New-York tribune., 1919-12-01
Motors and Motorists

"lf anybody tells YOU that the road
to Pinchurst is rotten TINS winter put
it down that he went the wrong way or
Is simply a chronic kickcr,' says Henry
MacNair, of the Automobile Club OF
New York, just returned from a tour
OF motor routes to the South. "As a
matter Of fact. that part of the trip
between Washington and Richmond,
which used to be the bugbear of tour
lists, is to-day in better shape than wild
est dreams could have fancicd two years
ago Concrete now extends from Alex
andria to Camp Humphrey, at Accotink
and best Of all, through the eNigencie~
OF war, another concrete stretch ha,
taken the place of the bottomlcss mud
across Chopawampsic Swamp
The worst part of the whole trip now
IS between New York and Baltimore, on
the direct route between the two cities.
Mr.. MacNair says. He has laid out a
route 70 Washington which avoids the
big cities and all detours. The sug-
gested route is sixty mi'ns longer than
the old way, but the difference is more
than offset in point of time by having
no delays Of traffic or dotours. Tho
route recommended is from New York
to Easton, Allentown, Reading and Lam
caster the first day, 1853 miles. The sec
ond day one goes to Gettysburg, Fred
erick, Ridgeville and Washington. 137
miles, with splendid state roads all the
Way, except the first live miles after
leaving the battleheds of Gettysburg
This may be avoided by turning south at
AbbottstoWn over Il toll road to Han
over and Manchester. then over a won
derful Maryland state road through
Westminster and West Friendship to
Baltimore. Or if one wants to avoid
Baltimore, he viii run west a few
miles to Ridgeville and Join the Wash
ington road.
From Washington to Richmond the
first twenty miles could not be bet
tered, the latter half being perfectly
laid government concrete After that
rough by comparison, reaching to Deco
quan. At tie top of the hill beyond
this village keep TO the left, disregard
ing obsolete signs, and go over fine
new gravel road upon which the finish
ing touches are just being put by
forcibly detained guests Of the com
monwealth. Beyond Dumfries another
piece of concrete traverses the marshes
Of Chopawampsic and lacks just quar-
ter of mile of reaching the county
line. whence a very good gravel road
extends to fredericksburg, the only
drawback being the detour to the Com
merce Street bridge, the regular bridge
being still down.
On the way to Richmond the motor
ist must be careful TO take the right
fork, two miles after crossing the rail
road at Teman This new state road
has no bumps on the way to the Con
federate capital. A detour is ncces-
sary below Richmond, where the main
road is under repair for ten miles, but
although longer, the surface is excel
lent. More repairs are being made
after leaving Petersburg on the way to
Dlnwiddie, but no detours, and the
road varies from rough to excellent
At Mecklenburg take the left fork
over fine road to Cannons Ferry
then follow the good road to Hender-
son and Raleigh. This saves some
twenty-five miles over the route via
Clarksvillc and is in better condition
From Raleigh to Pinehurst, eighty
miles, the road is mostly fine, with
some rough stretches. This also ap-
plies to the route below Pinehurst on
the way to Augusta, but fast time can
be made on this 227 miles.
From Augusta it is better to go to
Jacksonville Via Macon and Waycross
rather than via Savannah After
reaching Jacksonville the road is prac-
tically all brick, she'll. asphalt or CO.
qulns and very fine going all the way
to Miami. From Daytona there are
also excellent roads to Tampa and
Relleair Heights