The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1912-08-21
FROM COLUMBIA TO
THE MOUNTAINS
Best Routes Of Travelling by Automo.
bile from the Capital City up this

wv. w. Bali In Columbia State)
BY the first (route) one crosses the
Congaree at the foot of Gervais street
thence goes to Lexington court house
and thence to Leesville, following the
line of the Charlotte, Columbia &
Augusta railroad 20 miles. At Lees
Vile road to the right hand Is taken
to point two miles from Cherokee
bridge over the Saluda river in Sa-
luda county. Then country or
neighborhood road is followed to the
bridge where the river Is crossed and
another main highway is entered that
leads to Prosperity. The distance from
Leesville to Prosperity is said to be
"a miles. Two years ago this was an
excellent road, speaking generally, bar
ring the two miles of neighborhood
road mentioned, and that short trip
is not wicked.
The second route is the same as the
first from Columbia to Lexington.
"here one takes a road to the right,
crossing Saluda river by bridge com
pleted little more than year ago
and thence leading to Chaplin, on the
Columbia, Newberry C Laurens rail-
road. This was the popular route last
summer, and the road between Lexing-
ton and Chaplin was in excellent condi-
tion.
The third and most direct route IS
fhn ND,Ir
river by the covered bridge" three
miles north Of Columbia, and then the
O., N. & l.. railroad (though not in
sight of iD to Spring HILL 81 miles
from Columbia and thence three miles
to Chaplin. The distance to Chapin by
way of Lexington is probably five or
six miles greater. The distance to
Prosperity by this route is about 35
miles-or IS miles shorter than by
the Leesville route.
AT Prosperity, another league be-
yond, the speedway of Newberry coun
ty is reached, a 4O-foot wide, graded
road, ditched on both sides, smooth
and hard For ten miles into New
berry 1t Is easily the best stretch of
the whole trip, and one may travel
almost to the speed capacity of his car
If one wishes. One should not SO
wish
We leave Newberry at 4 p. m. and
make the frst ten miles to Gary's
Lane. In few minutes. Then up to
Goldville the holes are more FREQUENT.
but the road is fair. One must keen
an eye peeled always and everywhere
for the holes in these good roads. We
stop for few minutes at Clinton and
then three miles north of Clinton there
has been heavy shower. The chains
must be put on again. We drive into
Laurens at 6:15, distance from New
berry 81 miles, running time exclusive
OF stops, about one hour and fifty min
utes. Laurens has a first class repair
shop and garage, conducted by w. p.
Hudgens, and his charges are moderate.
Our disabled inner tubes and speed
ometer are promptly mended.
Next morning we leave at 8:15, the
81 miles to Greenville being the best
In the up-country for that distance.
ridge road with all water courses
bridged or culverted. At one place
In the neighborhood OF Simpsonyille
there is fill that is rather heavy and
would present problem perhaps in
dirty weather. We run into Greenville
at 1915 (eXactly two hours from
Laurens) and ice cream Is found for
my guests, who are independent
young persons and take care of them
selves while inquire about the roads,
increase my store of misgivings, have
the cars clutch washed out and buy
gasoline at 20 cents gallon.
In Newberry and Greenville coun-
ties they combine mile stones with
business directories. On a square pill
lar made Of planks, about five feet high
and aving little umbrella-like roof,
painted white, the miles to town are
marked plainly, and on the sides are
advertisements of merchants and
bankers. OF course these markers are
maintained by the advertisers.