The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-11-03
Motoring Notes,
Good Roads News
and rade Matters

What VIII supply q wEstgTuHfost link
- La asssa at ihe Ia mental hi@slv
way routes Ia about To be constructed
IN tyseson along the south bank OF the
Columbia river. The proposed con-
srruction OF this road IS of interest
espe cialiy in connection with the de-
nland for federal aid in highway con-
struction, " n4cB Is particularly insis~
tent in the northwest. UuueF any plan
eH fetIeFaI AID Involving et.tfs's siss-
ton OF system Of national highways,
II In entirely PROBABLE that the route
1hluag'1 Montana and Idaho. and
thence 10 the coast via central oregon.
would vent0ally be included. Port
lana III setting Dut with the DETER
mination 10 make this PROBABILITY q
certainty by demonstrating the value
OF the DaiIas route.
The information al hand indicates
that work on the new read will be
begun at once. and that 1t may be COM
pieted within twelve months. The dis
tancc from Portland to the Dalles is
nearly 100 miles. Besides making
new short throagb line from east to
west through Moutsna and idaho, ifsis
road will provide practicable route
fsan Portland to san Francisco MA
tho Dalses, PrtneNiiie, BEND, SILVER
Lake, and LakfView, Oregon and Al
AT present 1t Is necessary to ship
automobile . by beat between Portland
and The Dales in order 10 make the
central Oregon trip. President w j.
Clemens, OF the Portland Automobile
club, and his fellow directors have
been working indefatigahiy for this
road. with samuel Hin. the well known
roads enthusiast. now "A resident OF
Portland. aiding materially in the ac-
complishment,
A great advantage of this improve
naent TO Portland will be to make that
city a separate traBScon1inentai ter
it In possible To the present time. Mhls
| in possible 10 travel by road all the
way from New York. Chicago. or st.
Paul TO the Dalles. the average trans
continental tourist disiikes 10 put his
car on a boat for the balance OF the
way and thus technically lose the
credit for a complete cross-counsry
trip In fact. II a good road were
constructed over this stretch--espee-
tally IL the road through Snoqualnaie
Pass IL not as promptly improsed--it
IL likely that lot of travel from the
East TO Seattle, by the general line or
the Northwest Trail" might go down
TO the Dalles to Portland. and up
through Tacoma to Seattle rather than
make the admittedly din cult and dan-
IA
In connection with tbs road through
Snoqualmie Pass, news comes that as
a result of the recent tour of fnspec-
ton by State Highway Commissioner
Roberts. OF washington, recommended
ton will be made to the next State
legislature that an appropriation or
$500.OE0 he made To build this high
way across the Cascade mountains.
According to Commissioner Roberts,
Snoqualmie Pass In the only feasible
one In. Washington. Ii IL more than
1000 feet lower thaa any other pass
across the Cascades. ia Ii crosses the
mountains at an elevation of 5000 feet,
while Stevens Pass is 4.06I feet, and
Matches Pass has an elevation of
t,S2s feet
This Question Puzzles.
The city officials wfa are guardians
Of public safety today faced puzzle
In the unique question of what the
regulations are relative TO the cleo
trio wiring OF automobiles.
In the electric wiring Of homes and
other buildings 1t II necessary that
the wires pass through conduits or
tubes that give positive protection TO
surrounding materials, and as far az
il known the same Is believed to be
true OF street cars and public utilities.
But IN view OF tHsSAaSt tudt many
makes OF automobiles this year are
equipped with electric lights and
electric self-cranking systems the
question arose as TO whether the auto
mobile electric wiring was to be
regulated A. were other things.
Upon investigation Of the different
I &ypes,acfs aatnmn hlles. IT, WAS learnad, /.
thar among those which had con-
sidered- this an important question m
advance or decisions Of esty officials
was the New Hudson "37." the cleo
Aric wiring OF which Ii protected
against the possibfiitv OF crossed wires
throughout by passing through con-
duits constructed OF asbestos. metal
and wood. SO that wherever wires
cross or pass through sectious at the
car ther8 II sure protection Wires
&rOm the dashboard 70 the battertep