The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-07-26

EN- route and gaining data for the
information of the 600 Automobiles
who Will attend the convention of the
American Association for Highway
Improvement to be held here October
81 to November l. the pathnnding party,
consisting of three automobiles, which
left Washington on Monday morning
arrived yesterday evening at o'clock.
three hours behind schedule time and
little the worse for wear, but still
happy at the results accomplished.
Making up the scouting expedition
was: y Velie 40" which acted as the
pilot car, and was driven by Charles
Il. Miller. OF Washington. In this car
H. E. Duckstein. of the Washington
Post. and Howard Fisk. of the wash
ington Star. found accommodation.
y Packard go" which went from
Richmond to Washington to start the
party. was next. II was driven by
Lee a. Folger. of the Gordon Motor
Company, and W. J. Miller. OF the Same
concern, and was occupied by Colonel
Henry McNair. editor of the Automo-
bile Blue Book; p. st. julien Wilson.
state Highway Commissioner of Vlr-
ginia. and Paul D. Sargent. assistant
director of good roads for the United
states Department of Agriculture.
The last car. n Studebaker 40"
driven by Joseph Donovan. contained
+. II. Elliott, secretary of the Touring
Club of America; s. S. Grogan. OF the
Washington Herald: Harry Ward. o.
the Washington Times. and j. E.
Pcnnybacker. secretary of the Ameri
can Association for Highway Improve
inent.
Times-Dispntch Car.
The Times Dispatch scout car. with
w. A. spillman. l. p. Young. w w
wlngo and Gus Malbert aboard, met
tho party Just south Of Ground
Squirrel Bridge. about twenty miles
from Richmond, and Immediately took
charge The run into Richmond was
unevcntful. q short stop was made
at the jefferson, where luggage was
deposited. and then visit to The
Times Dispatch Office concluded the
two days run. The return trip will
begin this morning, and II is expected
that Washington will be reached late
tonight From Culpeper the run will
he by way OF Manassas TO Fairfax.
Not even the optimists Of the party
and in very truth 1t must be admitted
that ell are optim!sts, could pronounce
the road between Washington and
Richmond good. Rains were encoun-
tered around Culpeper. which made the
going heavy. But the roads were pas
enble, there is no gaipsaying that point,
,
hap proves.
Lee A. Folger. who. in the Gordon
Motor Company's Packard 80. made the
trip from Richmond to Washing ton
via the Valley route TO meet the tour
lists. says that nc found the roads much
better than on the down trip He made
the run in record time. even though
the car contained seven passengers and
their baggage.
From Richmond to Winchester, a dis
lance of 2l7.s miles the trip was made
in remarkably fast time. but ten hours
and thirty-tiyc minutes being consumed
"a record time. The entire distance
into Washington was made at av-
erage rate OF twenty miles an hour.
and not single repair or adjustment
WAS necessary in the entire eos miles.
Ronds Need Improving.
Those OF the party, while reporting
no serious mishaps were not so fortu-
nate nor quite SO speedy. Several
tires were lost and other slight hold
ups occurred. Indeed, the trip was
not made purposey in a hurry. Gull
pepper was reached Monday night, and
everybody rested there before journey
Ing on. The start TO Richmond was
made yesterday morning. and but for
the heavy roads the run would have
been completed on time.
Much good has been already ACCOM-
piished. Colonel McNair. Captain Will
son. Mr.. Elliott and Mr.. Sargent all
made copious notes. and these will be
put into such form as will prove OF
most value to prospective travellers
Tho one unpleasant happening came
at Culpeper. when a citizen of the coun-
~ caused the arrest of Lee A. Folger,
charging him with frightening his
horse The story told by Mr. Folper
and corroborated by all of the officials
riding in his car. is to the effect that
the car was going about eight miles
an hour when the complainant held
that his horse became frightened. This
was testified to before the magistrate
trying the. case. but despite all fine
OF SIS was imposed.
Had Good Time.
Everybody seemingly enjoyed the
trip. regardless OF the petty incon !.
vonierces and 1t is the opinion of those
who came TO Richmond that with com
peiatively small expenditure the high
way can be placed in excellent condi-
ton. Some spots were found TO be IN
particularly bad condition, and these
were especially noted One Of the
striking features along the road was
the reception received from the people.
Thcre was apparent, say the moiuhers
OF the party. none of the marked am
tipathy which was prevalent on pre-
vious trips.
The road covered was the same as
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