The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-05-19
CALLS FOR MAIN
HIGHWAYS FIRST
GEORGE G. DIEHL POINTS OFT
METHODS no AID GOOD ROADS
MOVEMENT
SEEING THE COUNTRY
EVERY TOURIST BECOMES tDvo-
CATE ron BETTER HIGH
WAYS WHEN HE
TRAVELS.
SEEING THE COUNTRY
(By George C. Diehl. Chairman y. y
A. Good Roads Board.)

Z ~ NICOu isbots iPt0ft.}
Several purposes are served By FIRST
/ building through routes between i'm
portant points or popul2us centers. One
is the arousing Of public sentiment to
the necessity Of better roads. Another
/ is the accommodation of the constantly
! increasing motor traffic. and the con-
seuuent advertisement of the resources
Of the regions through which they
pass. stu another is the broadening
of the economic feature Of our pro-
gresstye civilization. IN that the peo-
pie of each section Of the country are
getting better acquainted with the
| others.
/ A noted newspaper man and writer
! Colonel +. DOMAIN. formerly of the
Confederate army some year ago
stated that the War Between the States
| WAS a ''latitudinal controversy. AT
the Same time he stated that the then
existing poverty. and lack OF develop
| ment for want of capital Ia sections
OF the West. was an disqualification OF
| 'lonsitudinal ignorance. Had the
! colonel lived to see the present devei-
| opment Of automobiles and the con-
| sequent Interchange of traffic between
! the different sections of the country.
\ he would have hailed it as a forerun-
ner of the millennium in the United
States. when all its peoples should
know and appreciate each other.
Prairie Yacht Tour.
| Twenty years ago Uncle Rufus
| Hatch, Wall Street multi millionaire
and veteran Western railroad builder.
advised his friends and others to ac-
auire a prairie yacht in the form OF
~ a,1 salx in. H.
ktcs Of this country instead of an
nually attempting 10 secure tan
| hold on foreign nobility through the
/ blowing of good American dollars
These two men had an intellectual
| grasp of conditions. which may be
| looked upon almost in the light of pro
| phecy. Both passed away when motor
| traffic was in its very early stages. and
| before the touring car. In its present
/! condition of usefulness was thought OF
/ Now the legends OF ''latitudinal con-
! trovcrsy" are becoming forgotten and
the longitudinal ignorance" Is beeom-
ing dispelled through the operation OF
Yachts which will not only traverse
+! prairies. but climb mountains. and
| make a trip from ocean to ocean
, pleasure iaunt. with benefit not only to
the travellers. but TO the people of the
localities through which they pass.
The touring traffic has great rctsni-
iicGtions. Every automobilist, one time
or another. in whatever section of the
country he may live. becomes a tourist.
and the comfort of tourists depends
on the excellence of the roads. Con
seauently. every motorist is good
roads advocate. Every other man who
possesses reasonable intelligence be-
comes a good roads advocate as soon
RS he begins 10 compute the cost OF
the use of roads which are not good
Appreciated in New England.
The benefits to accrue to the general
public from through or trunk lines of
road seem To have been first appre-
eiated by the thrifty people Of the
New England States. and they began
some wears ago to build roads reach
ing TO the principal centers of popu
lation and TO various summer resorts.
These roads were built and are now
being extended under the direction OF
the State authorities. and in whole or
in part at State expense. They ac-
commodate a heavy traffic, both local
and general. and add greatly to the
commercial activity of the States
through which they pass. Other East
ern States are following their example.
The economic logic of the situation
demands that these translate and
other extended highways be built UNI
der the supervision of State off ciais,
and either in whole or in part at State
expense: also. that their maintenance
be p matter of state supervision.
The whole State is benefited by the
advertising which such a road gives
! The people of the cities. who pay a
fair share of the State taxes. are
among those who use such main lines
and thus get their moneys worth
The business interests of the people
OF the whole State. the valuation of
real property. the welfare of the cit
izenship. al! are enchanced by the
construction OF main line roads. II
4 huiEt assa sfpa iatnines gssyasr Sta tn ssx
pervtsiou uniformity OF excellence
is achieved which is one of the chief
charms of good road.
a. A. A. Trail to Sunset" Route,
Ninety strip maps are included in
the 1912 addition of the A. A. A Trail
to Sunset route just issued by the
American Automobile association from
its National Touring bureau at 437
Fifth avenue. New York City The
complete route from Chicago to Los
! Angeles. including Santa Fee Trail. and
thence to San Francisco. contains all
necessary Information with ciearness
and accuracy. embracing turns. forks
landmarks, and railroad crossings
The frst edition OF year ago con-
tanned only 65 maps and concluded at
Los Angeles.
In addition To going through to
San Francisco, the new addition has
two complete routes between Phoenix
and Los Angeles, the new one by
/ Yuma, the Imperial valley, and San
Diego. The 1912 book also contains
all the corrections noted by A. L.
Wes'Gard A. A. A. official field rep
resentative, on his third trip across
last fall. Among the improvements