New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-01-04
ASKS MOTORISTS
TO AVOID RUTS
AND SAVE ROADS
Carelessness in Use of Highway
Detracts from Joys of
AutomObiling.
EVIL A WIDESPREAD ONE
Head of Case Company Tells of
Some Glaring Examples on
Western Tour.
BY i. Il. BI LI=CASL.


Have you ever stopped 10 think that
you. Mr.. Automobile owner. can do d
lot TO help along the good roads move
ment and preserve the surface of the
highways without so much as donating a
cent toward their upkeep?
! do not mean that you are to he eX-
empt from doing your share toward help
ing to solve the problem Of good roads,
for the future great advantage of the
gasolene propelled vehicle will lie in the
pleasures and business advantages gained
in travelling from town to town. city 10
city and state to state.
In this article I have been asked to
deal with the touring motorist who
knows not the meaning of the word
economy in using country roads. Or /
might better put it by saying that have
been asked to call the attention of the
automobile owner and truck driver to
! their lack of appreciation Of good roads.
When an automobile owner or driver
strikes a piece of bad road he surely re-
allies il and either expresses or feels dis
satisfaction. Very often. however. others
of his kind are responsible for its condi-
ton
For the year of 1914 why not make
resolution that you will do your little
share toward preserving the good roads
and helping the bad ones?
The first and most important lesson IN
preservation Of the highways is found in
the motto adopted by one Of the good
roads clubs in Texas Don't Drive in
the Rut.''
Examples innumerable In all parts of
the country might be recited in this aru-
Gle where fine pieces of highway or
( trans state road in It's entirety has been
destroyed by Automobiles who persist
in travelling on exactly the same lines
as the other fellow.
| How often have you seen a well oiled
country road in fairly good condition or
a new section of highway just built be-
come almost impossible by constant
usage of rut that was first marked by
| the initial car to travel over II.
Last fall ! made a trip from Racine
Wis, to San Francisco. TO test out three
new touring models and to inspect the
| country highways in the Northwest. On
| several occasions / ran over stretches OF
road that would be to-day as fine as any
| in the country had the tourist or driver
OF the gasolene-propelled vehicle. as well
as the resident OF the rural district VINO
still swears by his horse and buggy. cared
10 exercise economy In the use OF the
highway placed at his disposal by the
county or state, or, In some instances
by residents along the road.
| recall wildly one piece Of road on the
Pacific Coast. where the ruts were as deep
as the rails OF a steam road arc high. and
worn as though they were moulded there.
| Each tourist who came along, and there
are thousands OF them every year in that
section. had followed right in the path
of the original car, and what should have
been one Of the best sections OF highway
we travelled over in our 1000 mile trip
was consequently all but impossible.
Almost without an exception every piece
OF good road In the country is sooner or
later destroyed by this same carelessness
on the part OF the owner or his chauffeur.
Six inches of road that is often twelve
feet wide is called upon 10 stand the
strain OF all the machines that pass
over IT,
After these ruts are started and the sur
face has been broken through, the chuck
holes and dust holes come, and in rainy
seasons you have the water 10 contend
WITH which softens the surface and de-
creases the efficiency of the material used
! in making the road.
Don't drive in the rut' would be
splendid motto Cor all motorists to adopt
and then live up TO. II would save mill
ions Of dollars annually In the building OF
roads, increase the pleasures Of the tour
IS, many fold, and In the end sshe the
automobile.