Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1915-07-01
R|VER-T0-R|VER ROAD
PICNIC AT ABEL ON
FRIDAY A SUCCESS
MANY EXTRA PEOPLE IN
ATTENDANCE-REPORT
A big TIME"

Fifteen hundred automobiles and
5000 persons combined to make the
Rlver-to-River road picnic at AdeI
success flom start to finish Rains
the night before the festivities both
east and west of the Dallas county
metropolis made the crowd late in
getting to the picnic, and as a con-
sequence it was somewhat late in
starting.
Adel received and entertained
the good roads boosters royalty.
Houses We're flag bedecked, while
from the front of every store the
words welcome" appeared. Fred
Henry's band was taken out from
DIS Moines and Billy Robinson, the
famous Iowa aviator from Grinnell,
to entertain the visitors. The Com
mercial club of Adel combined with
the Rive,-to-Ri road association
in making it gala day for Adel
Speeches filled the morning pro-
gram. Short addresses were made
by j. w. Jarnagin of Des Moines,
editor Of a farm paper; Senator
John w. Foster of Guthrie Center,
one of the original River
road boosters, and by H. c. Beard
of Mount Ayr, member of the state
highway commission. Secretary Blak
of the Omaha-Lincoln-De high
way who was present on the
grounds, was brought over to the
speak rs stand and gave a short
talk. All of these speakers pleaded
for better roads for Iowa.
After the picnic dinner in the
grove on Adel fair grounds Harold
Wells of Des Moines was present.
ed with silver loving cup by the
River-to-River road association in re
ccgnition Of performance in 1913
when he drove Spaulding car a.
cross the state and made a record
frc M Davenport to Council Bluffs in
for the distance. He made the trip
9:14, following the River
read, and this time has never been
surpassed.
There were number of semi
humorous automobile contests in
front of the grandstand during the
afternoon, including a bicycle race
for boys under II years. a gymka-
hna race, an egg race for cars, an
ocstacle race, in which all the OBJ
stacle were demolished, and a tire
changing contest. The obstacle race
was the most absorbing of all these
an Adel Ford having the least trou-
BILE of any of the contestants.
Thrse ca1s went around the course
in fast time in the five mile race,
which was wen by Lower Brothers
of Guthrie Center. One overturned
while trying to negotiate the east
end Ct the half mile track too fast
on the second lap, but nobody was
hrrt, and in short time the cap
S zed car was back on the race.
D Moines motorcyclists had
things all their own way in the five
mile motorcycle race Whittinger.
an employee of the Larsen cycle
con pany, won this race in seven
minuts flat, having lead of 200
yards over the nearest opponent,
Dygert, also employed by cycle
company. Third money was taken by
Flint, who passed his opponent in
the last ten yards of the race in
thrilling finish before the grand
stand.
The only serious accident of the
whole day occurred in the morning
when Thomas Lorenz of Des Moines
driving motorcycle, collided with
an automobile driven by j. L. Perry
of Adair while the latter was circ-
ling the track Lorenz was severe
ly injured about the face and neck
and also internally. He was immed-
lately placed under the care of
physician; it is not believed that
his injuries will prove fatal. The
Perry car was damaged to some ex-
tent.
About fifteen to twenty cars COM
posed the Extra contingent. Every
thing went we'll until they struck
mud at near Redfield where many
put on chains while others drove
slowly.;
All pronounce it the biggest pic
mic ever held in the state and in
perfect harmony with the great