The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-04-15
GOOD ROADS AND MOTORING


In deciding upon New Orleans as
the terminus for Its annual national
reliability tour the American Auto
mobile Association had in mind the
further accelerating Of the good roads
movement in the South, which. with
its employment Of conv.ets and a
general realization of the great value
OF improved highways, has been out
stripping other sections OF the coun-
try In roads building. The Northern
city which shall serve as the start
ing place Of the tour has not yet
been selected. but of several men
toned. the most prominent are In
dianapoiis. Detroit and Chicago,
though beginning at Minneapolis
and st. Paul Is looked upon with
favor.
While a pronounced effort was
made to have this years route from
the Twin Cities to Seattle or Port
land, the concensus of opinion was
that year hence would find that
route in more travelable condition,
and, Furthermore, by that time the
effort TO open Yellowstone Park -
motor-driven vehicles undoubtedly
will have proven successful.
Colonel Frank NJ. Joyce. first vice
president OF the A.. A. A. recently
made a trip from New Orleans to
Panama in order to learn IL 1t would
be possible to have supplementary
trip in automobiles across the 18TH
mus. The verdict was unfavorabIe.
and II is doubtful il those who take
the steamer to the isthmus after the
conclusion at New Orleans, will be
accompanied by their motor-driven
vehicles. Uncle Sam has yet to pro-
vide a real highway paralleling the
canal.
Chairman Longstreth of the Tour
ing Information Board, which this
year will have charge OF the tour,
owing to its evident good roads char
acter. has had half dozen offers in
connection with the pathfiinding trip.
The plan followed will undoubtedly
be meeting in New York to which
all applicants will be invited, and at
tina: time the award Will be made to
the successful bidder.
At the recent special session of the
Maine Legislature a resolution was
passed almost unanimously for
road bond amendment to the State
Constitution, to be voted on by the
people at a special election in Sep
TENDER. The plan Is that proposed
by Lyman II. Nelson. of Portland. a
prominent member Of the A. A. A.
bond issue Is along entirely new lines
and involves the capitalization OF the
annual registration ana other, auto
mobile fees, which fees are to be used
10 pay the interest and provide a
sinking fund for the $2,OOO,O00 of
road bonds In this way the money
may he spent in Improving the roads
at once. without any increase in tax
alton.
The farmers favor the measure be
cause it IL an improvement for which
they do not have to pay, and the
automobiles favor 1t because It as
sures early road improvement. and
the expenditure Of automobile funds
where they belong, on the highways
The constitutional amendment.
which requires two-thirds vote Of
tao people to carry. is made neceS
sary by tho fact that the State limit
of Indebtedness. 100000, has not
been changed since the State was ad-
mitted in 1920.
The success Of the measure was
due largely to the work OF the State
Automobile Association. OF which W.
B. Parker is president. The associa-
ton will also carry forward an edu-
cational campaign explaining the
measure TO voters, during the sum-
mer.
Under the new automobile law the
fees for resident motorists are as
follows: Cars OF c0-horse power or
under, IS; 2o-horse power to and
including 35-horse power. $40: cars
over 35-horse power. s15: motor
trucks tany power). $40; motor
cycles. So; manufacturers and deal
ers, s25.
Tho nonresident is given thirty
days, but beyond that period he is
expected to contribute to the States
good roads funds.
The fine American motor car Is
quite as stable machine as any OF
European makes--in fact, IT Is push
ing European cars hard in their own
territory. One reason for this a. no
doubt. the habit the American build
er Of anything mechanical has OF
looking ahead. rather than trying
simply to meet the moments need.
There is a great difference among
Americans inventors. of course. Only
a few years ago, nearly every motor
car showed distinct changes In model
from season to season. Some OF the
younger makes still do. But the cars
that have been out long enough to
be fully developed. appear with the
same models year after year, except
for minor refinements or additions to
equipment. OF the three Stevens
Duryea models for 1912. for instance
two are like the 1911 cars precisely.
and the other Is different only in
small things.