The Washington herald., 1910-05-22
by HOWARD FISK.


a trip which proved a most popular
one last year and which is predicted tC
be more so this season. by reason Of the
many inducements which It offers, is to
Atlantic City and return, over which is
termed the short route" BY the shor,
route is meant over the Washington
Baltimore boulevard 10 Baltimore and
thence to Havre de Grace. Perryville.
and Elkton. which road leads into Phia-
delphia. enabling the motorist to arrive
at the Quaker City in the quickest pos
sible time between the two metropolitan
cities The ''long route" is via York
and Lancaster, owing 20 its greater mile
age, and has been to a great extent
abandoned In favor OF the short route" q"
The writer has been over the route
several times and, despite the fact that
there are several bad stretches between
Washington and Philadelphia. has always
made fast time. and never found any part
Of the road impossible for an automobile,
either large or small The strenuous
parts of the road are AT COntee, Nd
near Laurel; a stretch Of sand between
Perryville and Elkton. and on the old
Hartford pike. between Baltimore and
Belair a greater portion of the road
between the National Capital and the
coast is macadamized and in excellent
condition for touring. The distance from
Washington 10 Atlantic City is approx
imately 20i miles. and, while it has been
made quite often in a day, still * is
better to arrange schedule. which viii
not prove quite so strenuous on the
driver and occupants Of the car. For
this reason it will be divided into a
three-d6y trip. which insures a treat for
those who prefer 10 take it in a milder
form.
Leaving the National Capital.
The route from the National Capital
is out II street northeast 10 Fifteenth.
turning to the left over what is known
as the Bladensburg road. The concrete
street extends nOrthward several squares
and gives way TO a macadam highway.
which extends almost TO BladensburE.
and turns into a dirt road near the
bridge and continues until Hyattsvire
Is reached. where the fine macadam again
appeals 20 the motorist. The Washing
toni Baltimore boulevard, as it is called.
is not continuous macadam road. as
one would surmise, but is disconnected
several times along the route between
the two cities. From HyattsviHe, how
ever, there Is hardly any noticeable break
until Beltsville is reached, where the
first bad stretch, covering a distance Of
four miles, is encountered. This road
runs through that famous stretch called
"Contee which always gives the motor
ist touch of nightmare" whenever no
comes face 20 face with the horrible
road condition which always confronts
him, whether II be in wet or dry
weather However, aside from these few
miles. it is the quickest and best road
TO the Monumental City. and as the
good portion greatly exceeds the poor
stretches. the motorist winds up in nearI,
every case by beating through II. and
it IS soon forgotten.
Laurel, a pleasant little suburban
town, twenty miles from Washington ig
the next town beyond Contee. both
places being on the main line Of the
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. From
Laurel a beautiful stretch awaits the
speeding tourists. the road winding over
the hills. passing through EIkridce. cross
ing the bridge at the Patapsco River.
and within a short space Of time Balti-
more is reached via Columbia avenue
and Gwynns Falls. BY making an early
Start on the first day Of the Journey
Baltimore can be reached in good time
the roads being practically clear the
entire distance.
baltimore and Beyond.
Passing through Baltimore. the machine
should be headed for Clifton Park and
the Hartford road. BY passing out Eutaw
street. from Columbia street and thence
right into North avenue. following the
same, which leads directly to the Har- /
ford road. on the left OF Clifton Park II
is better. however. to enter the main gate !
and entrance to Clifton Park, where the
road is much better and touches the Har- /
ford road a short distance beyond. in /
cidentally avoiding a toll gate en- route /
From Baltimore the road is not as
smooth sailing as during the few hours
previous. A rough road. bumpy and un-