The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-08-29
M D N /, w o M E N
 A ND T H IN G s

[ A ND T H l N G s l
 Brother, can you tell me where the nearest filling station is?" This was the question fired at me the other day as I swung out of the Twentieth street entrance of the Tut wiier.
 It was asked by a jolly red-headed fellow who had travel stains upon his sensible costume. and on seeing his automobile parked at the curb l became immediately interested in the party. for it was evident that they had been on a long journey. Havins pointed out the nearest place he could get gas and oil, be- came the interviewer and learned that he lived at Hawkinsville, Ga, and had been on the road since July 10. and was on the return trip from Wyoming to the old home place in Georgia
 He was accompanied by his wife, sister, daughter and nephew, and each one testified that they had had 8 great trip in getting intimately ac- quainted with their home country, and each one was glad that they had viewed not from the window of a fast rushing train, but leisurely from an automobile.
 The party was independent of hotels, for camping outfit made it wherever 8 suitable camping place was found. They all sang the praises of the camping places established by the various automobile clubs, saying running water, gas or oil stoves and other conveniences.
 
 The outgoing route was rather a circuitous one. From Ha.wkinsville they headed for Columbus, Ga, then to Montgomery. Selma, Meridian. Jackson, vicksburg, Shreveport, Dal- las and on up to Pueblo. reaching the latter place a few days after the flood and at time when bodies were still being found. The next objective was Colorado Springs. Denver. and then into Yellowstone Park.
 
 On the return jorney the first point was Cheyenne, Denver. Wichita, Kan, Oklahoma City, Little Rock, Mem phis. Birmingham. From here they were headed for Montgomery and for home by way of Columbus, after hay ing travelled 5000 miles without any mishaps of consequence and all great ly improved by their 50 days outing in car. The whole party was as "chipper" as you please.
 I was interested to learn how much had been spent for gas and found they had kept an accurate record of the amount paid out, and it was less than $100. The price paid for it varied from 20 to 70 cents per gal lon. They had carried extra tires and had spent around $50 for two more bought en route. They made the trip from Hawkinsville to Color ado without puncture. The worst roads encountered were in the swamps of Arkansas. where there are still few gaps in the high way. but which are rapidly being connected up. They were loud in their praise of the markers along the highway In the west, saying they had no trouble in crossing the desert, as it was so plainly marked as to make 1t impossible to take the wrong road. I hope the good work of marking" will be kept up on this side of the Mississippi river.
 W. c. Buchan is a philosopher, and his wife merry hearted woman. When asked why such a trip was made, he laughingly answered, Roll weevils." I thought he was kidding me. but soon found out he was in earnest. Here is how he figured 1t out. He had about 2,0o0 acres of land | and sold all but 700 acres, as his cot l ton crop had been a failure. So he said to his better half, "Wife, lets let the farm lie out this year and take the money we would lose in planting cotton and have good time seeing America"
 She was willing. and so they got good touring car and congenial party, and, as he said, just roamed around to see if there was any place where the boil weevils were Ietting cotton alone. Hence the detour into Texas. Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Mis- sissippi, but everywhere he went he found the pestiferous little insect on the job devouring the profits of the cotton farmer. And so he returns home convinced that the best way to beat the pest is to diversity the crops. It was happy, natural, jolly party. Just the kind of folks who are the backbone of these United States. hope they arrived home safely.
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