Evening star., 1915-06-27

When seven automobiles. carrying
| thirtythree passengers from Camden.
s. C.. to New York city. did not visit
| the National Capital en- route CONNER
/ cial Washington should have chalked
/ up a loss conservatively estimated at
$3.50 This is the statement of E. L.
/ Ferguson director OF the touring bu-
reau of the District of Columbia Auto
mobile Club
4 This statement by Mr.. Ferguson was
| prompted by an inquiry from one of
/ the clubs members for northern tour
ing information for the party. The
\ inquirer, Washingtonian, stated that
! he intended joining the party. coming
north over the Shenandoah valley pike.
at HagerstoWn Asked why the party
did not visit Washington en- route he
| declared that this city was not in
| cluded in the itinerary because coming
! here would necessitate a side trip of
many miles if good roads were fol
| lowed. The wretched condition of
portion Of the road between Richmond
| and Washington. via Fredericksburg,
| precluded any thought Of traverslng
i that highway. Hence the valley route
! which. while il does not permit motor
tourists to visit the National Capital
without considerab bic extra mileage. at
4 fords the maximum of travel comfort
for automobilists.
While there is hardly a day passes
that does not see several motor tour
lists leave this city out of their ltin-
| erarv continued Mr.. Ferguson, the
! losing OF large party like the afore
mentioned should serve to waken local
merchants-hotel men especially-to
the trade possibilities that lie with
touring autoistS.
Approximately $1,000 is needed to
improve the Richmond w Washineton
highway TO accommodate automobile
travellers. and plenty OF assurance has
heen forthcoming that if commercial
Washington Will start the raising OF
this sum with substantial subscrip-
ton the balance needed will be speed
il,. produced.
THE volume Of motor touring IS
growing larger each year, and it is
class of patronage that wide awake
hotel men everywhere are keeping IN
mind. The passing of Washington by
tie Camden party is an object lesson
well worth study.
6 NJ Norwood and W B. Thompson
Of Goldshoro. y .. We're among the
manr tourists who visited headquar-
tiers Of the District automobile Club
last week. Messrs Norwood and
Thompson have started for the San
Francisco exposition in the formers
Cadillac touring car their transconti-
mental tour having been prepared for
them by the A. a. A. touring bureau in
Carolina State Motor Association af-
filiated with the A. A. A.. they exer-
cised their right to call upon the
Washington bureau for any touring
directions needed
Il. l.. cochran, American Automobile
Association member from san Juan.
Porto Rico. was an interesting and in
terested visitor to club headquarters
last week. Mr.. Cochran. who called for
the automobile route from this city to
Indian lake in the Adirondacks. en-
tertained club officials and few mem
bers present with an interesting recital
! of some of his motoring adventures on
the island. Also he manifested a deep
interest in the great work the national
organization of motor car users is
doing for automobilists and the sue
! cess with which building Of a National
| Capital automobile club is meeting. Mr..
Cochran formerly lived in this city.
DR. r. g. Fulton of Batesvil1e, Va,
who is making a trip in his automob lie
over Nirginia's circular motor route
Richmond, Stauntou. Winchester, Lees
burg. Alexandria. Fredericksburg, Rich
mond-visited club headquarters last
week. The doctor declares that when
the Richmond-W Washington highway is
completed the Old Dominion will have
the finest and most interesting auto
mobile tour in the United States. He
also believes that the circular trip will
be heavily patronized-far beyond ex-
pectation-and that this city, in it's
benefited comm ercially.
The following are new members of
the club: A NJ. Brown. Ross P. An
drews Lennard H. Mitchell, Nal NJ.
Remington. Miss Dollie Day. Joseph NJ.
Stoddard. r. Q. Storm. Harvey o. Coad.
Ainsley Timer, Roger Stockman, J. r.
Brooks, John B. Geier, S. A. Manuel.
L. Wallace Springer, Charles F. War
ren, H. G. Robertson and F. r. Kirk.
Charles B. wilkins, member of the
Hartford. Conn, Automobile Club, affi-
lated with the American Automobile
Association, was another recent visitor
to club headquarters Mr.. Wilkins. ac-
companied by his family, is making a
motor tour of the points OF historic in
terest in this section of the country
and sought local touring information
of the clubs touring bureau He seem
ed to be highly pleased with the cour-
ttesy shown him here and left stand
ing invitation to local club members to
visit the Hartford club when in Con-
necticut. and wishes to assure those
who intend to accept that no effort will
be spared to make their visit pleas
ant and helpful one.
X
During recent visit to club head
quarters the automobile editor of this
paper was privileged to see the out
line Of motor tour in course OF
preparation by Touring Chief Ferguson
for local club members While he is
not permitted TO name the course OF
the tour and the many splendid fea-
lures incorporated, he feels that he will
not be violating a confidence in con-
graduating Washington motorists upon
the pleasant surprise they have in store
for them.
q 30 many past efforts to ef4anixs q
II local automobile club have failed that