New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-08-05
Mountain Scenery and
Lake Views Reward
Visiting Motorist
The foLowing report on road
conditions has been furnished by
the American Automobile As
ISOLATION Touring Bureau:

ISOLATION Touring bureau:
When the mercury begins to mount
toward the top of the thermometer tube
the sweltering urbanite begins to long
for the cooling breezes of the noun
tains and the seashore. II he is the
fortunate owner of motor car, he be-
gins to wonder where he can so and
what condition the roads are in.
This year he is indeed fortunate, for
the general condition of most OF the
trunk routes leading to the popular
shore and mountain resorts has never
been better. Occasional detours and
poor stretches will, Of course, be en-
countered, but their percentage is
small, and they can usually be avoided
without any serious inconvenience. ,
Readers of The Tribune were ADVISED
recently in some detail regarding the
present condition of the trunk lines IN
New York State. As midsummer
touring ground, however, old New Eng
land, particularly Vermont and New
Hampshire, still remains prime favor
lie with the motoring public. Of all the
New England States, Maine alone has
been rather too dilstory in the matter
of road improvement, but even there
the ever present good roads propaganda
has not been without its good erect
tween New York and Boston, that
which follows in general way the old
Roston Post Road still retains its popu-
larity. From New York to New Haven
the road surface varies from fair to ex-
cellent, and there is no part Of it which
'can really be called in poor condition.
The only section of this trip which will
cause any inconvenience is detour Of
about a mile at Milford over rather
poor dirt road.
Between New Haven and Hartford
the trunk line via Meriden is still
closed, but the alternate through Mid
dletown is in first class condition all
the way.
1t SO happens that the routes along
both sides of the Connecticut River,
between Hartford and Springfield, are
closed at certain points. The west side
road is shut off just south of Windsor
and also south of the Massachusetts
state line, while the east side route is
under construction between Warehouse
Point and Thompsonville. This stu
ton will not cause the motorist any
particular difficulty, however, as 1t is
possible to follow the east side OF the
river to Warehouse Point, cross and
run north along the west side to the
Thompsonville bridge, then recross and
follow the usual route into Springfield.
The balance of the route from Spring
field into Boston consists Of good mac
l.. III 49,
three short stretches which are under
repair. The continuation of the route
from Boston through Newburyport and
Portsmouth to Portland is all hard
surfaced and in good condition.
The Shore Road from New Haven to
Boston, running via New London, Mar
ragansett Pier and Providence, is now
in ibod condition practically through
out, and this makes an excellent alter
nate to the Boston Post Road. A little
time may be saved by following the
blue bands on the telegraph poles,
which mark the short cut from Wes-
terly direct to Providence via Wyoming
and Washington, r. /. =,
There are several good ways 70 reach
the White Mountains from New York,
but that which is perhaps the most
popular at present includes the Berk-
shires and the Mohawk Trail.
The most direct route to the Berk-
shires at present runs via Mamaroneck
to White Plains, and then to Brewster
by way of Bedford, Purdy and Croton
Falls. From that point on the road is
practically unmistakable, passing in
succession through Pawling, Dover
Plains, Armenia and Middletown to
Lakeville. The Under Mountain road
between Lakeville and South Eyre
mont is not yet in the best condition,
but will not cause any really serious
inconvenience. The usual route from
Great Darlington to Stockbridge is now
closed for repairs, but fortunately
there is parallel road available, which
is hard surfaced throughout This road
runs only about two miles to the west
of the main road, passing through Van
Deusenville, Housatonic and Glendale.
The route from Stockbridge to the
beginning of the Mohawk Trail at North
Adams is all good macadam and passes
through the prettiest section of that
remarkably picturesque region. The
Mohawk Trail itself is not hard sur
faced as yet, but the gravel which COM
prises the roadbed is remarkably
smooth, when the unusually heavy rain
fall of the last month is taken into con-
siderstion.
From Greenfield there is a choice Of
two routes to the White Mountains,
both good and each possessing certain
attractions which the other lacks.
The first of these follows closely the
course Of the Connecticut River, first
on one side and then the other, through
out the greater part of its length, and
IL in good condition all the way. The
principal towns along this route are, in
their proper order, Brattleboro, Bel
lows Falls, Claremont, White River
Junction, Hanover, Woodsville and
Lisbon.
The other alternative is somewhat
longer, but affords q greater variety Of
scenery, as IL includes Sunapee Lake
and Lake Winnipesaukee, New Hamp-
shire's most picturesque and popular
lake resorts. Leaving Greenfield, the
route runs first 10 Mortified and then
to Keene via Hinsdale. A short stretch
OF road Is under repair near West
Swsnzey, but it is passable and not bad.
From Keene, the route runs almost due
north TO Newport, n. H.; then east
around the north side of Sunapee Lake
20 Franklin; thence over a wide cir
cult 10 Plymouth, taking in Lake Win
nipesaukee and Squam Lake, and final
IL direct north along the Pemigewasset
River and through the famous Fran
COMA Notch 20 Twin Mountain House
and Breton Woods.
The roads throughout both Of these
popular trunk routes are mostly com
posed Of state gravel, which offers a good
touring surface in almost any weather.
Such roads as these will be found on
practically all the trunk routes through.
out New Hampshire and Vermont, and
have given very good satisfaction.
They are not only much cheaper. to
build and maintain than are macsdsm
IA .nnrrat. rnads hut they noSseSk q