New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-09-24
GL|DDEN TOUR ROUTE
Pathfinding Car Records the Dis
lance as 1890 Miles.
PLANS FOR entertainment
Roads on the Way Are Being Re
paired, and Southerners
Much Interested.

jacksonville, Fla. Sept. 23.-With the ar
rival Tuesday night Of A. l. Westgard, Off
cia pathfinder for the American Automo-
bile Association, preparations for the 1911
Gldden tour approached completion.
Many automobile owners in Florida
Georgia and other Southern states had
been waiting for tine completion Of the
trip OF the pathfinder before finally making
up their minds TO enter. one OF these men
signed up Tuesday night, and day after
day since then the local committee has been
receiving entries On Wednesday, follow
ing the arrival Of Mr.. Westgard. half a
dozen towns and cities in the state sent
for from two to a dozen application blanks.
good many OF these will be returned
properly filed out before the close Of the
entries
The fact that Mr. Westgard came
through the long trip in A light, narrow
tread machine without a particle Of trouble,
except where the highway Is torn up by
road gangs rushing to put II in shape be-
fore the tour, has been a splendid factor in
boosting entries. The entire route through
, Florida is under process OF reconstruction,
and within two months or more will be a
good boulevard.
Southern hospitality has offered an easy
solution OF the problem Of handling the
big crowd of more than three hundred
people where night stops necessarily fall
on small places. All down the route
through the South the people extended Mr.
Westgard assurances that they will be
glad to open their homes 10 care for the
tourists when the capacity OF the hotels
has been exceeded. II is not improbable
that the contest board may avail itself
Of these sincere Invitations at one or mere
points along the route.
Mr. Westgard is convinced that the Gid
den tourists will receive ovations at every
crossroads along the route. The influence
OF the tour popuarzing the good roads
movement and the distinguished Southern
officials and capitalists who have entered
have stirred all classes. Localities fifty and
hundred miles away from the route are
feeling the influence of the tour, and will
have sightseers along the highway.
The climax Of entertainment however,
will be reached al Jacksonville, where there
will be ample time within which TO arrange
affairs so as TO do all Well and not tire the
visitors. The board of governors Of the
Florida Country Club, which has the finest
clubhouse and grounds in the Southern
states at Ortega Park. near this city, have
thrown the club open TO Glidden tourists
and have extended invitations 10 them 20
bring their golf sticks along for a little
sport on the best court in this part Of the
country. This privilege holds good with
the tourists as long as they stay in Jack
sonvile II was brought about through
the efforts OF Hendon b. MADISON, one Of
the owners OF the Seminole Hotel
The Jacksonville Board of Trade will
prepare a series Of public functions, and
many private affairs will be given the
week of the arrival of the Gidden tourists.
The stay Of the pathfinder here was too
short 20 permit Of any public reception.
There has been keen rivalry on the part
Of Southern towns and cities 10 be desig
mated as night stops and luncheon stations,
particularly the latter One or two places
have followed BY letter. telegram and in
person the pathfinder through practically
the entire trip Mr.. Westgard states that
the night stops and distances Of the path
finder car do not mean that these stops
VIII be designated for the tour. but that
they will make a good average for the
guidance Of the tourists.
The distance to Jacksonville proved TO be
l30 miles greater than was at first figured
by the contest board. This must be dis
tributed through the daily runs for the en-
tire tour The actual reading Of the speed
ometer when the pathfinder reached the
city was ,4es miles Mr.. Westgard states
that six miles of this should be deducted
for side trips IN some OF the cities and
towns. The variation in distance, how
ever. will make no material change in the
mans for the tour