Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-06-23
COAST-TO-COAST
RECORD BROKEN
Dispatch Rider on Motorcycle
Carries Message From Los
Angeles to New York


For the purpose of determining the
effectiveness of the modern motor
cycle for transmission of military
data of kinds which cannot be sent
by telegraph. q record-breaking ride
across the continent has Just been
completed by Alan T. Bedell. Of Los
Angeles. He arrived in New York
City at els p. m. June 1s. having
made the S,296 miles from ocean to
ocean in just days 16 hours 16
minutes.
Bedell made this test in order to
supply the military authorities with
the information they desire as to the
best way OF sending maps. specifica-
tions. photographs and other kinds
OF military papers of such nature
that they cannot be sent by wire, in
cases where II is important to get
them to the right place in the short
est possible time.
The efficient service which motor
cycles have given in many ways In
the great European conflict made
plain that the two-wheel machine
would be well adapted for work of
this nature, but is was found that
the authorities had no definite data
at hand on which to base their cal
culations. Therefore, Bedell started
from Los Angeles at IL o'clock at
night on June 5, riding a four-cylin-
der Henderson motorcycle, to make
this trial trip as a practical demon
stration so that the military experts
will know just what they can count
on.
From Los Angeles he sped eastward
with only few brief stops for food,
and fuel for his machine, until after
dark the next evening. Then, with
5b4 miles OF road reeled behind him
he stopped at Flagstaff, Ariz., for a
few hours rest before continuing his
dash. Though mountain passes, rocky
trails and deserts had been crossed
in this long first days ride. he had
only made a start on the big grind,
and was to find the worst part ahead
os him. The next two days found him
threading among the towering peaks
of the Rocky Mountains, or crossing
the bleak desolation of the deserts.
His second night stop was at Albu-
querque, n. NJ, while the third found
him at La Junta, Colo. nearly 1,4OO
miles from the starting point.
Then came the greatest difficulties
encountered on the whole coast-to-
NOdSN II ali, AOl llt ItdNy rams Ol TIE
week before had made the primitive
dirt roads of Kansas and Missouri a
continual nightmare of bottomless
clay mud. Every mile was a battle
in itself, with the roads cut into
terrible rut and oozing brown mud
that seemed impossible for any vehi-
Gle on wheels.
Here the peculiar qualities OF two
wheels gave the motorcycle immense
advantage, however. as Bedell was
able to steer his machine deftly over
the narrow paths at the side of the
read where traction was to be found
so that he got through in good shape
at many places where an automobile
could hardly have passed at all. The
power of his four-cylinder motor
seemed equal to the most severe re-
quirements of every emergency, and
Bedell rolled into Kansas City at noon
on June 10, knowing that he had
overcome the worst that weather and
roads could confront him with and
confident of success in the remainder
of the trip.
st. Louis was passed next day. In
dianapolis being reached at night,