The Washington herald., 1911-11-05

This years Glidden tour is a thing Of
| the past, and, like every other automo-
bile tour ever held. had a double pur-
PoSe-lrst, to demonstrate the possibili-
ties of the automobile, and, secondly, to
awaken interest in good roads. Every
automobile tour that was a real tour
in any sense of the word always had as
part OF its route a stretch OF road that
was hardly anything more than a trail
through the woods wide enough for a
machine to get through.
The forefathers of the generation now
in occupancy of the land have been the
only ones to do any work on it, and that
was done when they cut the trees. SO as
to make the trail through the forest.
Some portions of the South are known
at the present time better by their alb
sence OF good roads than for anything
else, not barring their hospitality. In
other portions the highway improvement
work has been taken up in earnest, and
as a result of a few years effort these
sections boast of many miles of good
roads, CT which they are justly proud.
The Plan of Tour.
This years Gldden tour was sent from
New York to Jacksonville, Fla, with the
idea OF fostering the good roads move
ment between the metropolis OF the
North and the extreme Southern city Of
this country.
Florida has long been famed as a win
ter resort, and there are many who
spend the winter there that would like
to motor to and fro if the roads were in
condition. 1t was with this one idea in
mind, that of trying to arouse interest
enough along the route by the mere fact
of having a large caravan of automo-
biles pass through, to have the inhab-
itants construct passable highways.
This years Glidden proved that a ma
chine could get through, but that was
about all. Weather conditions were ideal
until the party left the good road at
Staunton. Va. and from there on to
Atlanta the trip was made in a rain
storm and over roads none too good at
the best but which were seas of mud
after the rains Judging from the re-
ports of the contest. bridges were as
much OF a curiosity in that section as
they are in a particular county of Vir-
ginia, which a few years ago, when
questioned, stated they owned twenty
four bridges outright and had a half
interest in two more. A trip over the
roads Of the county failed to reveal more
than two, however.
The people Of a certain section OF the
South seem to fail to realize that good
roads are the greatest blessing they
could have. Not only would they AFFORD
them a better means of communication
in getting to and from market, but would
open up the community to the outside
world as we'll. Railroads do much to
open up a country, or rather did in the
days before the automobile became popu-
lar. To-day, however, II a party is de-
sirous of seeing the country, they make
it a point to travel by motor car, stop
ping when and where they please. This
class of people are possessed of means.
and they do not hesitate in spending It.
Many a country hotel that was on Its
last legs a few years ago is now a
fiourishing institution.
As Real Estate Aid.
The motorist took a fancy to 1t, told
his friends, and one and all they pat
ronize 1t. The same way, a piece of
property that refused to raise a crop,
but which was on a Commanding emf
nence, has brought many times what its
owner ever dreamed he could obtain for
it simply because some man with money
who had an automobile took a fancy to
home. 1t sounds like a fairy dream to
say that the automobile has done all
this for the country but real estate men
and others who are in a position to
know wnat they are talking about will
verify the statement. In the wake OF
the automobile prosperity follows.
There are certain sections Of the South
where prosperity could come and be well
coined with open arms. The country
01f "a hnf he to
not fertile, and the present occupants
have neither money nor the inclination
to purchase fertilizer for II. With good
roads this property would enhance in
value until 1t would more than pay to
till it properly.
More Work Needed.
1t remains to be seen whether or not
the GlIdden tour will produce the fruit
expected of it. The endurance run given
q year ago by the New York Herald
Atlanta Journal over what is known as
the National Highway was over more
than half of the same route trayersed
by 'the participants in this last run.
Those who were on that run and also
in this one just concluded say that some
little good was done, but not much II
is to be hoped that those who live along
the route or adjacent to 1t will do some
thing to better their highway conditions.
If those who have no direct interest in |
the work are willing to lend all the aid |
in their power to the movement It is
no more than right that those who will |
directly benefit by 1t should do much |
toward fostering the work. II they do |
not understand roadbuilding. their engi- |
neers will be afforded the opportunity |
to learn at the good roads convention |
to be held in Richmond. Va, the last |
OF this month. Road engineers from all
over the country win be on hand TO |
discuss this subject, and practical models |
OF portions OF roads best suited to diff /
fsrent portions OF the country win also |
be on exhibition, and one and all be |
given ample opportunity TO study and |
have this subject explained In detail to
them !