Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1910-12-23
BEST AND
WORST ROADS IN
NEW MEXICO
Highest Altitude Encountered
By Westgard, l0400 Feet in
MogoIIonS; La Bajada Hill
Picturesque,

,soeciaI Dispatch to the Morning Journal
san Francisco, Dec. 23,-Most in
teresting statistics as to the feasible
~ Of automobile touring from the
Atlantic 10 the Pacific coasts have
resulted from the trip just completed
IN this city by A. L. Westeard, 81
The Touring Club Of America. IN ms
PREMIER ear. In The interest 81
motorists in general and OF the
United States government the pain
finding party kept an accurate record
20 axneriences en- route, attitudes,
temperatures mileage, cost and iae-
comm0dations.
In a table just Issued, a new epoch
IN automobile pleasure touring IS
nredicted because Of the interest
which has arisen towards the con-
strnetion of a national highway from
New York to san Francisco. una
mon the movements started by ME
Westaard while crossing the CONT
mont II Is evident that every con-
ceiyable form Of road and climatic
conditions were encountered ana
carefully tabulated in the minute
record. AS q representative Oh tne
bureau of public roads IN the leu-
eral department of agriculture, the
official scout has made a note Of
everything interesting TO the govern
ment with permission to make It pup
III in order to stimulate Interest n
to further the efforts OF a~uthofltles
and motorists on the way.
The extremes of altitude were en-
eountered in the 10000 feet ABOVE
sea level at Mogollon Pass In New
Mexico. and the 194 feet below ses'
level at the Salon Sea in Caifornla,
the highest temperature was loo de-
grees on November 18th IN the desert
al Mecca, Cal. and the lowest Wus
"a degrees on November lsln IN ihe
mountains near Fert Apache. Arfz.
The total mileage was 4sfuS'e, ana
the elansed time was exactly elShI
weeks. The average mileage Tor 40
r,,nnine davs was 104.f: the highest
nr,oa af gasoline was soc per gallon
~ the Colorado river on the desert
and the lowest was l5c per salloh'
The longest days run, If2.f mics
was made on October 20th, rom
eol,imbus. Ohio, to indianapolis, ana
the shortest was On November eth'
24.2 miles, approaching Ration y, "a
Seven nights were spent IN caHlpiA5
with the equipment which was cur
riad unon the premier car. ON one
EtrGtC1 tl lVV hitltf7s - 49,
only eight on it's high gear, owing 70
tbe severe conditions of the roads.
but no repairs eff any nature We're
made upon the car and only TWO tires
we're changed before approaching
RS Angeles, 10Th lasting until lhe
deserts Of Arizona were reached.
From every viewpoint the journey
is one to attract the pleasure-seehlhe
motorist, for good roads are tioroe
nearly all the way, splendid hotei ae-
e-ommodations are experienced aioIE
nearly the entire length, Whlie ~
variety and grandeur Of scenery I'M
inc the course is such ms can pe Sc
cured only by q trip across h Amer
lean continent. II is probable that
trunk highway from coast to coas'
will be a reality in the near lutuft
because Of The run of the Premle'
car with its party of officials driver
by Ray Mcnamara.
Most of the eastern highways tFa~'
ersed are of hard construction ah'
little could be urged in the way :"
Improvement between New york am
Chicago aside from some rev sho.
stretches. From Chicago acros -
linois. the roads are MOI system
atically maintained: from
to Omaha is the 350-mile rlVer-to
river highway. from Omaha to kan
sas City is similar TO the liiiloi
strip, but G~overncr-eleet Dahifnan
of Nebraska. has promised improve
ments. From Kansas city TO Saht'
Fe is the famous new santa re tral
and the entire distance Will soon o
n snlendid route. over the Rato'
Pass in New Mexico is Il convict roa'
which is almost o boulevard; lrot'
Ration to Las Vegas is bad; but +
Las Vegas TO Santa Fe is q seem
highway which is superb To Aiou
querque il a good government roao
and On La Bajada mountain ~
STRIP where the road winds ana turn
completely around twenty times q
more in making the steep descent.
From Albuquerque to eoas
practically all Of the hardships wer
encountered. especially in crosslh
the White mountains n upon u
lava on the Mogollon plateau. IN
road through the desert TO the We
Of Phoenix was found less appalhh
than is usually pictured, as Is tru
also of the route from PhoehiN |
san Bernardino. h roads aion
The coast are splendid ana VIM
much of beauty was found IN On
long trip. even in the desert the ru
through the beautiful palm an
balmy orange land oil the Cahiorni
field was a fitting climax to the WI
grandeur Of the Mountains.