Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1911-08-04
GREAT NATIONAL AUTOMOBILE HIGHWAY.

A national automobile highway is under practical con-
sderaon between New York and San Francisco and it is
hoped that it will be determined and completed by
1915 so as to be ready for the Panama exposition Ore
gon and especially Josephine county, needs to get INTO
the swim and take leading part in this movement which
WILL if properly managed do more for the state than any
railroad that be built from this time on Sucn nlgn-
way will become popular thoroughTare that VIII be In
ed from side of the state to the other at all seasons OF
the wear with tourists their way to and from the coast
This pre-supposes OF course that we will have all the year
around good roads and they be had it we use the en-
ergy and the good sense necessary to build them
1t is pleasing to note that hundreds of men Of large
means and enterprise have already enlisted IN the cause OF
this national automobile highway Congress will be ask
ed to help and every state is expected will do it's part
and every county in each of the states will be glad OF the
opportunity to do the work strip OF roadway for this
national undertaking. With such a highway opened,
Grants Pass hotels would be crowded every night IN the
year with tourists going to and from the coast From now
on the automobile will become more and more compet-
tor of the railway The auto only In its infancy but ev
cry year will add to its Importance as strong rival OF the
railroad The trend OF events already points clearly to
this fact and everywhere find both men and women
enthusiastic in the cause Of independent traveng that
s they want the experience that such travel gives them
At the present time there fory-eght wealthy New
Workers and Phadelphans making the trip from ocean
to ocean to demonstrate to the world that the proposed
automobile road practical These people in ten cars
and each driven by the In the party are no
less than eight ladies who running their own machines
and ali are camping out when necessary, cooking their
own meals
The Portland Journal in speaking of this national en-
terprse, has this to say on this important subject
''The building of great transcontinental auto high
way which of course would be used by all other vehicles
the opinion of persons who have studied the subject
would be important to the western states than to
the east 1t would have bigger influence on the COM
muntes through which it would pass it is believed than
would the acquisition of another railroad. Transconti-
mental automobile tourists would naturally be people of
wealth and prosperity and they would add to the pros
perity of every community through which they would
pass Moreover they would have occasion to make more
stops than do railroad travellers New hotels and small
towns would spring up along such horoughfare as if by
magic and hundreds of thousands of eastern dollars would
be spent in the west that go elsewhere Thousands
of easteers and Europeans will tour to San Francisco
for the Panama show in 1915 if the great road is i'm
proved while the annual traffic will be immense. Ameri
cans will carry out the logical advice to America first
with such highway at its command
Every autoist in the country is expected to join the
enthusiasts in wagng campaign for this great road The
bold daring of the amateur drivers who blazing the
trail will for them prominent inches in the automo
bile hall of fame"