Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-08-29
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the modern motor trend than the rapid
growth of the new District OF Columbia
Automobile Club. which has headquar-
tiers in the Riggs building.
That there was urgent need of a sub
stantial body to provide a comprehen-
siVe touring service and to provide or
Sanfzed expression for the motorist 10
clearly shown in the success attending
the launching OF the club Although
stiil i'll its metaphorical swaddlinr
clothes. the new organization is hum
dreds ahead in membership of any OF
its predecessors
Proof of the stability of the move
ment is seen in the wide scone Of ~.
membership and its activities. Com
parativeiy few OF the members are
actively identified with the trade. 1t
Is essentially an owners organization
and directing its energies solely TO in
crease his pleasure and to minimize his
Legislative and road trials.
Motorists from every walk of life
are enrolled in its work. Men high in
the councils of the federal government
have Joined. The distinctive emblem
denoting membership in the A. A. A.
ana me local club shines from the
radiators of the White House cars.
Generals and majors of our army have
motoring fraternity with the admirals
ana captains of our navy. The judiciary,
700, Is round to be prominently identified
with II, while those from social and pro-
fessional ranks number thousands
District motorists are particularly
fortunate in that the national head
quarters of the American AutomohtIe
Association is located here This makes
possible the most thorough kind OF
touring service service SO authentic
anu SO adequate that a member NAV
start from his home for most any point
ho, oh
route data that he can go through
without further hunt for roads infor-
nation. Upon the touring bureau. par
tlcularly in Washington. depends tho
has been proven that there is little
permanency attached to club whose
main hold on its members is purely a
social one. There must be real service,
and this is the basis on which the A A.
A. District of Columbia Club was
founded
Following this fundamental E. l..
ferguson was placed at the head of the
touring bureau. Mr.. Ferguson organ
lied the Glidden tours and has directed
endurance runs and reliability tours.
Seven double transcontinental trips
have given the touring director of the
local club familiarity with out-of the
way roads. He has an intimate knowl-
edge OF all of the prominent automobile
trails of America.
One of the first services rendered To-
cal motorists by the District club was
the publication of map charting all
of the roads in the Washington-Ha-
Baltimore district. Not only
were all of the highways shown, but
their condition was easily read by ref
erence to the legend. Different lines
were used to indicate main road
good" main road-poor." secondary
road and poor road" Using this
map. numerous short trips could be
planned with reference to roads cond
tions.
The response to, this innovation was
instantaneous. Motorists were quick to
recognize the real service coming from
the club. They wanted other maps of a
local character. And in order to pro-
gress with this work they realized
that there must be generous support
in the way of new members. Conse-
quently every member constituted him.
self committee of one to boost. The
result Of this enthusiasm is evinced
in the consistent growth of the club.
To Thurlow White belongs the dis
tinction of being the first District mo-
torist to make complete double trans.
continental automobile trip this sea-
son. Mr.. White returned from his long
trip last week. calling at the local
auto club headquarters to tell of his
experiences and to add to the touring
bureaus fund of road information.
While naturally enthusiastic about
the trip, Mr.. White has vivid men,
DRY of several hardships encountered
on the way. This applies particularly
to the return trip. during which he
was forced to leave the designated
roads many times. owing to washouts.
Most of the return route followed the
Lincoln highway, and the unusual con-
ditions obtained because of incessant
rains.
Mr.. White praised the general road
conditions and was surprised. he said.
at not encountering much more bad
highway than he did. The character of
garage and hotel accommodate lions also
received his Endorsement.
Going out to the Pacific coast Mr..
White followed the National Old Trails
and the Santa Fe routes. This gave
him the desired chance to visit the
Grand Canyon of the Colorado. His
was the first car to enter in three
days. the roads having been blocked
by washouts.
A number of the members of the To-
cal automobile club are on extended
motor trips. Mr.. Whites trip, while un-
usually long, is only one of many that
will take local motorists to the other
side of the continent.
Since formation of the local automo-
bile club was commenced many of the
pioneers of local motordom have made
application and have been elected to
But 1T was last Tuesday
that the pioneer of pioneers Joined tho
ranks.
The latest of the "old timers" to take
out a membership in the newly formed
was bill Jose, perhaps
the most widely known individual
Identified with local motoring affairs
since the inception of the automobile.
II hadn't the remotest idea there
were so many continuous miles of per-
feet road in the United States as 1
on my tour to Washing
ton," said c. ]. Peterson of Chicago.
who, accompanied by F. A. Anderson
Of the same city, motor toured to this
city via northern Ohio. central New
Y ork, the New England circuit. the Jer-
sey coast resorts and Philadelphia.
Mr.. Peterson and Mr.. Anderson are
of the Chicago Motor Club,
which is affiliated with the District
and called at local club
headquarters for route home via
Frederick. Gettysburg and the Lincoln
highway.
To Land OF the Sky. September 4,