Charlevoix county herald. (East Jordan, Mich.) 189?-1953, 1914-04-11
BY WARD MORTON

II
tive of the American Automobile as
ISOLATION. His duty is to traverse the
country from east TO west and vice
versa, finding the best roadways over
three or more different routes. He adj
vised us that it was wise for two or
more cars to stick together for the
balance of the trip and our eXpe-
riences up to this point had proven the
value of his advice, though we had at
this point covered the first half of our
tour with flying colors-sOmewhat be-
draggled, but all in all still flying,
with a good deal of faith and courage
to continue our journey. Westgard
also advised against taking the
northern route from Salt Lake City,
saying that he had recently come over
it, and had found four or five aban-
dOned cars along the way.
From Green River we passed
through the same kind of desOlate
country already described, driving
over another hundred miles of dreari-
ness into Evanston, Wyoming. The
last portion of the run was up a steady
climb through a wild and open. coun-
try.
We had left Green River Monday
morning, September 2, and while push
ing our way across the desert land We
heard an unfamiliar sound from our
car. Investigation proved that the
nut on the rear truss hOd had loosened
and worked off far enough to clip off
three hub bolts on the rear right
wheel. The tool and supply bag
proved to be a valuable companion and
, in less than an hour we were fixed up
and on our way rejoicing over our
good luck. 1t might have been so
much worse
At Opal, little settlement, where
we stopped for gas, we found car
containing a party of two men and
one woman. They had come from
Los Angeles by way of TOnOpah and
their story gave us courage to think
that if they had come to that point
over such roads, we had no reason to
worry about getting through to our
destination.
We lunched at noon at little gro
Gerry store in Granger, Wyoming, and
afterwards struck such good piece
of road that we ran about seven miles
out of our way to Wammerer, through
two small coal mining towns, where
information was at a premium be-
cause we could not understand foreign
languages.
We tugged and pulled and
strained and hauled our weary
wav up to the summit of the
mountain on our way TO Evanston,
and il was a most trying run. 1t was
long after dark and after long down
grade run of % miles, when the lights
of the city twinkled into view. No
lights on the whole trip were more
welcome and at $3.50 we pulled up
at the leading hotel only TO find that
on account of court session there
were no available rooms. We finally
secured rooms for the ladies of the
party and the men found beds in a
cheap rooming house over a fire APP
paratus station at 80 cents per man.
We had made 1913 miles that day.
Evanston has population of $500,
is a civilized town and has a govern
ment postoffce building good enough
for a town of $4,000. There's a rea
son. United States Senator Warren
of Evanston is an important factor
Tor was) in the national game Of
"you-vote-for-my postoffice-a ppropria-
tion-and- I'll-vote-fo r-your'n."
Our cars were cared for i'm a livery
stable and before we left we had a
demonstration of mans beastliness to
beasts. A fine big Collie dog had been
purposely shot in the hip by some enc
nov of the dogs owner and the livery
veterinarian was dressing the wound.
The livery man told us of saddle
horse he had rented to a bad man
who brought the horse back with a
bullet in its hip. The rider had de
liberately turned i'm his saddle and
shot straight into the horses haunch.
He not only had to pay for the horse,
but was made to serve a term i'll jail
for his pure cussedness.
We had now travelled for five days
since we left Denver and the effects
were noticeable not only on our cars,
but on ourselves. 1t had been hard
five days work. Bad roads, tire
trouble, wonderment at the continual
ton of such section and hopefulness
of its cessation before long, had Occu-
pied our minds.
At Evanston we came to the conclu-
sion that transcontinental tour was
not entirely bed of roses. But after
all il wasn't so bad. Nothing really
serious had happened. We were quite
naturally tired; that was all. A good
nights rest and we would he all right
again. sure enough after we all put
i'm long rest and had given some at
tention TO the cars we got started
again Tuesday morning at 10 o'clocl;
on the last 90-mile run into famous
Salt Lake City, Utah.
After a murderOus roadway for
most Of the way of the first 30 miles,
but through a wonderfully interesting
and varied section we reached the top
Of the last climb before entering the
Mormon city. 1t was the beginning of
a different and more bearable terri
tory. Vcrdure appeared on the noun
tains and we also passed some fine
farming lands, including diaries. Brick:
farm houses were in evidence and we
began to feel that we were getting
into Gods country once more.
After reaching the summit of the
divide, passing flock Of 5000 sheep,
which were being driven along the
road to railroad station for ship
ment; and Iunning through a thriving
mountainous farm country, we began
a descent that was one continues
bower of beauty. Through Echo and
parlev CANYONS down into the valley