The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1913-11-27

but were not interfered with. regard
less of numerous warnings We had
received. and reports of other tour
lists being stopped. On through Trim
idad and We finally climbed above the
fog onto the Ration Pass, over a hne
but narrow road with easy grades,
running for several miles practically
on top of the range, affording views
first to right, then to left, of noun
tain tops. finally coming in sight of
Ration directly beneath us and the
road looping down the mountainside
so that six tracks could be counted
below us, and turning down the crest
we threw the gears into second
threw off the spark and with an easy
touch on the brake slid for perhaps
two miles down hill into Ration, the
gate city of New Mexico. Here,
while getting supplies, lady stepped
to the side of our car and saying she
noticed our pennants, wondered II
possibly we knew her brother Ben
Snyder of 0skaloosa. So 1t is in
most places, the pennants bring Iowa
people to the car for a chat.
Here in New Mexico we notice a
difference in roads. We are follow.
ing closely the old Santa Fe trail
sometimes for several miles right be
side our trail is the old grass grown
trail, often four. five or six of them
each grooved we'll down into the dry
soil before being abandoned and a
new track made at the side and our
roads are often, trails only, also for
the first they are fenced and provid
ed with gates and as the auto driver
does not like to. stop for a gate they
have invented an automobile gate,
They are like the old style pit cattle
guard on the railway but minus the
cross ties. You come up to them
and run the beams across the pits
It's all right, but don't go too fast
and be sure to hit the track
Between Wagon-Mound and Wat
rous We passed over q canyon of bare
lava rock and through several miles
covered by dark, lightweight, porous
appearing stones, take to be vol
canic cinders or scoriae. At Wat
rous we took the wrong road out OF
town. drove some three or four miles
out before uetecting our error from
the guide book, and over the worst
road We have seen yet; bare lime
stone hills. BY inquiring at a ranch
we were able to cross back onto the
right road and at the end of ter
mile drive we found ourselves about
four miles on the right road from
w g we lost it. We have been
dr.. ng by the blue Book" and this
is the first time we have even been
a quarter mile off our track. Neither
have we had to inquire the way ex
cept as a check on the accuracy Of
the routing until reaching New Mex
leo. Here they have been changing
the routes some, building bridges,
and marking routes, preparing Tor
the 1915 tourist traffic We have
had good luck so far, have only had
to change one tire on the road and al
are in good shape and car, running
perfectly, While we have made
about hall of otir trip, our odometel
shows over 1900 miles and we still
have LOO, side trips making the bal
ance. We are just beginning the
part | dread, but we will not be
alone. The garages report from one
to six cars every day. We are
camped beside a Mr.. Clark of Cleve
land, Ohio, who is laying up for re
pairs. II he gets out tomorrow we
will probably go on together. II not
will try and get in with some one
for company at albuquerque.
If this escapes the waste basket !
will try and write some regarding
the balance of the trip when we get
through.--A. l.. RICE.