Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-06-28
BY RAY MCNAMARA

BY RAY MCNAMARA
Road Engineer, Maxwell Motor Co.
Some of the reasons why Ray Nc
Namaza is qualtfied to advise motor
lists: .
He has driven s25, 900 miles since
1903 - farther than any man in
America
Has never had an accident.
Has never been arrested. for speed
ing.
Has driven a car from ocean to
ocean IL times.
Holds worlds one day touring rec
ord of 500 miles.
The following story of great sea-
sonal interest to motorists, especially
those contemplating long trips, was
secured from the Maxwell factory
at the special request of The Miller
Auto Co., Inc, local Maxwell deal
ers. 80 nag 49,. s' 1t-' -rrsa
The advice and directions given. by
Ray Mcnamara are by a man that
knows every inch of territory be-
tween the Atlantic and Pacific.
While the starting point is New York
and San Francisco the terminus, the
figures quoted are equally applicable
on the trip going in reverse direc-
ton.
In comparing the costs of a trip
from New York to San Francisco by
rail with a similar trip by automo-
bile I believe it would be fair esti-
mate to say that it would be 33 per
cent cheaper to travel by motor car.
Railroad fare including berths and
meals for four persons would am
ount to about $3.50. The average ex-
pense per person would approximate
$162.50. These figures would apply
to four men going direct from coast
to coast without stopovers. A
sample expense account follows:
Garage bills, .............$ IA 90
Hotel for four persons, 80. 138 90
Meals for four persons, -. 207 90
Gasoline figured at 80 cents
per gallon, ............. ST 90
Oil figured at 1 gal. for every
zoo miles, -............. 1880
Total cost for 23 days of
touring, .......... SO. $440. 40
Average per person about $11O. 90
II drummer had to make the
same schedule by rail it would cost
about double this amount. BY
travelling direct without stopovers
the trip can be made easily at 200
miles per day in the summer time.
This would reduce motoring costs
on hotel garage and meals to a very
small amount. But it is advisable to
take your time. 1t is always better
to give the roads a chance to dry I'D
before starting unless you are ac-
customed to driving over wet dirt
road. This applies particularly west
of Chicago.
Before starting on a Journey of
this kind the car should be put in
faultless condition. This will elimin-
ate considerable trouble and will
make the driving easier. Take along
the right kind of tools as they may
come in handy in some out of the
way-place. The Maxwell Touring
bureau can furnish you with a list
of the proper equipment. One more
precaution-drive carefully! Never
exceed twenty-five miles per hour
and it will pay in the long run. 1t
will keep your tires out of the shop
and you out of Jail.
Choice of Routes Offered
The destination that the tourist
desires to first reach on the Pacific
coast and the season of the year
which the trip is made has more to
do with the selection of the route
than the quality of the roads along
any particular trail
The Sunset and Yellowstone trails
through the Northwest are good
routes, however, the heavy SHOWS on
the Cascade Mountains renders Sho-
qualamies Pass impossible until after
June. This handicap can be over
come by touring via Walla WaIla,
Wash, from Spokane through Pen
dleton, Oregon then along the
Columbia River Highway into Port
land.
The Ell Paso Yuma, and Sante Fe
trails are the most desirable winter
and spring routes in as much as they
cross the continental divide and
coast ranges at lower elevations. I
| consider these routes the most in
teresting as more Indian and Mex
ican life is seen and more primitive
mathods OF living prevail This is