The Topeka state journal., 1914-01-31
MOTOR Gar MEMS
Interstate Auto Travel Shows
Wonderful Increase.
Topeka Is Stopping Point ON
Golden Belt Route.
WAS HEAVY TRAFFIC m 1873
Estimated 5000 Cars Came
Hero From Other States.
Notes Of Interest to Auto and
Pop-Pop Enthusiasts.
WAS HEAVY TRAFFIC N 1873

Pop-Pop Enthusiasts.
wonderful strides have been made IN
Interstate or transcontinental automo-
bile travel in the last four years Long
distance motorcycle tours are also
much more common. 1t is estimated
by omcials Of the Golden Belt route. |
the only Cross state road through To-
pelka. that 5000 out Of the state passed
over the route in 1913. 1t Is the gem
eral opinion. also. that this figure will
be increased several hundred per cent
in 1915 as thousands Of motorists Will
be attracted to California by the San
Francisco and San Diego expositions.
Scarcely a day passe- last summer
when q score or moro autoists from
out Of the city did not stop here for
refreshments, gasoline. or general re-
pairs. And the traffic 10 expected to
be even more heavy this year.
Transcontinental Travel.
Communications received from high
way oficials indicate the percentage OF
increase from 1909 to 1913 ON long dis
tance and interstate tours varies from
so to 500 per cent. For example, this
year thousands OF automobiles have
made transcontinental tours from the
Allegheny region across the Rockies
or reverse.
Some interesting 4dvices follow:
Ohio: There is no question but that
there has been a marked increase. es-
pecially SO in the last year, and. in my
opinion, it is at least four times as
great as it was in 1911"
Missouri: Touring in this state has
probably been 200 per cent larger in
hov in, nd 1911 nd
probably 100 per cent more than it was
in 1872"
Georgia: I'VE had at least 500 per
cent more tourists here last year than
in previous years, and this year it will
be even greater than that, because
there will be first-class roads from here
to Jacksonville
New York: Touring for 1918 has in
nearly every part Of the state shown
an appreciable increase over 1912, and
our estimate is that the number of
long-distance tourists has increased
about one-third over the previous
year."
Increase I'm Kansas.
Kansas: practically all of our long
distance touring, which is quite ex-
,, tensive now, has come about since
1910.''
Wyoming: There has been a con-
siderable increase during the last few
years."
Connecticut: ong-distance touring
increasing wonderfully within this Pc
riod.''
New Jersey: "The engineer in charge
of the southern division of this state
estimates that on the main roads the
foreign automobile traffic is about Is
per cent of the total during the sea-
| son. Two years ago do not think
that the largest estimate would have
been more than 80 per cent"
r. o. Smith Of the Automobile Club
of America, says: THE proportion
| would show that on the tours from
the middle west. New York to Cana
da and New York to New England,
1909 could be rated as one tourist, 1911
as five and 1913 as ten."
And his statement is supported by
r. O. Bruce of the A. A. A. Touring
bureau. who writes as follows: There
| is no question in my mind but that
from 1909 to 1911 there was an in
crease of about so per cent in inter-
state touring"
The good roads movement as a
practical means Of diverting a steady
stream of good-paying business into
! the communities affected is fast being
recognized by states where they are
! Automobiles are sure to go where
(, the roads are good and to forsake
those districts where going Is hard.
/ despite their scenic charms. An in
| teresting fact Is the marked growth
of winter travelling.
Mysterious Automobile.
A mysterious automobile is reported
to be making night runs over the citv.
The car has the appearance of being a
| Homemade electric. What prob
ably have been trial trips have been
made by the inventor or inventors
who as yet have not revealed their
identity. The car looks like a gasoline
machine made over with storage bat
teries in a large box affair in the rear
Only one small light is carried and
only glimpses Of the car as it has pass
ed under street lights has been gained
Ralph Cooper of the Central Cycle
| company made a motor trip to Holtor
and Hoyt and vicinity Wednesday.
The country roads are getting in
good condition, SO Ernest Holman re-
ports, who made a motorcycle triT
from Denison to Topeka Tuesday.
Ernest Cooper of the Shawnee Cycle
company went on his motorcycle tc
Holton and return Wednesday.
The annual meeting Of the Topeka
Motor club will be held some time II
March.
Moneypenny Win Fight Case.
Pleading not guilty, Kent Money.
penny, a high school student. will face
. the charge Of smoking, in police court
this afternoon. Moneypenny has en-.
gagged Paul Heinxe, a Topeka attorney
to defend him. Moneypenny was ar
. rested by Policewoman Eva Cornins
. this week along with several other hisf
!