Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1916-08-06
GUIDE POST IS
GOOD SAMARITAN
TO AUTOMOBILES
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
mark 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 a 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 so
weather-beaten and defective as to be
value1ess. The automobile tourist who
went beyond the boundary of his county
found 1T necessary to stop at every
cross-road and ask to be directed on
his way. Usually the information he
got was of little use, because any dis
lance exceeding ten or fifteen miles
was out of the farmers reckoning.
Four years ago the B. F. Goodrich
Company, realizing the necessity of
an adequate system of road markers
stepped in where governing bodies had
failed. and has since made safe for
travel over 100000 miles of roads in all
parts of the United States.
Grmof T0urt0o GAa.N,tVrm
This work has been carried out sys-
tematically under the supervision of
experts and in style which has won
the approval and cooperation of local
bodies, automobile clubs and even state
Legislatures.
While only one road marking crew
operated during the first year, its work
met with such thorough approval that
larger plans were made for the second
years work, three crews being sent
out-one working through the Middle
West. another through the Pacific
Coast States. and the third in the East.
The sign now being used Is made Of
galvanized armor metal with aluminium
letters sunk into the surface. 1t will
not rust or deteriorats and is In all
respects the most sarviceable road
marker that has ever been devised.
MORE than 100000 of these signs
mark the ROADS In twenty-five stS -es,
and cover three main trans-continental
routes. They have been erected at a
cost of over 50 each and have unques-
tionably done much to stimulate the
good roads movement. develop Amer
lean touring and I'D to the rapidly
growing desire AMONG motorists to
| See America First" .-,.-.w,
Another great stimulus to touring
has been ths publication of Route
Books, Route CArds, pamphlets, etc,
over million Of which have been dis
tributsd throughout all sections Of the
country. These route cards cover prsc-
tically all of the main or trunk lines
Of travel, with detailed descriptions
showing every turn of the road,
bridges, railroads, dangerous spots and
mileage.
In all of these efforts there has been
excellent cooperation by State, County
and Municipal interests. The Office Of
Public Roads OF the Department OF
Agriculture also Is interested in this
work. its engineers having erected
many of the Goodrich Guide Post signs
and furnished information with refer
ence to roads now being improved
under federal jurisdiction.
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Never wash your car with hot water.
IT,.