Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1921-03-27


there were but two inches between
my fender and the wagon and only
eight inches to the edge on the
other side, with the wagon so far
toward the bank that she hubs
were in the gravel. But that road
is now being widened by a hum
bred Indians. 1t was only a day
or two previous that minister
and his family. went over the bank,
nobody was hurt, and later
on in the journey a fliyverlte told
us of the narrow escape he had
going down In Bajada when his
brakes absolutely refused to work.
Five miles farther on, at the set
tlement of Domingo, there lay
disabled Illinois car that had also
tried to run away down La Bajada.
When Travel Ceases.
For the next 40 miles we we're
compelled TO cross dozens OF ar
royas which showed evidences of
being wild rivers when there hap
pens to be rain: II is then that
travel over the Santa Fe trail must
cease, temporarily at least.
Going into Albuquerque we had
to make a detour over a road that
the worst in Illinois can be called
a boulevard in comparison and
which spells stop in moist weather.
Albuquerque has a municipal
camping ground, with shower bath,
hot and cold water and other con-
veniences to bring joy to motorists
who have ploughed through the
talc-like dust 10 the north Of the
town. which boasts a good wido
main street, decent buildings and
thrift as we'll; but 1t has a rough
hundred-year- old road leading out
of town to the south and which
Immediately crosses the Rio
Grande on a ramshackle bridge
that, when a car is crossing II,
makes the roar of artillery take
second place.
"You Jolt along on this road for
ten miles and your state of mind
is not improving rapidly, either.
Then comes more or less sand--a
relief at least. At Belen the river
is crossed again--and three more
times ere SoCorro Is reached.
"We thought we had seen bad
roads around Wagon Mound and
Shoemaker, but after a score OF
miles had been covered out OF
Delen we changed our minds-now
we had the worst yet.
Twenty miles is over table
land road that has been we'll grad
ed and is a part Of the new state
highway. This a little farther on
becomes a sink hole for Is miles
or more and even the redoubtable
flivver had to call for help in try
ing to negotiate this stretch. which
permitted a car to sink so deep in
dust that the spare wheel on the
back dragged on the high center.
Through Young Mountains.
"NoW we come TO the hills again
and have to wind our way up and
down and in and out and around
some decidedly steep. but with
roadbeds for the most part good.
Il was coming on evening here and
the glare from the sinking sun. a
big red ball of fire IN this section,
simply compelled stop before the
summit had been reached--it was
impossible to look into that fire
ball and locate the road for even
a few feet and driving In low gear.
ut was the sloWet S7-mlle sec
ton we had encountered and we
were ready TO tackle anything in
the line of eating when we pulled
into Socorro, 1896 miles from
Chicago
"Socorro has a wonderfully mod
ern hotel, good garages, plenty OF
eating places and a well-kept nu-
nicipal camping ground that has q
warm water spring in it. 1t was
here we began to see the price OF
gasoline soar. for we paid Is cents
a gallon for the fluid and took on
all the tanks could stand.
"Socorro gets all the travel from
the Denver way and also from st
Louis and Kansas City. The day
before our arrival f55 west bound
cars passed through the town. and
that was nothing in the way of a
record breaker. they told US. II
merely showed the extent of west
bound motor travel.
Into Blue Canyon.
Three miles out of Socorro we
entered Blue canyon, a delightful
spot and with wonderful scenery
The road is decidedly up and down
and nothing but curves. Although
fair as to quality of surface, II is
narrow and calls for caution, par.
ticularly when passing. The road
is good To Magdalena, a distance
of rs miles, apd Magdalena is good
as a town for it has modern au-
tomobile places and other thing:
the traveller wants.
I'VE are now swinging westerly
and somewhat northerly. for So.
zorro is the farthest south we
touch. and our objective is Spring
erville, just over the New Mexico.
Arizona border. The roads begar
| to be rough but hard and not a:
good as that east of Magdalena
We ran into some sand, and q
miles out of Magdalena all sign;
of decent roads end; we are in tn,
toughest we have encountered
! with grades and turns galore, bu'
in most interesting part, for thu
road led through pine forests tina
offered delightful campsites.
Away out in that wilderness
there is now coming to compile
ton, near Datil, as modern a hote
as one might expect to see in /;
place of hundred thousand in
habitants-and it will find plent!
of patronage, too, We run through
much rough road, with rocks tina
threaten stone bruises to tires ant
come out on splendid mesas. o
tablelands. only to drop into can
yon or through winding pass in
TO valley.
4 Lunch at Quenado.
"A stop was made at Quemad
4 for luDcheon. There is a smal
/ garage. what once was a borde
saloon. and one Or two other build