Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1922-04-22


There is no way Of avoiding deserts.
mountain ranges. poor roads or the
great open spaces. The Santa Re
rdutc follows The railroad closely, and
here the huii.eS or towns are seldom
more than - or 30 miles apart
along the highway. A train must
stop when signalcd by any one IN the
New Mexican, AriZonan or Californian
deserts. Water must be carried by
every tourist who values his life.
Every summer on the desert trails ig-
norance leads many to deadly peril
from thirst
Choice Of Trails.
The transcOntinental trails are,
counting from the north. south. the
Wonderland. Yellowstone. Lincoln
highway, Midland. National Old
trails and Southern highway. The
Oregon trail. from Oregon down TO
Salt Lake City. Pixies Peak, Ocean
TO ocean and other trails are found
along the highways. and 1t is prob
able that all the blazed trails In the
country number hundreds
When the automobile made touring
popular the Yellowstone highway.
from Chicago to the National Park.
was extended to Spokane. Across the
vast prairies, through the mountains.
over the deserts and through the
vacant spaces. splashes of yellow
paint on stones and on fence posts. on
anything that would show and hold
the paint. marked that trail. Stencils
gave the black -and-yellOw rival of
the Yellowstone trail It's distinction.
The Buffalo Blood trail. dark red
blazes, led across the old Sioux Indian
prarics and little local trail rivalries
stirred the northwestern villages
with grim determination to be on the
trail lines.
As a matter of fact, the season for
the journey Is most important In pick
ing route.
The spring itinerary would be from
eastern states via Chicago, Clinton,
Ia. and then as the weather per
mits, into Western Nebraska and
alkali of eastern Colorado. and down
into the national old trails after
passing the Kansas wet belt on the
North. But the Ration pass route is
apt tn be cold. and IL may be dan
gerous If one is caught on this back
bone of the Rockies by blizzard. even
In May.
Early Summer Best Time.
The easiest tranScon.inental TO
maze is probably in the early sum
mer after the spring rains. The
route would be the Lincoln highway
straight through. The Lincoln high
way isn't a. good rs the Santa Fe
route. 80 far ~ actual road cundi-
tions are concerned There are places
along il where houses are 20, miles
apart where the water is bitter al
kali. where the road IS bad. But n
Start IN middle May. leisurcly trip
Ia the Rockies of - or - days. and
then 20 days via Cheyenne. Green
River, Salt Lake city Ely, Nevada. and
Reno. Ncv.; Carson City or Lake
tiful California roads to San Fran
cisco. camping most of the way, II not
all of the way includes the wonder uf
miles, mountains, deserts, wilder
ncN~es and the farm land empires Of
the country. The same trip may well
Ice undertaken in August, but care
must he taken not To run into early
autumn SHOWS of the SicrraS he
yond Reno. Better turn south beyond
Ely. into Bakersfield. Cal. rather
than take the chance Of being showed
back by the SierraS.
One should not be bound too close
ly by schedules or trails Fellow
tourists coming from ones proposed
region give the latest and most re-
Liable news,
Avoid Hit or Miss.
GENERALLY Speaking II is better to
work into one of the main trails and
stick to it lhan to travel hit or miss.
M one should undertake trans
continental trip without having his
ear put into tirSt-CiasS order. tires in
-b''l ''ftAliRlNil anu " iAil 81 lti'lf't NHt7
III for campaigning emergency repairs
and raimcut for dust ana heat ana
cold nights. II is uf course feasible
to make the whole journey Storpir.
~ hotels. ranches and al other ~
communicating places. but in an emor-
sency camping outfit will hc needed.
and food Tor all hands in case of
breakdown - miles ont IN Il desert
or wilderness. should hc provided.
East uf III" MiSsiSSippi IL Is feasible
To- travel ~ IL or 20 mile, I'm hour hut
every driver takes chances wlu speed.
faster Mi strange roads
E,u The way is blazrd. and the
Matchful driver can follow amy of The
trun,coutincntal trails from. coast to
coast lay watching the painted slams.
\ good spotlight viii enable him To
travel night or day and II Judgment
is used car can he driven across at Il
total cost Of from S75 10 $3.50 - week.
total expenses. AuiomohoS do it for
much less.