Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-08-15
BY THEODORE p. MOVES.

! Motorists contemplating tour
which involves running between New
York and Philadelphia will do well to
| think twice before attempting to ne
gotiate the atrocious roads between
| these points.
Washingtonians are probably more
or less used to bad roads-to wit, the
Bladensburg road, Massachusetts, ave-
nue. from Dupont Circle to Wisconsin
avenue and Wisconsin avenue from
/ that point to the District .line-but
even these hole-lined thoroughfares
, the once fine road between two of the
largest cities in the country is now in.
To make matters worse, there does
not seem to be a remedy for this state
of affairs until entirely new roads are
constructed. Last week the writer
approximately, from New York to
Philadelphia in the fast time of seven
and ene-half hours And even taking
1T as slow as that there is no way to
keep from banging the car frequently.
Direct Route Opened.
A New York paper of recent date
announces that the direct route to
Philadelphia has been opened and ad-
vises motorists to take it. This is
the notice.:
Because of the great use to which
the roads between this city and Phil
adelphia are being put, both by trucks
and pleasure tourists attention is
called to the fact that the direct route
between the two cities is again open
to traffic.
This short route takes the, following
course. Forty-sscond street ferry, Hud-
son county boulevard, Plank road to
Newark, Elizabeth, Railway, Metuchen,
New Brunswick, Cranbury turnpike to
Cranbury (don't go to Hightstown),
turn right on PENIS Neck road, turn
left on Old Trenton turnpike to Tren-
ton, from Trenton cross bridge at Bridge
street over Delaware river to Lang
horne. and from there into Philadelphia
over the Bustleton pike
Traversed by Trucks.
All very good. but no mention is made
of the condition of the roads, The
writer drove from New York to Tren-
ton by this route and except for a few
short stretches. it is doubtful if worse
road could be found in the country.
This route has been traversed by train
after train of trucks, which have
pounded the thoroughfare into pulp.
And this same broken up ,macadam is
probably the most difficult and danger
GUS kind to drive on. For perhaps
hundred yards the road will appear to
you step on the accelerate, only to have
your equanimity rudely disturbed by
crash into deep hole which makes you
wonder whether or not you are due for
an ascension through the top of the
car.
On advice Of the New Jersey road au-
thorities the American Automobile AS
ISOLATION routes you as follow:
Philadelphia, Market street ferry to
Camden. Camden to Mcrchantville,
Moorestown. Masonville. Mt. Holly. Turn
at Mt Holly to Columbus and through
to Bordentown. From Bordentown to
White Horse and White Horse to Tren-
ton.
Along Lincoln Highway.
Trenton to Lawrenceville and
Princeton and along the Lincoln high
way to New Brunswick. (Tired and
sick Of bad roads, the writer in COM
ing down from New York arrived at
New Brunswick. Here, weary of
signs showing detours, he went
straight through onto a road marked
closed. But what wonders there were
ahead! A brand new stretch Of con-
crete road, straight as a ribbon,
greeted the tired travellers. 1t lasted
for perhaps fifteen miles. and then
lapsed Off into the same old grind.
The moral Of this is: If by any mis-
fortune it is necessary for you to go
to New York by the short route, when
you get to Trenton. don't go by way