The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-07-30
Motoring Notes,
Good Road News
and Trade Matters

THE experiences Of the transconti-
mental Alec along the route pursued
In Iowa can never be repeated by any
who may follow" writes Ernie t'ergu-
son. who is in charge OF the truck,
because many Of the bridges We
crossed will this year be replaced ty
concrete structures. with few IL any
wooden affairs left by the end OF next
year.
I'VE rebuilt, replanked and recon
structed times almost too c..en 10
count. We streng ,hened worn flooring
with planks. supported weak stringers
with boxes Of soap from our load and
held in place rotted or washed out
header beams with ten-ton jacks OF
block and tackle The applied details
of each method were varied as the
methods.
I'm the trip across the State over
500 bridges were examined and no
less than 100 got some kind OF at
tention. None of this would have been
necessary with a touring car. But
1t must be remembered that weight
was always against If For II touring
car a journey across this route Is ideal
under average weather conditions.
There are several sections that are
yet to be graveiled. Through these
during or Immediately after q rain
touring is best postponed for at least
part of day. 1t is a peculiar quality
Of the natural soil that when wet it
cakes into huge masses and at the same
time has a surface that ia as slippery
as grease 1t IL treacherous to walk
upon. even a light touring car is like
" to go crabwise rather than in a
forward direction. Tire chains are OF
little value because they Immediately
become filed and hen form the best
s"ri II foundation for huge masses
OF caksd clay.
However. there IL the redeeming
fentu"e that the roads rapidly dry ont.
Half day changes them back again.
making q most .ellghtful surface 10
cri.t over, especially where they are
In recnons that use the king log drag.
To these only familiar with construct
ell road surfaces ~ any kin1 any word
pnini'ng will fall 20 convey the difhcui-
ties O. driving over wet guubo road.
F.ef. those who hnve experienced IT
ir a touring car can hut family real
ize a heavy trucks difficulties.
IF one imagires AL asphalt read
covered with thres OF four inches OF
m, slightest greast, for the under eur
face of the Eurh road is hard. II Is
Il. top layer thai shines, then some
idea tan be hal Of what the Alec
truck encountered in three days of the
trip ccross Iowa
Many think Of Iowa AS fiat State,
an error soon corrected in crossing
from the Mississippi to the Missouri
river. Others think of the State as a
rolling prairie. term conveying to
the mind long gradual ups and downs.
Drive across II and there wifi be found
some OF the stiffest OF hills, with the
sharpest grades that ever came with
In KEN
In Land Of Evanseline.
The latest discovery in the field OF
remote and picturesque motor touring
routes has been made by II. +. Greene.
Of Amsterdam, N. Y, who with a party
OF four, penetrated the region cele-
hrated In Longfeilow's "Evangeline."
and traversed the forests Of Nova SEQ
tia. part OF the distance over roads
that are regarded as impossible In the
summer.
Starting from Yarmouth the party
visited the coast settlements, where
the French habftants retain the Gus
toms and traditions OF the eighteenth
century. A run through the Annapo-
lis valley brought the tourists to with
in few miles of the home of the
Arcadians.
At Port Mulgrave the car was fer
ried across to Cape Breton. The car,
"a Packard Six, carried the explorers
over old logging trails which the ma
tives looked upon as too rough and
rocky for horses and oxen.
In the interior puzzling state OF
affairs VAS encountered. Laws have
been enacted In several counties for
bidding automobiles to run on public
highways on certain days. The shock
suffered by the backwoods men and
their live stock on the infrcauent APP
pearance Of an automobile is too Sc
we're to be undergone except at times
set apart for such Dissertation OF the
solitude. Since there Is no way for
a tourist to learn the forbidden days,
he Is likely to be. stopped at any
turn of the road.
The party returned to the coast at
Portland. Me.
Grand Prize Race.
With the entry OF David Bruce
Brown heading the list OF drivers for
the Grand Prize race interest Is now
being stirred up in Milwaukee"s big
motto race meet Bruce Brown has
named his Fiat car. which won the
first leg Of the French Grand Prix.
number Of other famous pilots
are already. arranging for the big
Milwaukee, meet. Ralph De Palma.
who will arrive from Europe next
month. may be seen at the wheel OF
the Mercedes. with which he made
such sensational performance at In
dianapolis Erwin Bergdoli has entered
the Pabst Trophy and the Vanderbilt
Cup races and possibly may be . con-
tender in the Grand Prize.
r. @. Hewlett. Of Los Angeles, has
expressed = desire to Anter two Fiat