Evening star., 1926-10-24
BY F. j. CARMODY,

Motor touring has grown to tire.
mendous proportions in the last few
years but. except for trips of relatively
short distance, it has pleasure as it's
chief objective. In rare but convinc-
ing instances it has been proved
beyond doubt that the automobile is of
the utmost utility In making business
trips of any length.
The factor above all others that goes
to make the automobile Of value to
the man who wants to use it for a
pleasurable business trip is careful
planning. 1t is possible when on a
long journey that is made for the pur-
pose of seeing America first" with
the entire family to go At the ques-
ton rather haphazardly. but when one
is travelling for business. one must
travel by a schedule as inflexible as
that of a small train.
At casual glance this might seem
difficult. 1t is not, according to Ernest
n. Smith, general manager of the
American Automobile Association, who
has just returned to Washington after
a 6.716mile tour which took him to
Salt Lake City and return in % days.
Mr.. Smith is a pioneer in the field
of using the automobile for business
hegiras. His 96-hour journey from
Washington to San Francisco last
year, accompanied by Thomas p.
Henry. president of the American
Automobile Association. still stands as
an accomplishment at which touring
enthusiasts may aim.
Maintain Rigid Schedule.
The story of his trip to the Utah
metropolis this Fall may well serve
as guide for the motor lover who is
interested in utilizing his car for other
than strictly pleasure purposes
Before leaving. Mr.. Smith and Elmer
Jenkins. director Of the American
Automobile Association National
Touring Bureau. who accompa anied
him, mapped for themselves a rigid
schedule, one that took into deep CON
sideration many factors that might be
overlooked by the more casual or
purely pleasure tour planner.
Distance is the chief problem Of any
tourist. How far can one expect to
GO in a day? Will one be too tired to
achieve the same mileage on the fol.
lowing day? When and where will
traffic conditions offer the greatest in
reference? Is night driving all that it is
reputed to be? Will detours throw
ones schedule into the discard? What
speed limits will rise to delay one?
Shall one put the car into f1rst-clas SIS
condition and give no more thought
to it until the end of the journey
provided, Of course. it doesn't need
jor operation en- route? What is
needed in the way of comfort equip
ment?
There were many other factors of
lesser Importance to be considered,
but not one was sighted in the pro.
gram.
On the basis of the experience
10 nc
San Francisco trip last year, it was
possible when traffic conditions are
ideal for the tourist who desires to
make time. In the matter of distance.
day and night objectives were listed.
with the latter being the greater.
Maintained Speed Limits.
Where there was likely to be traf-
fc interference the distance to be
covered was curtailed. and where the
highway was relatively clear the OBJ
5ective was placed farther away. De-
tours were not allowed to interfere,
because the A. A. A. officials were
fully apprised Of them and were able
to adjust their schedule accordingly.
Speed limits never retarded Mr..
Smith and his companion and they
ing they acquainted themselves with
the speed allowances and they made
time by steady rather than fast and
terky driving. AS on the transcon-
ttnental Journey, Mr.. Smith and his
companion alternated in plotting the
car. While one drove for two hours
the other rested, with the result that
whether it was driving or resting
that came next on ones schedule it
always found one with enthusiasm.
"One of the great deficiencies on
che ordinary touring trip is inadequate
equipment to assure one thorough
rest" says Mr.. Smith. I'VE met this
by taking with lis an extra comfort
able mattress. This mattress was
inches thick. 3l2 feet wide and fee.
long. It was so placed in the car
that il was absolutely comfortable
regardless of road. speed or other CON
Iitions The zest is taken from many
touring trips by insufficient rest. 1t
Is truly one of the deadly enemies of
q successful motor journey. We
guarded against II and were well re-
paid.
Numerous instances that show the
kreat advantage of night driving are
fitted by MIR. Smith. In one case.
driving from Cheyenne. Wyo.. to the
Black Hills in South Dakota, the pair
rovered the entire distance. passing
through only two towns and meeting
but one other car. On another part
Rf the Journey. from Grand Junction.
Colo. to Bryce, Utah. no towns Of
ANY size were encountered.
Proper food and sanitary drinking
cater are two considerations of prime
importance to the maker Of such a