New-York tribune., 1921-09-11
A. c. A. Reports ON
Road Conditions
In New England
Touring Possibilities in New
Hampshire and Maine Are
Analysed on Inspection
Trip by MIR. o. M. Wells
By O. M. Wells
Chief Roadn,a4s, tho Automobile Club
Of America

Of America
All Of Northern New England and
the maritime provinces of Canada were
covered In the last inspection trip
made by the road car of the Automobile
Club Of America. New Hampshire and
Maine road conditions are embodied
the touring possibilities in New Bruns-
wick and Nova Scotia.
The east side trunk line from Ports
mouth to Dixville Notch via Roches-
ter. Ossipee, North Conway and the
Pinkham Notch to Gorham, then up
the Androscoggin Valley, is all in
good condition, the surface consisting
Of gravel road recently dragged.
The Crawford Notch road from Bart
lett to Twin Mountain. Is beginning to
show wear from the heavy summer
travel, but Is in quite passable condi-
tion and should prove excellent for
fall travel, the recent rains having
packed and levelled the surface and
eliminated the .ruts.
The road through Francon1a Notch
is in excellent condition and the same
is true Of all approaches to the Notch
All the way from Boston, via lowell,
Nashua, Concord, Franklin and around
through Laconia, Meredith and Ply
mouth the roads are in fine shape.
From Ossipee to Wolfboro the sur
face is poor. Construction is now going
on between Melvin Village and Wolf
boro.
At Lake Winncpesaukee
Motorists should stay away from the
east side of Lake Winnepesaukee unless
it is absolutely necessary to make this
frsr koS {o Ha% %A 1
from Center Harbor. From Center Har-
Dor to West Ossipee there is a gravel
road almost perfect, with the exception
Of about one hundred yards. This route
forms good connection between the
Merrimac Valley and the Ossipee Val
ley and Central Maine points. This
route has the advantage of some very
fine scenery.
The best way to go from Portland, Me-,
to the White Mountains, at the present
time, is via Cum mberland Mills, West
brook, Gorham, Standish, Steep Falls.
West Baldwin, Hiram, East Brownfeld,
Fryeburg, Conway Center, Redstone
and North Conway. This Is all good
gravel with the exception of short
stretches under construction between
Steep Falls and Standish and between
the Hiram town line and East Brown
field.
To roach Augusta from Portland t.
shortest and best way ID to go 60
Brunswick, then over = good, hard-sur-
faced road which does not pass through
6 village all the way to Gardner; then
there are four miles Of rough road
to Hallowell and good surface fror
there to Augusta. The route from
Augusta to Rockland via Togus, South
Windsor Corners, Coopers Mills, JEFF
ferson and Winslow Mills to Waldo
boro is all good gravel, with the ex-
ception of a very rough stretch, about
one mile long, between Togus and Coop
ers Mills. The above road is q good
summer road and can be used by motor
lists going east through Augusta, If the
objective point is Rockland; at the
same time the best way to reach the
shore route and the coast of Maine, be-
tween Brunswick and Camden, is to run
south from Augusta.
Bridge Under Repair
Motorists going to Bangor had better
go to Augusta and Waterville, as the
bridge is being repaired at Belfast,
making it necessary to, use, the upper
bridge, which Is two miles longer, and
then detour is necessary which is
long and poor. From the bridge to
Searsport the trunk line is entirely
closed.
The road is closed between Stockton
and Prospect. Motorists going to Bucks
port and Bangor have to take a long
and hilly detour to Prospect. From
Prospect to Bangor the surface is ex-
cellent, and as the motorist continues
up the Penobscot Valley the views over
looking the river are very fine, with
rugged hills on both sides and high
mountain ranges towering in the dis
tance.
From Bucksport. on the east side of
the river, the road is quite hilly, but
the surface is fair gravel.
On the route from Bucksport to Ellis
worth, via Blue Hill and Surrey, there
are some stiff hulls. The surface is
gravel in good condition all the way.
except for two short sections now un-
der construction, where fills and cuts
are being made. The direct road be-
tween Bucksport and Ellsworth is fair.
except for q short section through the
woods, which is rough.
In going from Ellsworth to Winter
Harbor good gravel Is found to Han
cock, then cross by ferry from Hancock
to Sullivan. The road from West
Gouldsboro to Winter Harbor Is i'm
proved. The road. on the return from
Winter Harbor, via Harbor Birch and
Prospect Harbor, is good gravel, and
also the road from Sullivan and the
Hancock Ferry via West Gouldsboro.
The route via Steuben. Millbridge and
Harrington is excellent at the present
time. but the above is not advised in
preference to the direct road via
Cherryfeld. The Hancock Sullivan
ferry Is inconvenient. the charge is 81