The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1915-05-11
The Automobile Blue Book Says:

Trail or the Lincoln Highway vas the
better road across Utah and Nevada
for transeontinental touring, and, in
the late fall of 1914, the Blue Book
representative covered both routes. To
the average eastern tourist, %inexperi-
enced in desert or mountain travel, we
advise the use of the northern route,
due to the fact that it follows the rail
road practically all the way, therefore
making it a much more convenient
route in case of accident to the car;
also there are numerous places in
which to get supplies and good accom-
omdations. The Overland Trail has
been graded across Utah and perma-
nent bridges and culverts have been
built. Nevada has continued the good
work by grading the road in various
places and also by the use of approx
mately 100 miles of old railroad grade,
therefore making the entire road, from
Ogden to Reno, a very fair one, except
in some parts of the country where the
soil is of such a peculiar formation
that after a long dry spell it will be
rough and cut up by chuck holes.
On the other hand, the Lincoln
Highway from Salt Lake City to Reno
traverses a sparsely settled district
and there are numerous long stretches
without water or supplies, which may
cause trouble to the inexperienced
eastern tourist, although the roadbed,
with the exception of the stretch across
the Great American desert, is very
good and may prove superior in wet
weather, owing to the gravelly forma-
ton of the soil. The desert viii be alb
solutely impossible after a rain and
tourists are cautioned not to attempt
that part of the trip without first as
certaining from an unbiased source,
the present road condition of the des-
ert. There are also numerous rather
heavy grades between Ely and Reno.
We strongly advise that a party with
women and children in it use the north
route, and, if they are bound for Los
Angeles, we advise the north route TO
Cobre, then down to Ely and on to
Los Angeles; although if there are two
cars or more, or the party is composed
Of young men who are not averse to
being Inconvenience in case of the re-
mote possibility of an accident to the
cars, the Lincoln Highway may be used
if they will take the precaution to take
a full supply of gas, oil and water be-
fore leaving the place where they may
be obtained
Further. A. L. Westgard, the nation
al pathfinder, who has travelled a good
many thousand miles seeking out roads
in the interest of the American touring
public, without question advises tax
ing the Overland Trail as against the
Lincoln Highway. He knows the con-
ditions and does not desire to lead the
tourists of this country astray OF the
deserts of the Utah Nevada link of the
Lincoln Highway. Here is his state
ment. He wrote the following letter
to H. NJ. SHETLAND, president, Glass
Journal company, publishers of Motor
Print, Motor Age, Automobile, Auto
mobile Blue Book, New York City:
What A. L. Westgard Said
81 am in receipt of your inquiry of
February 4, relative to the compare
tive condition of the two routes be-
tween Salt Lake City and Rene-that
is, the south of the lake route from
Salt Lake City via Ely and directly
across the state of Nevada to Reno,
and the route from Salt Lake City via
Ogden and the north of the lake along
the Southern Pacific railroad to Reno.
As I understand it, you want this in
formation for the sole purpose of be-
ing able to give advice to intending
tourists as to the relative merits of
these two routes, and looking at it in
this sense, I am glad to comply with
your request, as it has always been
my policy to furnish such information,
looking at it strictly from the stand
4 - A.
"Though | must confess ! have not
covered every mile of the so-ealled
north of the lake route in a motor ear,
| have, however, covered the greater
portion of it in an automobile and
have paralleled it on the railroad for
the entire distance, in addition to
which / have recent, reliable informa-
tion direct from various people who
have covered the entire route in a
motor EAR. 1t is my frank opinion that
a tourist who is accompanied by his
wife and childrden has practically no
ehoice but to take the north of the
lake route. Though the distance along
his route is quite longer, it is offset
Nv the fact that the tourist is never
ncre han eight or ten miles from I'm
aan habitation where food and water
may be obtained in ease of accident,
The surface Of the road has been inn
proved practically through the entire
state of Utah and in the stae of Ne
vada parallels the railroad very closely
cor the major part of the distance and
while it is by no mean good, it is en-
tirelv travelable.
esNow as TO the south of the lake
route, il is undeniable, of course, h a
the distance is shorter. On the other
hand, the advantage is offset by the
fact that there is more than forty
miles in one case between fresh wa
ter. Also the topography is much
rougher throughout the route and IN
the state of Nevada one continually
crosses SUBMITS of ranges and inter
vening desert valleys, part Of which Is
: largely composed Of stick clay which