Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1915-06-09
From North Carolina to Orleans by
Automobile.

Dear Monitor:
Perhaps some of the readers of the
Monitor would be interested in some
of the details of our trip across country
from Southern Pines. N. c., to Orleans.
We left Southern Pines about II a.
M. Tuesday, May .18, going by the
way of Sanford to Raleigh, finding
good roads. except about IL miles
between Sanford and Apex. We took
this short cut from the regular Capital
highway route and thereby saved
fifty mills in distance. The capital
highway from Washington to Atlanta
on every telephone pole and concrete
culvert with the red, white and blue
stripes, making the route easy to
follow We camped out in pine
grove near Henderson. making 125
miles the first day. Wednesday morn
ing was cool and cloudy. We started
early and after crossing the Roanoke
on scow. poled by two men in primi-
tive fashion. a distance of 900 yards
for which we paid a dollar. we found
the best of roads. our route taking US
through Petersburg and Richmond.
then over that. hard-fought battle
ground by the monument where the
Confederate cavalry leader. j. f. B.
Stewart, was killed, to Spottsylvania,
where we found good hotel, making
180 miles the second day. Thursday we
found good roads. to Fredericksburg,
but from there to Washington the roads
were rough and in wet weather would
be very bad. After an hour or more
of driving around Washington, we left
for Baltimore on the Bladensburg road,
forty miles of new concrete road-the
best ever saw We put up at Hotel
Lexington after riding 127 miles and
over all the unimproved road that we
were to have on the trip. Leaving
Baltimore about 8 80 Friday morning
on the new Belair road. one of the
best, we crossed the Susquehanna at
Havre de Grace, one dollar toll. Here
we found another stretch of concrete
road, and then fine macadamized high
way through Newark, Del, and Will
mington, all good roads to Philadelphia.
Here we crossed the ferry to Cam
den, stopping at Hotel Ridgeway for
the night. the speedometer showing
ia miles. Had our first tire trouble.
one blowout and picked up tack in
Chester. Pa. They had just put on
Jitney line. and some people were
showing their displeasure by scatter
ing tacks in the streets. Saturday
ulOTLluS we SCdT(cu iOT NEW OIh
through Trenton and New Brunswick,
good roads all the way, crossed 42nd
street ferry and put up for the night
at Park hotel,> Larchmont. Is miles
this side of New York City. = Short
mileage owing to so much travel
! through city streets. Sunday morning
We found the Boston Post road one of
the best, following it to New Haven.
Conn. Here we turned north, through
Hartford to Springfield, Mass. where
we stopped with our old friends. Mr..
and Mrs. Marshall Clement, over
night. His friends in this section
will be surprised to know that his
health is much improved, so that he
works every day and even makes some
overtime in the Indian Motorcycle
Works. Monday we struck out for
home but near Brattleboro had tire
trouble which detained US about two
hours. Then at Barnet we put up for
the night, having broken washer to
replace, the first thing to go wrong
about the car. Tuesday we reached
home all safe and sound. speedometer
showing 1104 miles. Used as gallons
of gasoline and about five gallons of
oil. We were on the road seven days.
Repairs to car besides tires. so cents.
Yours very truly.