The Natchitoches enterprise., 1921-10-06
widest one hundred foot graded dirt

TO0O TO Cne n6rTOWeSL mountain Trail
which was scarcely wide enough for
one vehicle at time. All kinds, yes,
all kinds, from the long stretches on
the Amarillo Plains over which a car
will run of its own accord while the
driver takes nap, to the most crooked
and billy sections IN the Rockies where
it required two persons to drive, one
to sound the horn, or manipulate the
spot light if by night, while the other
one held the wheel and applied the gas
and breaks. All kinds, from the most
monotonous stretches of dirt and sand
in the western part of the Lone Star
State to the most picturesque routes
through the deserts of Arizona, the
canons of New Mexico, and grandeur
OF the serpentlne paved road leading
down the western slope of the pass be-
tween the San Gabriel and the San
Bernardino Mountains of California.
A few words by way of description
OF certain of our experiences might be
helpful to those who may have occasion
to undertake a similar trip. as we'll as
entertaining to other readers.
In the first place, In undertaking a
cross-country trip in an automobile
carry as little baggage as possible. 1t
is not at all necessary to stock up with
provisions, gas or oil, except perhaps
a quart or so of oil, a gallon or so of
gas, and sandwich or so to be used
in cases of accident. 1t is easy enough
to travel from one supply station to
the next in q few hours This is even
true across the deserts of New Mex CO.,
Arizona and California.
The driver should keep his eve on
the road every foot of the way. as
there are many treacherous place s,
such As sharp rocks in sections where
the lava beds appear on tho surfaces,
sand holes on the deserts, gopher
holes also, de;ours. and deep rats. We
broke two front springs by driving too
fast over such places. One of these
cases constituted the only serious diff
Guilty encountered. This occurred on
the night when we drove across the
Mohave desert from Needles to Bar.
stow: Ny son was at the wheel while
! was asleep in the pullman, prepara-
tory to driving the latter part OF the
night, when he struck a deep sand
hole with the right front wheel, break
ing every leaf but one in the spring.
There we were, twenty miles from
nowhere, alone in the desert, with not
piece of wood or other substance with
which to repair. not even a stone big
enough to use. Mrs. C. held the trou
bic light, NY daughter kept the sand
spiders and desert bugs and lizards
away while we got out and under. We
lacked up the front end of the ear.
arranged the broken pieces~ Of spring
in the center and with the aid Of the
two running board mats succeeded in
repairing the break successfully so
that we were able to drive $50 miles
into San Bernardino without having to
stop for repairs.
The driver should also keep his eve
on the motor meter al this tells YOU
wnen the motor is becoming too hot.
Over-hesting may be due to undue
friction In the bearings, which is not
iikeiy II your car is in proper condition.
due to water in the radiator. or due to
lack OF oil, or due to fan t.ouble.
once the motor meter told US the
water was low and upon examination
the pet cock was found open. caused
by humping down upon some obstruc-
ton on f94gh roads. Again the motor
meter told Us the oil was low and uDon
we found the breatker
cap lost from the oil pan, which was
also due to the rocky roads to Caliun
At still another time the motor meter
told US something was WRONG and nnon
examinatlon We FOUND the fSn heit ~
lost, also due to rough roads and the
consequent irregularity of the speed Of |
Ihere are still other causes for over
heating OF the motor, as for example.
ne short clrculting of the generator.
We @st With several examples of this
trouble along the way. Ole party had
started out on . long desert drive and
vas obliged to tnrn back twenty miles
md have his generator repaired. IF
lis battery was fairly well charged
re could have simply ground the cur
'ent IN the generator and proceeded
y If ne had hot shot battery he could II
ave disconnected the generator en-
lrely and run on the hot shot. II
We observed Q number of tourists
Who were experiencing trouble in de-
cending steep hills and mountains
'ecause OF burning the breaks. Evil
lentiy they were not aware of the fact
nat by running in low gear the back
ction OF the engine would serve as
,reak and thus avoid the burning of
he break bands.
Most OF the difficulties noticed along
ne way We're due to overlooking Of
ars, usually with baggage. or to lack
I foresight in providing some of the
ccessories mentioned above.
ROBERT A. CUMMINS.