Evening star., 1914-07-19
CAR BEGINS JOURNEY
IN INTEREST Of ROADS
Starts From. Chicago and Will Go
Through Seven States to the
Pacific Coast.
Trip Is in Charge of G.. E. Minor
and H. w. Denis, Both Good
Roads Experts.

CHICAGO H. July lS-Starting
from this city yesterday. a good roads
car. representing the Society of Road
Standardization of America. began its
first journey in the interest of stand
ardized roads. The car is manned by
G. E. Minor. formerly connected with
the Old Trails Association. the Ma
tional Highways Association and the
Indiana Good Roads Association. and
H. W. Denis. also a good roads expert.
The initial trip will cover seven
states en- route from this city to the
Pacific coast. the termination of which
will be San Diego. Cal The states
through which the tourists pass are
Illinois, Missouri Kansas. Colorado,
Utah. Nevada and California. The
larger cities touched en- route will be
Springfield. ILL.,: ST. Louis. Mo-: Jeffer-
son City. Mo-; Kansas City, Mo-: To-
peka. kan; Denver, Colo; Salt Lake
City, Utah; Carson City. New: San
Francisco. Los Angeles and San Diego,
Cal
The start of the tour was made from
the city hall In q Cole motor car, the
gift of President J. ]. Cole of the In
dianapolis automobile factory which
bears his name. Mr.. Cole is deeply
interested in the question of good
roads throughout the country and in
mis- interest in most material manner.
To Map Principal Roads.
In speaking for the Society of Road
Standardization. Mr.. Minor stated that
it was the primal purpose to lay out,
map and log 10000 miles of the best
and most travelled roads in the United
states in such a manner that even a
child could understand and be able to
follow the road to whatever destina-
tfon was desired. The society,"" he
said. zig founded by men interested in
the subject of good roads in general
ticu!ar."
After service in three of the known
good roads Organizations of the country
Mr.. Minor is well prepared for the work
he has undertaken. 1t is his purpose to
have each days route put before the
chamber Of commerce or commercial club
of the various cities en- route for their
official approval He also expects to car
~ a delegation representing each city
throughout days journey. at the COM
pletion of which they will place their
stamp of approval on the work done.
We are beginning a work. said Mr..
Minor. just before leaving the city.
which We believe will do a great amount
Of good. When one stops to realize how
many miles Of highway there are in this
country it is rather appalling. There are
approximately 2.JOOOOO miles of high
ways in the United States. It Is the pur-
pose of the Society of Road Standardiza-
ton of America to map log and publish
series of guides of the roads which
cross and recross the country in as
speedy a manner as possible; the routes
designed to furnish the maximum of con-
venience and utility. while serving the
largest possible proportion of the popula-
ton of the territory through which the
highways pass. These will be carefully
located by trained and experienced road
engineers.
Selection Of Highways.
THE highways selected by us eithe,
will be the best present roadways from
point to point or in the judgment OF
engineers. the best possible roadway 10
cations between point and point. But
these, when published, will serve the en-.
tire country, touch every capital Of every
state as well as all the large and i'm
portant cities. and will provide for free
and unrestricted communication between
all states.
by referring to government statistics
we find that 6O,0OO miles of logged high.
ways will do wonderful things. Such a
log will
Serve directly 10000, 600 people. or sc
per cent Of the total population; serve ir
adjoining counties 100000 people, OF
% per cent of the total population, a
total of 100000 people, or 92 per cenr
of the total population.
Traverse 1903 congressional districts, OF
95 per cent of the total population
Serve direct or adjoining C,471 counties