Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-05-31
tai and were less than ten miles from
our MONDAY stop.
X X x
Make Fast Time.

tai and were less than ten miles from
our MONDAY stop.
Make Fast Time.
Keeping straight ahead through Mas
| saponax we took advantage of the good
| road and in less time than it takes to
tell we were hitting the forty-four- mile
per-hour mark. The road was of the
| sand and gravel variety and it was i'm
possible to open up any more owing to
| the wavy condition of the road in places
and curves at various points along the
stretch However, we were content with
that speed and at II 30 o'clock pulled up
| in front of our hotel, ready to enjoy a
good meal. just before entering the
| town we turned to the right in front OF
the main entrance of the United states
national cemetery on the OUTSKIRTS OF
Fredericksburg, later passing the rail-
road station on the right size OF the
road.
Our odometer registered SIG miles from
Richmond, with the actual running Tune
after deducting stops on the road ABOUT
three and half hours After di adep
we made preparations for our hnal dash
home. At 1870 O'Clock sharp We swuns
the machine up the main street ana head-
ed for Falmouth just across the rap
pahannock river. Passing a NUMBER OF
factories and mills on our left, We turned
sharply to the right across the bridge
which spans the river at this point \
new bridge of steel construction is just
being completed. but the old toll gaze
on the Fredericksburg side OF the river
still remains in daily operation we PAID
Is cents toll and then once more pro-
ceeded on our way.
On arriving at Falmouth, on the oppo-
site side of the river, we turned to the
right up a rough. rocky road, turning
sharply to the right at the frame church
OF he nf h were
surprised to find a new gravel road which
extended for distance of five miles. we
picked up the telegraph wires along with
the good road and followed them until
We were dumped off the good road onto
an old corduroy road. incidentally, we
lost the wires Just about this time. and
1t was a case of another search to To-
cate them.
Where the good road terminated we
turned to the right at fork in the road,
and we had gone but short dis
lance when we struck the worst ROADS
on the entire trip. To speak frankly, 1t
is almost impossible to describe the con-
ditions which we found existed within
fifty miles of the capital of the nation.
The grades in some places were not less
than As degrees, deep with mud in some
places, while huge powders stuck up in
the road, which looked as though they
would tear away every part Of the lower
attempt to pass over them. But we did.
Not caring to run any chances Of being
mired, especially in view Of the fact that
we were miles and miles away from
human civilization, we disembarked
temporarily in order to study the road
conditions, and, incidentally. express our
opinions for permitting such a type OF
road to exist in these days of progress
and modern roadbuilding. 1t was a mere
apology of road, and 1t is doubtful II
there is another road similar In char
acter in this section of the country. After
years of travel the writer has failed to
see anything to equal this particular
stretch of so-called roadway, and 1
strongly believe if the Governor Of the
Old Dominion knew that such a road
actually existed between the capital of
the nation and the capital of his own
state 1t would not be long before
an appropriation would be forthcoming
and a more modern highway constructed.
The trip through this section was par
ticularly merge racking to the mem.
bers of the party. while the machine
itself underwent strain which taxed II
to the utmost. Many times the front
wheels were at one angle on the steep
sides Of the road, while the rear ones
would be at an opposite angle. with the
frame of the car swerving from side to
side and appearing as though it would
snap in half at any moment.