New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-12-24
Conditions All the Way
TO the Florida
Resorts
DATA GATHERED
BY A. c. A. PATHFINDER
Highways Average Fair
throughout the En-
tire Journey

Those who may Be intending 20 tour
South this winter will be interested in
these Road Notes on the South made
on recent trip by o. NJ. Wells, chief
road man OF the Automobile Club OF
America. The route taken was through
Trenton, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Wash
ington, Richmond, Pinehurst, Column
bis, Savannah to jacksonville. The
trip made then led down the east coast
10 Miami and then TO the west coast
at Tampa and Bellcair.
Mr.. Wells outlines conditions briefly
thus:
After crossing the Forty second
Street ferry we ran through Newark,
Elizabeth. Railway, Metuchen and New
brunswick. with the roads all In good
condition excepting q short stretch just
before reaching Metuchcn. which Is
somewhat rough. From New Bruins
wick TO Princeton via Franklin Park
the road is badly worn and pitted. the
remainder Of the route to Trenton is
open and IL gpod condition.
From Trenton through Langhorne
and Bustlc1pn the way is open and in
fair ondition. Tbs new boulevard d.
rect into Philadelphia from Castor
Road is credit 10 the park system of
the Qusker City and makes the trip
three miles shorter than the old route.
From Philadelphia TO Wilmington.
Del, the route passes through many
city streets, some quite rough. Cor
Z struction is going on between Derby
and Chester and short detour is nee
esSary.
From Wilmington to Baltimore the
road is open and in good condition; the
new concrete road finished last year is
in perfect shape
From Baltimore TO Washington the
road IL good hard surface, as IS also
the route TO Frederick and on to Get
tyshurg. From Frederick 10 Washing
ton hard surface in good condition is
found.
Between Washington and Fredericks-
burg there is a very bad stretch cross
ing the big swamp just beyond Dunn
fries, which has been an actual menace
70 motorists and serious drawbac K
to touring in the South. This sec
ton is now under construction and
should be finished the latter part Of
January. Al this point il is necessary
70 carry the road across the swamp for
distance of eight miles 4 causeway
will be built for this purpose. the
money being raised bv subscription
from citizens and hotel men OF Rich
mona and further south.
At the present time. after rain.
motorists will find the route via Dunn
fries impossible. and the alternate
route. via Fairfax Court House and
/ Manassas to Fredericksburg. should he
I taken. The latter il also bad In wet
weather. but IA passablc.
From Fredericksburg to Richmond
/ there - fair sand-clay road, psssable
/ IN any weather.
Much Improvement has been made
or the road between Richmond and
Charlottesville. but there are still q
lumber Of stretches which are bad in
vet weather and so slippery that il
sometimes il difficult 10 keep in the
road after Q heavy rain. From Char
lottesvllle 20 Staunton. connecting with
the Shenandoah Valley route, the road
is all hard surface and in good condi-
ton. Excellent scenery is found, espe-
cially when crossing the mountain
through Rock Fish Gap.
( From Richmond 10 Old Point Com.
fort and Fortress Monroe, via Will
lismsburg ard Newport News, all
graded and generally in fair condition.
with the exception OF one or two
stretches which are OF red clay and ,
trife slippery in wet weather. The III n
down to Fortress Monroe makes an ex-
cellent side trip for the motorist going
South.
From Richmond south the first TWEEN
~ miles 10 Petersburg are macadam.
which has become badly worn. but is
pessable Remainder OF route through
Diuwiddis, South Hill, Boydton, Clarks-
Vile and across the state line into
North Carolina. just beyond Soudsn.
then through Stovall Oxford, Brag-
town 10 Durham all open, graded sand
clay IN far condition. with the excep-
ton Of IN stretches which have be-