The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1922-08-24
READY FOR THE START


towns and cities through which We
passed l recall Utica. Herkinia, and
Troy, and remember that We stopped
Tor supper in the latter city This
portion of the journey was through
very busy section There was
four track railway much OF the dis
lance along our route; often times
there would be the ship canal in sight
with another railway 1.-TWO or more
tracks, on the opposite shore. Some
times with all this evidence of enter
prise there would also be one, and
perhaps two, trolley lines in the same
view. Towns of considerable size
were sprinkled along, and even the
country was thickly settled; practi-
cally no forest land anywhere along
this route through the State of New
York. No lakes; the only water be-
ing an occasional small river. and
now and then mill pond made by
dam at some factory. For a State
of Maine man it is impossible to find
scenic beauty in journey which does
not disclose lakes, mountains, water
falls and forests.
After supper we drove from Troy
to North Adams. This was through
section as beautiful as anything
outdoors can be minus lake scenery
There was quite good deal of woods
and some very pretty ridges and val
leys between. A good part of this
distance, however, was in the dusk of
evening or the dark of night, 50 that
whatever beauty there was was more
or less overlooked In here some
where we struck five miles of road
under construction and found very
disagreeable going. We pulled
through, however, but there were
some mud spots spIashed on the
bright surface of our new machines.
We had been driving very busily
since abont that morning, and it
was something like II at night when
we pulled up at our hotel
The next morning Sunday we set
out about O'Clock. For the entire
journey we each tried TO keep sight
Of the car just ahead. To aid in this,
and to advertise the Franklin ma
chimes, each car carried on the rear
of its top big yellow banner with
the following wording Franklin.
Syracuse to Wateryille, Maine"
1t was fairly easy to keep your eye
on this yellow banner. Sunday fore
noon | was delayed in some way, and
the other cars got away from me. 1t
was rather an odd feeling. | knew
nothing at all about the route, and did
not have, as it happened, instructions
for our stopping place either at noon
or at night BY chance | had over
heard the manager Mr.. Jose, speak
of Lowell (MassaehusettsD and 50
commenced to inquire for that city.
Picking out my route toward Lowell
| came into Fitchburg about ! O'Clock
and quite to my pleasure | discovered
row of Franklin ears carrying vel
low banners parked in the business
part of the city. People standing BY
knew where the occupants were, and
soon found my way to the restaurant
where they were lunching.
After dinner ! managed to keep my
place in the procession. 1t was al
beautiful Sunday afternoon, and it
seemed as if all the automobiles in
ChristendOm were on the highway. We
moved in a continuous procession
and there was an equally busy line of
cars meeting us all the time / should
say these two streams of motor We
hicles passing each other were NOV
ing at intervals of not more than fifty
feet. Often times they were running
much closer than that. Hour after
hour ii was much the same, although
now and then we would strike see
ton where they were not quite sol
plentiful Somewhere about Is miles
before coming to Portsmouth a wreck |
ing truck got into our line. going our
way, towing a disabled car. This !
slowed up the procession and at one
point the pilot car ahead of me had
TO stop. | stopped all right; so did /
MI Joyce just behind me, but behind
nm was big seven-pasenger ma
chlhe filled with colored gentlemen. |
and as it afterwards proved, driven
py one who was somewhat intoxicated. |
lie stopped, TO be sure, but not quick
enough to avoid colliding with the |
rear OF Mr.. Jose's machine. and
smashing in the gasoline tank. Other
cars IN the rear piled up more or less, !
and altogether it was quite an exeit-
ing incident | have never learned !
now IL came out, but the darkies GER |
tainiy ought to have made good the
damage to the Franklin car.
When we got into Portsmouth it de-
veloped that most of the party were
oh -