmers living ln the vicinity. who are
thus enabled 10 pick UD a nice little
motorists VINO get stalled iu the cut
This belief. Is based on The fact tha-
every other bit Of The road between
Washington and Baltimore is dry and
dusty, while this particular spot is q
sea OF mud. The opinion has been
expressed Ly some OF or leading driv-
erS that The euterprlsIug farmers wet
down the road every uiEht. hauling
water TO the spot in barrels. To cir
cumvent them iu this uefarlous work a
FUND IS now being raised among the
motorists OF Washington and Baltimore
70 hll the cUJ with stone. In the mean
time number OF the wise motorists
are usinG a side road that is encouu-
tered just before the COntee sgr IS
reached. This road takes the mOtorist
several miles out Of the way and then
brings MIN back 10 the main road be-
yono COutee station, but the time thus
lost is preferable TO being stuck in The
mud and being held up by a farmer for
being pulled out.
The motorists who travel 10 Baltimore
are also complaining loudly OF Jle ac-
tons OF small boys on the outskirts OF
that city, who tGd their chief delight
10 annoyln5 people IN motor cars
Throwing stones and endeavOriug 10
jump on the running boards of the cars
as they pick their way over the rough
pavements Of the Monumental City are
the two things the Baltimore urChins do
20 make life a burden TO the motorist
who enters that city. The stones mar
the paint on the cars and the side lamps
are frequently broken, while the boys
IN endeavOring 20 jump on the cars
run great danger Of being thrown un-
der the wheels Of the auto. These two
pernlciOus practices should be broken
up by the police Of Baltimore
The recognition which Is being a~-
corded the SCudehayer line OF gaSoIene
and electric automobiles IN motoring