The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-04-28


motorists to know that the roads be-
tween Richmond and the Valley via
Charlottesville are now IN condition
for touring. When 1 say lin condi-
ton" 1 do not mean that they are
In their best form. but to those who
40 not mind few ruts and an oc-
casional bump. a motor trip at this
season is most delightful.
Orchards and mountain arc a mass
OF green and blossom, and all nature
Is at her very best.
We left Richmond at noon Mon
day. April 10, via the Richmond Auto
mobile Club route. We found the
roads dry and for the most part good
The section between Chickahominy
River and Ground Squirrel Bridge.
which has heretofore been a bugbear
to motorists. ie in better shape than
ever before. and has been scraped up
recently. and with the exception of be-
ing little rutty might be called
good going. dare say. however,
that the traffic of the best week has
worn II down to a good. smooth sur
face. Most motorists know that a
new approach to Ground Squirrel
bridge has been effected, and the old
rad. which was always deep with
mud and water. has been abandoned
at this point. and the approach to the
| bridge is high and dry at all sea-
I sons.
Beyond this point We found all the
bad places which were dreaded by
the tourists last season had been I'm
proved as far as Cuckoo.
| Instead OF following the Auto Club
route from Cuckoo to Louisa we took
the route via. Mineral. but after pass
Ing Mineral we wished that We had
gone the other way. From Mineral
TO the old route the roads We're rough
| muddy and in bad repair, but not
dangerous. and the big Kline Kar
Z pulled up IN front of the Louisa
Hotel at 2:45 P. M. having made the
! journey to this point in exactly two
good touring time at any season.
! And Just a word hero about the
hotel at Louisa. Tourists have al
ways been accorded courteous treat
ment at this place, and no matter
what the hour a good meal was al
ways to be had on short notice, and
thi slime was no exception. Although
Mr.. Dickerson. the former landlord
was moving out and a new landlord
was moving In, the Kline Kar party
were Given a royal welcome and a
| good dinner.
| Leaving Louisa we found the roads
3
! of this stretch had been graveled
since last season and tho wet places
| drained. and beyond this point to
/ Whitlooks and most to be complain ed
/ OF moro ruts cut by wagons while
tho road was wet and which had not
yet been worn down to n smooth sur
face.
From Whitlooks to Charlottesville
the road was as good as 1 have ever
seen 1t. and the big six sixty Kline
| Kar halted in front OF the Now Glea-
son Hotel a few minutes before six
o'clock, having made the run In less
than flve hours, running time which
Is by on means a, record run, but is
good average touring time And by
the way. the New Gleason. since be-
Ing rebuilt. is very comfortable
\ house, with good rooms, good beds
| splendid baths and excellent manage
ment- The tourist will be we'll sat
isfied with an overnight stop at the
| Gleason.
1t rained very hard Monday night
and early Tuesday morning, but on
TTesday afternoon, the sixteenth, we
pointed the nose of the big Kllno Kar
| towards LynchburG, and for several
miles we had very good going, but
the roads got worse and worse due
to q hard winter and recent heavy
rains. In many places the mud was
hub deep and some OF the hills by
this route arc very steep and crooked.
| and at this season this route to
Lynchburg cannot be recommended.
From Lynchburg to Roanoke we had
good going with the exception of a
few rough places, which will smooth
up in fine shape with a few days
traffic. There are two fords on this
road which are quite deep. although
not wide, and after a. rain 1t might
be necessary to cover the radiator
with raincoat or a side curtain to
prevent the water from flooding the
motor. We reached Roanoke comfor-
tably, averaging about twenty miles
an hour for the trip.
The road from Roanoke TO Natu-
raj Bridge is In excellent shape. but
spell Of wet weather could change
the condition Of some portions of 1t
between tho Bridge and Buchanan so
that 1t might be disagreeable going
but not dangerous. The road between
Staunton and Natural Bridge is re-
ported as being in good shape for
this season of the year. and 1t is my
! belief that an enthusiastic motorist
may now begin his week end tours
in almost any direction with great
deal Of satisfaction.
Battling its way from Los Angeles
to New York across the desert sands
Of the Southwest, the plains Of the
Central West. the rolling country of
the Mississippi Valley and the mount
ainous country of the Alleghanies and
the Rockies. the Case $50" Ocean to
Ocean car Is nearing It's goal. The
car Ia piloted by Harvey Herrick, tho
worlds road racing champion.
~wild Bob" Burman, the worlds
speed king. not only intends to hold
his prestige on the rack, but seems
DESTROYS Of maintaining his reputa-
tton on the road. For this rosson the
Clark-Carter Automobile Company OF