The New York herald., 1922-06-04

stones and on fence posts. on anything
that would hold and show the paint.
marked that trail. Stencils gave the
black and yellow rival of the Yellow
stone Trail its distinction. The Buffalo
Blood Trail. dark red blazes. led the
old Sioux Indian prairies 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 a route. The spring itinerary would
be from Eastern States via Chicago.
Clinton. Iowa, and then, as the weather
permits. into western Nebraska and
southwark through the dry sage and
aikali 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
to be cold and it may be dangerous Il
one IS caught on this backbone OF the
Rockies by BLIZZARD. even in May.
The easiest transcontinental to make
is probably in the early summer. after
the spring rains. The route would be
the Lincoln Highway straight through.
The Lincoln Highway isn't as good as
the Sante Fe route, so far as actual
road conditions are concerned. There
are places along ii where houses are
fifty miles apart. where the water Is BIT
ter alkali. where the road Is bad. But
start in middle May leisurely trip to
the Rockies of twenty or thirty days,
and then twenty days via Cheyenne.
Green River Salt Lake City, Ely, Ne
vada. and Reno, New, Carson City or
Lake Tahoe. Placerville and over the
beautiful California roads to San Fran
cisco, camping most of the way, II not
all OF the way, includes the wonder OF
miles, mountains. deserts, wildernesses
and the farm land empires of the coun-
try. The same trip may well be under
taken in August, but care must be taken
not to run into early autumn SHOWS of
the Sierras beyond Reno. Better turn
south along via Ely. into Bakersfield.
California. rather than take the chance
Of being showed back by the Sierras.
One should not be bound too closely
by schedules or trails. Fellow tourists
coming from ones proposed region give
the latest and most reliable news.
Generally speaking, it is better to
work into one OF the main trails and
stick to it than to travel hit or miss.
No one should undertake a transconti-
mental trip without having his car put
into first class order. tires in good condi-
ton and with a proper outfit for cam
paigning. emergency repairs and raiment
for dust. heat and cold nights. 1t is.
of course. feasible to make the whole
journey, stopping at hotels, ranches and
at other accommodating places, but In
an emergency camping outfit will be
needed. and food for all hands in case
Of breakdown twenty miles out in a
desert or wilderness should be provided.
East of the Mississippi it is feasible to
travel fifteen or twenty miles an hour,
but every driver takes chances who
speeds faster on strange roads.
But the way is blazed and the watch
full driven can follow any of the trans
continental trails from coast to coast
by watching the painted signs. good
spotlight will enable him to travel night
or day. and if judgment is used a car
can be driven across at a cost of from
SIS to $3.50 a week. totnl expense.