Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-03-15
FORECASTS AUTO
TOURING IN 1919
Motorists Told How Easy It Is
to "See America First" Be-
fore Visiting Battlefelds

The outstanding feature as re-
CARDS the probable motoring condi-
tons for the coming season, relates
to the eer increasing tendency on the
part OF the motoring public to go
father and farther afield in search or
interesting things to see. The slogan,
s'See America First" is at last be-
ginning to bear fruit in the greater
increased demand for information
relative to touring conditions
throughout the entire western por-
fion of the country. The inability of
motorists Of means to take their cars
versal custom prior to the outbreak
for them to confine their touring to
this country. AS a result, thousands
of motor car owners are beginning to
realize at last that America has no
peer as a scenic playground. Not only
can this country duplicate practical
1y everything in the way of noun
tains and lake scenery which is to
be found in the Alps or the High
lands of Scotland, but also it has
many features which are peculiar to
itself. Where, for instance, is it pos
sible to find a replica of the far fam
ed Petrified Forest in Arizona, or the
prehistoric Cliff Dwellings which dot
that section of the country? The
Grand Canyon of the Colorado river
certainly needs no introduction to
any one who has studied his school
geography, while nearly every one
has either seen depleted in Yellow
stone Park, and the glaciers in Gla-
cier National Park.
Without attempting to go further
into details in this connection, the
demand for information about the
motoring possibilities through the
Far West is increasing to a large
degree.
There exists in the minds of a
great majority of the tourists an un-
reasoning dread of what has been
unfortunately designated the Great
American Desert.
Secretary w. D. Rishel, of the
Utah State Automobile Association,
has very aptly said: "The average
motorist has visions of miles and
miles of sand, with almost unbear-
able heat, through which he must
push his way to reach the Pacific
ocean. He has read columns and
columns of press agent 'slush' where
this car or that truck made the trip
after hardships worse than could be
found on the western front, and that
the driver came through alive due
only to the strong construction of the
particular car he drove or the make
of tires the car had on or the kind of
lubricating oil he used.
Now, what are the actual con-
ditions? The tourist may follow any
one of the central routes and have a
bed to sleep in under roof every
night. He can sit down to q table
to eat his three meals a day. He will
find gasoline, a garage and automo-
bile supplies at frequent intervals,
or as often as he needs them. The
lighter he is equipped the faster
time he can make. Instead of heat
he will mid an overcoat comfortable
If he drives at night, and he will
encounter more sand at the old river
bed crossing near his farm in the
mid-continent country than he will
encounter between the Rocky Noun
tains and the Pacific coast.
Whenever water can be turned on
the so5called desert land. he will see
crops of wheat and potatoes, fruits
and vegetables, that will far sur
pass the yield per acre of his eastern
farm. And, what is more, he will
scarcely ever be out of view of an
other automobile occupied by a man
and his family travelling to see the
country"
1t is not the intention to give the
impression that such trips are free
from difficulties, but merely to con-
very the idea that such difficulties
are. not nearly as overwhelming as
many believe to be the case. Bad
stretches will be found in various
n11naS hlit fhnrn ct ,ey
number of good roads also, and
much additional road improvement
is being contemplated for the COM
ing season. Active highway depart
ments have been formed in practi-
cally all of the western and middle
western states. Such improvem ents
will, of course, take time, but the
satisfying features lies in the fact
that a beginning has at least been
made.
AS regards the touring in the
eastern states, there is little which
can be said at this time having a
direct bearing on the situation. This
is mainly the result of the lack of
activity in highway improvement due
to the exigencies of war require
ments. The state and county engi-
neers have as rule contented them
selves during the past year in main
tanning the trunk roads in q fairly
presentable state. This has been by
no means an easy problem as a large
number of motor trucks have been
travelling over these routes during
the past twelve months.
In view of the existing situation,
therefore, it would be wise for ali
tourists who are contemplating trips,
of no matter what length, to secure
up to the minute information about
the roads over which they propose
to travel. Otherwise they will most
certainly come to grief, for they will
find that roads which they suppose
TO be in excellent condition, have
been literally cut to pieces since they
last travelled over them, while other
roads which formerly they would
never have dreamed of using. are
now the Onfy one available