Evening star., 1926-08-01
BY WILLIAM ULLMAN.
Automobile Editor The Star.

With the 1925 motor touring, season
In full swing. 1t is possible for even
the casual observer to note the vast
changes which have taken place in
communities, sections attitudes. per
sonalities and score of other phases
since the national good roads cam
paign has been bearing ripe and juicy
fruit.
In no other year since the autonno-
bile was in the experimental stage has
all this been so pronounced, because
never before have Americas roads
been in the condition which the mo-
tor tourist now finds them. These
changes, some of them clearly and
definitely seen, some Of them felt as
q surging undercurrent and some of
them barely hinted, now stand out in
the greatest relief; and the importance
of 1t all comes home as never before.
AS Rome felt at the time when its
roads were most perfect and most
comprehensive. and when that state
had reason to believe the future would
hold much more in the way of strad-
ding highways. so America now has
the right to feel. Thousands of miles
of perfect roads reach firm and slen-
der arms through prosperous towns,
through busy villages, through rolling
prairies, through mountain wilder
nesses and through trackless deserts
and the end is not yet.
Much More in Sight.
The end is not yet-not by many
more miles of highways. the last more
perfect than its predecessor-not by
tens OF thousands of miles Of cleaning
roads which will, in the not distant
future, pierce hamlets now sleeping
beside dust.laden. rut-ridden lanes;
will push through mountain passes
now sonnolent and echoing only the
tumble of stream or the hoot Of owl;
will connect fertile lands with pros
porous markets; will tie the whole of
the Nation in one strong and indis,
soluble chain of transportation facili-
ties.
What this 1925 touring season
brings forth so graphically is that
while American roads are now at their
highest point Of perfection. that while
they are being utilized at this time to
far more important degree than ever
previously. the future, and the rela-
lively near future. win far eclipse
that which at this moment Is con-
sidered so astonishing, so marvellous,
so significant.
The United States really is Just be.
ginning TO BWlHB i1tO It's TOdQ-DulIulIlS
stride. A start of magnificent proper
tions has been made. a grand network
of highways has been cast out over
the country. and from this point for
ward perfection of detail will come:
detail which bids fair to rival in i'm
portance the work already accom-
plished.
Capital Is Center.
Looking out over the Nation from
a point Of vantage at Washington.
the hub and heart Of so much good
roads interest, the careful observer
can note indications Of the signifl-
canoe Of what is to come and can. in
no uncertain manner, feel the pulse
beat OF the great body of achievement
which lies Immediately beyond this
turn. can visualize the truly thrilling
sweep of the movement which is to
be the next era IN the development of
Americas highways.
Idealists fear that the coming Of
good roads into the most remote Sec
tions of the Nation will mean de-
struction of its quaint, charming,
beautiful and undefiled spots wherein
primal Nature now holds full sway.