Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1922-04-06


American Automobile Association
Editors Note-George C. Diehl,
president of the American Automo-
bile Association, has given much time
and thought to a plan that would
make motoring in America a far bet
ter, swifter and surer thing than now.
1t is said to be highly practical and
many of the greatest automobile ex-
perts in the country have given it
their 80. K" All rar owners, at
least, will be interested in it.
Would it appeal to you to be able
to take an automobile trip from Can
ada to the Gulf or from Maine to
California, and yet all the while be
no further away than a local tele-
phone call from a mechanical service
station, legal aid or complete touring
information
No doubt such a result seems a
trife visionary, even for this era of
all home comforts" wherever one
goes. Nevertheless, the American
Automobile Association has worked
out a plan by which just such a re-
suit not only is possible, but which,
in fact, could be in successful operat-
ton within comparatively short
time
While it is true that no automobile
organization ever before has attem-
pied TO make national the scope of
such work, yet we are absolutely con-
fident that the plan is practical and
would function successfully from the
start.
Twenty or more divisional head
quarters of the American Automobile
Association, established throughout
the country would have general sup
ervision of the arrangements for their
respective territories
Investigations have shown US that
we would not experience any difficult
ty in securing the whole-hearted CO.
operation of reputable mechanical SER
vice stations. We have found for one
thing, that this plan appeals to every
one interested in the motorists well
fare. Furthermore, every up-to-date
mechanical service station has quick
ly grasped the distinctive business adj
vantage of being singled out as the
representative for his locality of the
American Automobile Association.
Service Man to Help
The local service man would very
gladly, as We have learned, agree to
give mechanical FIRST add for emer-
gency cases on the highway without
an added fee from the A. A. A. mem
Der. The service man realizes that
through his connection with the AS
ISOLATION large volume of business
would come to him that otherwise
might go to his competitor nearby.
The official connection between Mr..
Garageman and the Association guar
antees to our members fair prices
and prompt service when repair work
shall prove necessary.
Regarding legal aid, experience
has shown US that the very best legal
talent throughout the country is a.
valuable for this service.
Touring bureaus could be estab-
llshed at all the divisional and dis
trlct headquarters. These places
would have constantly on hand COM
plete maps and latest reports as to
road conditions.
1t has long been our ambition that
the highways of the nation should be
marked in a systematic manner. and
Especially the PRINCIPAL highways.
One such system that has been sug
gested is the use of route numbers.
The telegraph poles would be painted
with band Of white on which would
be stenciled the ''route number" For
instance the New York to San Fran
cisco route might be given the num-
Der ''7'', and this figure stenciled on
Ia background of white paint, would
appear at frequent intervals clear a.
cross the continent.
Routes Soon Marked
The task Of marking the poles is
not as stupendous an undertaking as
at first might be supposed. Our divi-
SIGNAL headquarters would issue in
structlons to our district headquarters
and co-ordinating as one, the entire
route could be marked in a few DAYS.
This route system would do much
to avoid the confusion which the car
owner now experiences, because on
leaving New York all he would have
to do would be to watch the poles
for the figure ''7" Our plan calls for
the painting OF SO many poles that
the motorist would never be out of
sight Of a marker day or night. The
same crews that painted the route
numbers would also place markers
for dangerous curves and railroad
crossings.
Official A. A. A. hotels, together |
with our supervision of camping sites
III the western and southern sections
OF the country, complete the service