Arizona republican., 1913-01-19
AUTO TRIP ID
 SAN FRANCISCO
c. T. Hirst Talks of Inter- esting Motor Voyage Last Summer, Which Proves Cheapest and Best Way to Travel is by Auto
lRx c. [, Hirst.l

credit, having proved its overland ability by trip here from Albu- querque, N NJ, via Fl Paso. We wen to Agua Caliente, the first night in a little over six hours The roads from here to Agua Caliepte are good. 4 small amount of money expended Judiciously would make it possible to travel the ninety three miles in four 10 five hours
 The second day we went to Yuma by way of Castle Dome. which is perhaps thirty-five miles longer than the road would he if there was a little work done om Palomas to the river. SD the new road by way of the proposed bridge across the Gila, could be opened up.
 The only bad road on this stretch is that crossing the GiIa river at Dome, eighteen miles this side of Yuma The l14 miles was made in about seven hours. At Yuma, I had arranged for ca.~ to ship my ma chine to Banning, but upon talking with pr. Ketcherside and others, 1 decided to go by way of Imperial Valley and through San Diego. It would have cost $75 to ship the ma chine and pay our car fare from Yuma to Banning. while the cost of the entire trip. hottel' bill and saso- line, and all other expenses, fpm the time we left Phoenix on Tuesday morning, July 22, until we arrived in San Diego Saturday, July 26. was only $4S.
 The distance from Phoenix to Yuma is 432 miles, but our mileage was over 500, due to our side trip to the Imperial valley. The Blythe route from Phoenix to Los Angeles is 4464. but after trying both doutes, if making the trip again, l would pre- fer to go to Los Angeles by way of San Diego although the distance is 565 miles. This will be reduced to 49O miles. however. when the new cut-offs now projected are complete.
 From Yuma to Fl Centro. by the present road is about 100 miles. There is road going direct: in fact. this road was travelled by some of the racing cars last fall, reducing this stretch to fifty-five or sixty miles.
 We spent Friday. the 25th, looking ever the Imperial Valley. On Satur- day we went to San Diego, a distance Of 125 miles. In the first thirty miles the-e are stretches of heavy sand. then we entered Devils Canyon, which had been pictured to us con- taining a very bad mountain road. In the canyon we wondered when we were going to strike the bad road. hut were agreeably surprised not to Ho.I dc ix, hfc stretch.
 From Mountain Springs. at the head of Devils Canyon, to San Diego, is most delightful road. l am very glad to learn that our state and county officials are working in con- junction with the Southern California counties, and especially Imperial and San Diego to make this d first-class automobile road, by improving the bad places of which I have already spoken, and bridging the Gila and possibly the Colorado rivers. When this is accomplished, one can start from Phoenix in the morning. stay nil night in Yuma, and the next right be in San Diego, with no harder trip than we very often make here.
 After staying in La JoIla and San Diego for about three weeks we went tc Whittier. near Los Angeles, and from there took a number of side trips around Southern California Southern California has d great many miles of splendid roads and is spend ing immense sums of money for maintenance and construction I'm provements are largely due to the ef- forts of the Southern California Au- tomobile Association.
 About the 20th of August We started to San Francisco by way oi the coast road. "El Canino Real This is most delightful trip. There are a great many different grades but generally the road is kept in gooc condition. It goes through some of tht finest scenery in California anC passes a large number of the old mis- sions, which are always full of in terest. We visited almost all the missions from San Diego to Sar Francisco. The most beautiful stretch of road was that between Santa Cru and San Jose. Over the pass at thi. point is a very heavy forest of red wood trees and one of the fines mountain roads imaginable. Thor are some deep canyons, but only ono, in awhile is it possible to see dowr into them on account of the heav! timber and undergrowth, largely 0 ferns.
 Of course. San Francisco, Oakland and Berkeley are always enjoyable if it is not too cold. We foun' these places during our stay very de lightful. the trip through the Colder Gate being particularly pleasing. Tn site of the Panama Pacific Exposition is already being prepared for tha event
 Our return trip was made througl the San Joaquin Valley. Last yea being an especially dry one. a grea rart of this valley did not look yer prosperous. but there are spots tha are very rich.
 Between Bakersfield and Los An geles we came by way of Tehachap Pass. This is the only place on tn entire trip that there are any yer. heavy grades, and I think we climbe some hills on at least a 25 per cen grade.