The Blackfoot optimist. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1907-1918, 1913-05-22
AUTOMOBILE. TAX LAW
STRINGENT IN PROVISIONS
Combination Interstate Tours

Combination interstate tours which
include both motor vehicles and rail-
road trains are feature Of the pres
ent year, accounted for by the growing
desire Of the average American to see
more OF his own country in q limited
space Of time
There are various reasons for this
PLAN" comments Chairman Howard
Longstreth of the A. A. A. Touring
Information Board, 1.-THE principal one
Of which is that our disconnected
state road systems do not permit the
continuous travel possible in Europe
rtrOm one country to another. But we
are making steady advance, and in
the next decade will have made sub
stantial progress towards q compre-
hensive countrywide network Of inter-
state roads. Another thing that ex-
plains the combination tour is the de-
sire first to see the country'sl wonder
lands, which calls for the shipment
of the automobile, or it's driving to
the section Of the country visited,
without it's complement of passengers,
who, both for comfort and lack of
time, frequently prefer to take the
railroad journey"
It is a certainty, however, that this
year will see more transcontinental-
lists than ever before. A. A. A. men,
bers who are planning tours across
the continent this summer will be in
terested to know that those vital
portions of the midland Trail in
western Colorado and eastern Utah
are being rapidly improved in tn,
crossing to the Pacific coast through
the heart Of the Rockies. When the
A. A. A. pathfinder last fall blazed
the way from Denver through Glen
wood Springs, Grand Junction, and
Green River to Salt Lake City, many
difficulties were encountered, and the, e
was then some doubt as to whether
or not that route could be depended
upon for 1913 travel That doubt is
now being removed through liberia
appropriations by the Colorado legis
lature, and the enterprise Of the CT
ties and towns along the line.
The total sums now available for
road work in Colorado alone exceed
at this time two and half million
dollars. The new state highway COM
missioner, Mr.. Ehrhart, recently gave
assurance that the commission was
in hearty sympathy with the Midland
Trail movement, and would exert ev-
cry effort to put this route in first
class shape before the first of July
Actual road building is now being
carried on in every county in Colo
RADIO and Utah through which this
road passes; and furthermore Mr., Ehr-
hart assures the Midland Trail Asso-
citation that the stretch between
Kremmling and Wolcott will be built
at once. Grand and Garfield coun-
ties have camps of convicts.
Utah commissioners have been over
the route with their engineers, an0
the 14O miles between the state lin,
and Green River will be taken care
Of, utilizing about 80 miles of the old
railroad grade. The first county
Utah, Grand, already has fifty teams
and a large number of men at work
on it's portion of the route. 1
which this trail will pass, are enthus-
iastic over the project, and have no
only guaranteed their hearty support,
but have made the necessary approprl-
atoms. A gang of men are working
in Price Canyon at Castle Gate, and
the people Of that county guarantee
that they will have the canyon roa
in shape by the middle Of July. Here
tOfore it has been necessary to make
q 55-mile detour al there was no ROAD
through this 16-mile canyon. How
ever, the longer way around throut
Castledale will be in fine shape
the middle Of July: SO If necessar,
the tourist can go that way.
BY the Mode o. July me states
of Colorado and Utah will give the
world an example Of the most rapiL
piece of road building ever attempted
for like distance.