Arizona republican., 1920-05-23

you get into Maricopa" New isn't that a fine reputation to have?
 To hark back, the Scout car which has been gaining just fame over the state, left here Sunday morning at 10 o'clock bound on a pleasure and busi- ness jaunt to Prescott. It had been decided to go up via Wickenburg and see how that route happened to be- And then after recurring reports and rumors at Prescott it was thought that possibly the Black Canyon might be travelled coming baclS. Such dire ru- mors had been rumbled around in Phoenix concerning the individuality of going over that route that it was thought best to defer judgment until the northern experts could deliver an opinion.
 The trip up is wonderful. From standpoint of decent roads, beautiful scenery. fresh air and sunshine it can not be equalled. There is but one short stretch Comparatively speaking) of bad roads on the entire route via Wickenburg. The entire party was pleasantly surprised to find the trails in such good shape So surprised in fact that they never stopped talking about them. Even the one bad stretch near Kirkland is a lot better than the roads in the Black Canyon. Although the Wickenburg route is 40 miles long CT it is possible to make it in less time than by going via the Canyon. That is also true and if you don't believe that just try both routes as the Scout Car did.
 At Prescott they will tell you the Black Canyon road is not so bad. They have it figured out that with the ex- tremely good roads to be enjoyed as long as one is in Yavapai county there l is no reason to worry over the rotten ones to be encountered when one reaches Maricopa- This is rather peculiar figuring, because that Black Canyon tragedy makes up for all the goodness encountered, or rather takes all the joy out of life which is ac- quired as long as one is in Yavapai
 There are miles and miles of the toughest possible roads in the Canyon
 There is miles and miles of second ! gear work with an occasional oppor-
 tunity to drop into low. There are | enough loose sharp pointed rocks dis 1 tributed along the trail to cut up all the tires in Arizona and unless one is very careful he is going to strip his castings to the fabric just as sure as fate. In other words it is just one nightmare after another when a car is | sent through and over the Black Can yon route.
 ! And in spite of this they are oper- ating a heavy duty truck service on | the Black Canyon road to supply the 1 wants of the Kay Copper company and other mining outfits which nestle in the adjoining hills. How a truck stands I up over that route will be one of the 1 mysteries Of the ages. How long they l will stand up is a matter of conjecture upon which the members of the Scout 1 Cars party would like to be enlight- ened One truck encountered was
 rambling along over the loose rock, l into the washes and over the hills I without a care in the world or worry
 on it's mind. It was a Moreland truck 3 equipped with Kelly Springfield CatNr- pillar tires, solids of course if you are not acquainted with the brand. and the
 manner in which the rock and tires .l met in angry combat was worth going miles to see Of course the rock al-
 ways wins, but the solids were giving l their enemies merry battle while 1 they lasted.
 And so fair motorists and the rest
 of the world if you are contemplating
 a trip to the north be advised that as Hong as it holds together there is but is via Glendale Peoria, Marinette, Hot
 Springs Jet. Wickenburg, Congress, Hillside, Kirkland, Skull Valley and at last Prescott.
 But let it be said for the credit of the Black Canyon route that as far as
 scenery is concerned. if cannot be
 equalled neither can it be beaten. It is probably one of the most beautiful
 drives in Arizona. Beautiful beyond
 description almost sublime in fact
 but don't let the beauties of nature lure you into taking one of the rough est. toughest rides that lies within the
 ample bosom of the baby state.