The Washington herald., 1914-09-20
ROADS in fine shape
FOR TOUR this fall
The American Automobile Association
Gives Out Interesting Facts About
Far West and South.
COAST is CLEAR TO FLORIDA

Fall touring is exceedingly popular. re-
ports the American Automobile Associa-
ton bureau, which serves the entire coun-
try. for at this time of year the trunk
roads are in as good or better condition
than in any other season, particularly
as the principal road work in process in
pleted.
In the West, the Golden Belt route,
which extends from Kansas City through
Topeka, Abilne. and Oakley to Denver.
has been put in excellent condition, and
as the shortest route between Kansas
City and Denver 1t is being travelled more
than ever before.
The most important single improvement
in the Northwest has been the elimina-
ton of the steepest grades, and also the
rough road that formerly existed through
Snoqualmie Pass in the Cascade Noun
tains. BY the reduction Of this grade and
the Improvement Of the surface, trips be-
tween Spokane, Seattle, and Portland
soon can be made with a great deal less
trouble than heretofore and without the
danger Of breakage that formerly existed
on the Snoqualmie Pass line.
The wonderfully scenic route along the
Columbia River from Portland to the
Dalles is also well under way. and can
be considered as complete for the heavy
travel to the Pacific Coast in 1915. This
road avoids such grades as exist on
Snoqualmie Pass by following alongside
the picturesque Columbia River. Next
year, tourists from Montana points and
east, will have the option OF running to
Portland via Spokane, snoqualmie Pass,
Seattle, and Tacoma: or down from
Spokane to walla Walla, and thence west
through The Dalles to Portland.
Tourists running west from Albuquer-
Cue this fall have a complete choice Of
two routes the balance OF the way to
Southern California. Formerly practically
all the travel used the trail to sunset"
from Albuquerque through Phoenix and
Yuma to San Diego and Los Angeles;
but work done during the past year has
opened up and made practically safe the
upper and shorter line from Albuquerque
through Holbrook and Flagstaff. crossing
the Colorado River at The Needles, and
thence almost direct west into San Ber-
nardino and Los Angeles-a much shorter
route than the trail to sunset" Tourists
making the round trip between Albuouer-
que and Southern California during the
winter months may with advantage go
on one Of these routes and return on the
other.
Recent developments on the route from
O.
Vile to Chattanooga give the assurance
that this line will be open TO through
travel with few handicaps beginning IN
1915. When entirely complete, and as con-
nections are supplied from Chattanoogs
through Birmingham 20 New orleaps.
this will make the shortest and mosS
strategic route between New York-Phil-
adelphia and New Orleans. Great i'm
provements are being made, particularly
by the counties in that part of the route
between Bristol and Chattanooga.
Travel from the Central States to the
Georgia and Florida east coast usually
comes down from Indianapolis to Louis
Vile. Nashville, Chattanooga, and thence
from Atlanta either to Augusta and Sa-
vannah, or to Macon. valdosta, and Jack
sonville While there are some rough
stretches particularly on the Louisville
and Nashville pike. this route Is being
used much more than ever before, and
will, within the next two or three years,
carry an amount Of travel comparable
only with that between The North and
South seaboard States.