The New York herald., 1922-12-17
FLORIDA LURES THE
MOTORIST SOUTH
Thousands Leave for 'the
Land Of Perpetual
Sunshine

Wnen the hdrde ny SoutnWdho tnoe'
sands of motorists start from the wintry
North and follow them to 'the Land OF
Perpetual Sunshine" Some start IN the
early fall and stop. over in the Caro-
Mnas until after the holidays. then con-
tinue ON to Florida. Others prefer to
stay all winter at some OF the resorts
midway between New York and FIorioa'
such as Pinehurst. Camden. Aiken
Augusta, Savannah and Asheville. where
the climatic conditions are ideal TOT al
outdoor sports. the thermometer seldom
getting below 40. /. o. M. Wells, cher
readman of the Automobile Club OF
America, outlines the following tour as
the best:
starting from New York the Lincoln
Hiehway Ia followed through Newark,
New Brunswick, Princeton, Trenton and
Langhorne to Philadelphia. From Phil
adelphia two routes are available 10
Baltimore, both Of which are In good
condition. One Is via Kennett-Square'
Rising Sun and Belair. the other via
Wilmington and Havre de Grace The
latter route has excellent hotel accom-
modations 125 miles from New York.
From Baltimore the route continues TO
washington via the Bladensburg pike
From Washington going south the
roads are quite good through Freder-
tcksburg to Richmond. and after a very
careful inspection. and taking all routes
as a whole we consider the best way
to reach Durham from Richmond Is
through Petersburg, Dinwiddie. South
Hill. Clarksville and Oxford. y
There have been great many reports
recently that the route from Dinwidd,
across the new bridge over the Roanoke
River, through Henderson and OXFORD
was superior to the South Hill-Clarks-
VILE route. There isn't any doubt that
the latter route has been much improved
but there is considerable soft clay aitef
rains and motorists will find the best
percentage of hard road through South
Hill and Clarksville to Durham.
This has been a banner year LOT ths
Carolnas as to road construction, ana
IL thew continue their State programs
both the Carolinas will have hard sur
faced trunk lines in the next two years.
There is a difference of opinion as TO
which is the best way for motorists
going through to Florida from Durham'
After careful inspection by the Auto
mobile Club of America we can saiey
say that the best percentage OF Booo
road is from Durham through PINE
hurst. Camden, Columbia. Aiken. Au-
gusta, Savannah and BRUNSWICK.
There is considerable construction
work from Durham west through Hills
boro and Graham to Greensboro. we
were in hopes that the hard> surfaced
road under construction between Dur
ham and University would would De
finished by this time, and we are espe-
cially anxious about the new bridge at
Eaw River. However, with the excep-
ton OF about seven miles OF sand clay
road between Gibsonville and Green's
boro we are in hopes that there VIII De
an improved road between Durnam aho
- Hu
. II Charlotte, Greenville. Asheville or
Atlanta Is the objective point, after
leaving Greensboro the trunk line
through Salisbury. Charlotte. Spartan
burg, Greenville. Hopewell and Athens
to Atlanta will be found quite passable.
One of the greatest improvements on
this line is the new bridge across the
Savannah River at Hopewell, which
eli .inates the old ferry.
Motorists going to Asheville will md
the Chimney Rock route the most pic
turesque in the Blue Ridge Mountains,
passing famous Chimney Rock to Ashe-
Vile. known as the Land of the Sky"
From Greenville to Atlanta 1t is pref
erable to 60 through Athens, and II.
cross connection is desired there Is
good road from Athens through Thom-
son to Augusta.
Motorists who arrive In Augusta from
Aiken. Columbia, Camden and points
north can continue down the coast on
mostly good roads through Waynes-
boro, Sylvania and Springfield TO Savan-
nah.
The only bad piece of road from
Savannah to Jacksonville 10 from the
ferry landing at st. Mary's River
through the wood toward Yulee. This
stretch Is about eight miles long and
apt to be rough.
From jacksonville down along the
east coast the roads are all hard sur
faced with long stretches OF brick that
are only nine feet wide. There are also
a great many depressed culverts which
mako It necessary for motorists to drive
at a reduced speed and use caution.
There Ia a good road from Jackson
viIIe through Green Cove Springs and
Palatka. There 10 only one trans
peninsula route that is all good from
the east coast to the west coast This
starts at Daytona, running west through
De Land. Orlando, Kissimmee. Auburn
dale, Lakeland and Plant City to Tampa.
with the exception Of few short
stretches the entire east coast to Macon
and about eighteen miles below Macon
is hard surfaced and In good condition.
Motorists going down the interior route
from Greenviile vho desire to go direct
without going into Atlanta can con-
tinue due south from Athens through
Madison to Macon.
There has been considerable discussion
on the route from Macon south. via the
waycross route. There is a good route
to waycross. but from there on II is
atroeious. II Is preferable when going
south from Macon to go through VAL
dosta. Madison and Live Oak. where
fair connection can be made through
= Lake city to Jacksonville. or - con-
tinue south from Live Oak through
Springfield. Gainesville, Ocala and Lees
burg to Orlando. where the trunk line
is reached crossing the peninsula be-
tween Daytona and Tampa.
Motoring south depends entirely on
weather conditions. and after long
spell OF wet weather the clay roads are
apt TO be very bad. A great many
motorists who take their cars south and,
start during the month OF December.
ship by boat Information as to rates
for shipping. dates OF sailing. In fact all
information on Southern touring can be
obtained at the Bureau of Tours Of the
Automobile Club Of America.