East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1916-08-05
GUIDE POST IS
ODSANARITAN
TO OAUTOMOBILISTS
Private Enterprise Marking
Roads Enlisted by War
Department,

The more civilized man becomes the
more easily he gets lost. In the semi
barbaric days he trod untracked wilds
and painless seas, but always somehow
he got there"
In later times. having seemingly lost
his sense of direction. he began to
marx his trail so that he could find his
way back The gashed bark Of tree
trunk has guided countless men and
women to their destinations; but when
the forests fell before the march of
civilization, and as the speed OF the
traveller increased, better road markers
became essential.
So there appeared various crude
boards nailed on poles and set UP at
crossroads. stones covered with num-
bers indicating distances, and similar
landmarks such as may still be found
in many country districts.
But until short time ago there was
no attempt to establish systematic
marking Of American roads Every To-
cality had its own style and in many
instances the guide boards were sc
weather-beaten and defective as to bt
valueless. The automobile tourist whC
went beyond the boundary OF his county
| found II necessary TO stop at every
cross-road and ask to be directed OF
his way. Usually the information HI
got was OF little use because any dis
tance exceeding ten or fifteen mile
was out Of the farmers reckoning.
Four years ago the 3. r. Goodrich
| Company, realizing the necessity o
an adequate system of road markers
stepped In where governing bodies ha'
failed, and has since made safe 70
travel over 100000 miles Of roads in al
parts of the United States.
Great Touring Stimulus
This work has been carried out sys
tematically under the supervision Q
experts and In a style which has wo
the approval and cooperation of locs
bodies, automobile clubs and even stat
legislatures.
While only one road marking cre'
operated during the first year, Its wor
met with such thorough approval tha
larger plans were made for the secon
years work, three crews being ser
out--one working through the Middl
West, another through the Pacif
Coast States, and the third In the Eas
The sign now being used Ii made {
galvanized armor metal with alumlnui
letters sunk into the surface. 1t wi
not rust or deteriorate and Is In a
respects the most seryiceable roa
marker that has ever been devised.
More than 100000 Of these sign
mark the roads In twenty-five state
and cover three main trans-eontlnenti
routes They have been erected at
cost Of over S5 each and have unque'
ltionably done much to stimulate III
good roads movement. develop Amer
ican touring and add 10 the rapid
growing desire among motorists
See America First"
Another great stimulus to touTin
has been the publication Of Rout
Books, Route Cards pamphlets, etc
over a million of which have been dli
tributed throughout all sections of II
country. These route cards cover pra'
tlcally all Of the main or trunk line
OF travel, with detailed description
showing every turn Of the roa
bridges. railroads. dangerous spots ar
mileage.
In all of these efforts there has bee
excellent cooperation by State, Count
and Municipal interests. The Office
Public Roads. OF the Department
Agriculture also is interested in tn
work, its engineers having erect'
many of the Goodrich Guide Post sigl
and furnished information with refe
ence to roads now being improve
under federal Jurisdiction.