Evening star., 1927-11-06
TRAVEL ON ROADS FROM CITY
OFFERED PERILS Is YEARS AGO
Dangerous, Rough and Muddy Highways,
Cluttered With Toll Gates, Sharp Con-
trast to Fine Drives of Today.

Motoring has not always been
smooth roads, balloon tires, shock alb
sorbers and deeply upholstered seat
cushions, as the man who turns back
to the old Blue Book published in the
motor ages dawn can readily see.
Such a backward glance has been
taken by +. G. Totten, 1921 Lamont
street northwest. and the automobile
editor, who distinctly remembers
when" reprints Mr.. Totten's findings,
confident that they will be interesting
to both old and new motorists.
Well known routes which are al
most as familiar to the present-day
motorist as the street in which he
lives then were often impossible.
Such fine highways as the Baltimore
or Richmond roads, to whose condi-
tons no motorist now would give
even thought, in the early days were
at times impossible and in good
weather had their bad stretches. A
direct route to Annapolis, for in.
stance, was characterized as sim
passable," and motorists were advised
to go by way of Baltimore, where
they would find good road of "oyster
Shells
Times, however, have changed con.
siderably, as Mr.. Totten's story shows.
He writes as follows:
Good Roads Unknown.
mot SO many years ago, when the
Washington motorist filled his tank
with gas, pumped up his tires, put on
his goggles and linen duster and gave
the old bus a crank, he did not have
the good fortune to glide along at
high speed on concrete and macadam
roads like those that lead out into SO
many different directions today. Nor
did he possess much Of a guide book
to direct him upon his tours, nor
many signposts to point the way.
Even when making short trip to
nearby points Of interest, the going
was rough, as glance at the touring
directions in the 1911 issue Of the Blue
Book will make plain. At that time
the road distance between Washing
ton and Alexandria was 10 miles. In
the Blue Book of that year Is found:
Leaving Washington we pass through
Georgetown and cross the Aqueduct
Bridge. Reaching Rosslyn on the Vir.
ginia side we turn left on dirt road
running between the river and Airing
ton Cemetery. Keep straight ahead
on very rough dirt road into Alex
andria, total distance. 10 miles. The
trip may be continued to Mount Yer.
non, but the roads are worse and the
pleasanter trip by boat down the riv-
er is always recommended
when the word 'macadam' was
given as the condition Of a road 1t did
not mean the perfect surface that we
know by that name today. Usually
It referred to a rough and worn pike,
with long ridges in it. where wagon
wheels had cut deep ruts and where
chuck holes were the rule and not the
exception. 1t was on these macadam
or pike hoadS that toll was often ex-
acted Of the tourist, he being obliged
to carry an ample amount OF small
change, as the collection of tolls was
frequent. On the pike running from
Washington to Olney, 10 miles, the
toll was 20 cents each way.
Tourists Urged to Ask Way.
every often the Blue Book of that
day was not sure Of it's ground and
the directions given therein were
adapted from the notes of some
motorist who had covered the routes.
In the pages of the 1911 issue the
traveller is frequently advised to Stop
and inquire directionsc The follow
ing brief quotations from the early
Blue Book form a striking contrast of
conditions that existed in those try
ing times Of motoring, and the
smooth, comfortable roads that de-
light the motorist of today: