The Washington herald., 1912-09-15
GASOLINE GOSSIP SPARK PLUG.
ENGLISH MOTOR
AUTHORITY'S VIEWS
Millions of Motor Cars Will Be in
Use Here Soon-Tourists May
Flock to This Country.
LACK OF GOOD ROADS DRAWBACK

The absence of good roads is the one
great drawback which prevents the
United States and Canada from being
widely known among the motorists OF
the world, is the assertion made by Lord
rent number of Great Britains leading
motoring publication.
Lord Montagu recently returned to
London after tour of several weeks in
this country, and believes that good
roads will eventually be built, and that
there is no reason why the number of
automobiles used In North America
should not run into the millions. With
improved highways, this British author
ity. who has evidently made a careful
study Of the situation, predicts that Eu-
ropean tourists will flock to this country
and enjoy its scenic beauties.
Automobiles and other users Of the
highways will read with interest Lord
Montagu's views, as expressed in his re-
cent review of touring conditions here:
The influence OF bad roads upon Amer
lean automobilism is seen in the fact that
the clearance between the ground and
the lowest point of the chassis has to
be greater than in Europe, and the extra
wear and tear on the machinery occa-
stoned by holes. ruts, and boulders Is
greater. leading to greater strength be-
ing needed In certain directions. Even
in the bigger cities the driver has to be
always on the qui vive. for any street
may be found full of holes and gaping
ruts. Therefore, refinement in springs
or any really good bodywork Is almost
impossible. owing to the wear and tear
occasioned by these fesrfully uneven sur
faces. The greatest street surface de-
stroyers are the tramways, whose per-
manent way Is generally shockingly
maintained.
''As yet the American and Canadian
privately owned automobile Is mostly
used as a pleasure vehicle. and for little
else and not SO much for utilitarian pur-
poses as in Great Britain or Europe as
a whole. In the towns the absence. as a
rule, of horse-drawn cabs or taxicabs
to be hired at a reasonable price has led
to the extended use OF private vehicles
instead. Touring on a large scale Is i'm
possible, owing TO the absence of good
roads, but everywhere / found the desire
to tour and efforts being made to find
out where touring could take place.
And last, but not least. there Is a
great lack OF reliable Information as to
the country as whole. and no good
maps are yet available for use. except
of districts near the larger towns. The
Official Blue Book. published in New
York, Is the best guide as regards road
information. but naturally a continent
5000 miles east and west by 1000 north
and south has not been yet charted or
explored from a road point Of view.
But road information and the other
requisites OF touring are steadily grow
ing. and before long touring in America
in a motor car will be as common as It
is in Europe. So far, automobilism in
American and Canadian cities has had
to fight an uphill battle against the
strong influence OF the tramway, which
in some cases is not only urban but
suburban. and even rural in character.
Tramcars go into districts far beyond
the suburbs, and in many cases along
roads which are almost impossible for
other vehicles. In fact, the tramways
are really ordinary electric railways in
most cases. and their monopoly hitherto
of transportation is difficult to break
down. In course OF time. no doubt these
conditions will change. and highway au-
thorities will make these railways do
their duty and carry out the terms Of
their contracts as regards road repair:
for at present a great deal of the bad
ness OF urban and suburban roads is due
to the street railways. and In time the
motor omnibus will come as well. and
then the fun will begin"