The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-12-16
PATHF|NDERS PARTY
READY TO REPORT
Mr.. Belvin Will Read Paper
for Majority at Club
Meeting
TWO FROM MINORITY
ARE EXPECTED ALSO
viii Contain Incidents OF the
Trip to Washington
Manassas Men Eager
to Aid Work

At the meeting of the Richmond
Automobile club Monday night the
members will hear the report of the
pathfinding party that went forth to
lay out the new road TO Washington.
President Preston Beivtn. of the VIZ
ginia State Automobile Association
will make the majority report, and
either r. A. Airport or Lewis Snuman,
maybe both, will submit a minority
brief.
The latter will be necessary as II
ia not, likely that MIR. Belvin win lay
great stress upon some or Inc mel
dents which occurred.
For instance, Mr.. Beivin probably
will not relate in detail. an incident
which occurred at Germantown In
Fairfax county. That is Mr.. Shuman's
story. The three cars--for the Rich
inond party had been accompanied
out OF Manassas by a sure enough
party of guides in a Maxwell machine,
Germantown because somebody wanted
q drink Of water. Pilot Hynson
alighted from his car. and the ever
obllging Mr.. Shunlan crawled from the
tenneau OF MIR. Allports car.
Just as they did so II nice looking
dog rrotted out from n farmhouse,
shifted at Mr.. Hynson's legs and
promptly Hipped u!&tts iHeIt WiiAtc
the surprised man from Manassas
stood examining his calf instead OF
kicking the dog. the pup promptly
trotted over to where Mr.. Shufnan
stood. shifted his leg and with never
bark az warning nipped him In his
right calf Then he trctted back To
the house and from the yard laughed
at the tourists.
II ever man from Richmond and
al ,,.y, y,
Germantown again. and their names
should happen 10 be Shuman and Hyn-
son, there will be 81 dead dog in Jer
mantown.
Again. some of the tourists with
poor memories wondered why Mr.. ALI
port stuck to his car tn Manassas, ard
never left IL even to eat That is his
story. II he will tell II.
Stuck to His Car.
Mr.. Airport had good reason for
sticking TO his car. lie wanted to lay
aside his overcoat. but he felt he
could not do so with propriety. Even
in Frederic kshnrg. at the little lunch
con, Mr., Alipert wore his long coat
In spite Of all the appeals Of his hosts
TO make himself comfortable. There
was rsa son.
Just outside OF fredericksburg the
cars stopped for a moment. and MIR.
Airport got out to stretch his legs. To
say he got out IL a little IN advance
OF the story. To be exactly truthful.
veracious and accurate. Mr.. Airport
started TO get out, and had aimos,
reached the ground when his progress
was stopped. A look OF surprise came
over his usual placid face, which was
followed by one of annoyance and then
OF dismay. A low. ominous sound as
OF a garment being rended was heard
and Mr. Airport descended somewhat
hurriedly. His most useful garment
had been ripped from rear suspender
buttons for almost fun yard. A
projection for the hood OF the car had
caught in his trousers, And there
wasn't safety pin In the party!
That Is why Mr.. Airport wore his
overcoat. and would not lay /, aside
even when he went inooors
But to recite all the incidents that
occurred would take far more time and
space than may be afforded. 1t can be
said. however. that few exploration
parties ever kad a. more interest
Ing experience In so short a distance.
Weil Equipped Party.
more thoroughly equipped path
hnding party never took the road Its
members consisted OF Captain st.
Julien Wilson. State Highway Com
missioner: A, l.. Westgard. field rem
resentative of the American Automo-
DIG Association; l.. b. Manyille, who
built the Peninsula sand clay high
way; Preston Belvin. president Of the
Virginia State Automobile Assocta-
ton; r. A. Airport, and E. e. Hazel
grove, OF the Richmond AutoInohile
CUB. who loaned their machines. two
Stevcns-Duryea sixties, for the occa-
sion; Lewis Shuman and George w
Hunter. OF the Richmond AIitomobiie
Club. T, Coghill and a newspaper rep
Roads Built Wrong.
Ihey are built wrong that's ALL"
saiu ait. ManvilIe. referring to She
roads. Captain Wilson agreed.
Here they have plenty of the best
OF material in the world to build roads
Out they Just spread It out fat. make
no attempt to crown II grade II. or
ditch IT, and the result Is that, when
shower comes. pool form across
the road and turns IL into mud
hole" whent on Mr.. Manvi,le.
Exactly" said Mr. Westgard, land
take back all | said about your not
having bad roads in this section ~
virginia II there Is any local pride
In bad roads Stafford county has the
right to be the proudest county In
Virginia.
Twelve miles out Ct Frederieks-
burg the party had to stop again to
care for mired car. group OF
Stafford county natives gathered.
Don't you ever work the loads
hera I" asked Mr.. Allnort.
NO" replied one OF the young men
PAY any road taxi" went on Mr..
Airport.
mo" was the reply.
How long does It takes you to 20
to Fredericksburg when you want to
buy anything"
I'VE 70 one day ana come hack the
next"
Don't you know you could do 1t
easily In one day II you had good
road?"
"Oh, yes: but tho folks have sort
Of rot used to Roing to Fredericks-
burg one day. stopping all night and
coming back the next day and they
don't seem TO care about changing"
How are the roads above here?"
= don't know. haven't bsen up
- 49,