Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-08-26
BY WILLIAM HARD.

A momentous national problem Is
furnished to the United States, or at
any rate illustrated to the United
states as this writer believes and as
serts, by the present condition and ap--
pearance Of that great specimen OF
arterial motor car traffic movement
known as the Washington-B altlmore
pike.
pearances rapidly are developing on az
great motor car through routes N az
parts of the country and they hold up
before the mind an appalling picture OF
the miseries of long distance cross
country travel in the near future.
A few years ago, a journey oy motor
from Washington to Baltimore was a
pastoral delight. Rest and retreshment
came from a contemplation OF the I'M
spoiled scenes that lay along the roao,
side. The journey meant an lnterVai
or renewed contacts with nature. IL
accomplished not only an arrival at
Baltimore but a change and neWness
of mind.
Safety Signs Spoil View, Too.
Now IL accomplishes an arrival IN
Baltimore plus an accentuatlng OF an
the horrors of city street driving ana
of city street observation.
In the first place the increased speed
of motor cars has rendered necessary
an almost continuous series OF SIGNS anu
other devices furnishing directions TO
drivers. Does the road swerve DIT?
There must be a sign informing the
Fastening motorist that curve-ano
need for reduction of speeds ap-
preaching.
Does a trolley car cross the road?
The motorist must be warned by vast
apparatus of danger signals which VIII
catch his eve at a sufficient distance
from his peril to enable him to reach IL
with his car under control.
These precautions are increasingly
necessary and increasingly multltud.
inous because of the higher power OF
engines and the higher rate OF speed to
which they attain. simultaneously, the
public authorities find 1t desirable and
Unavoidable to set up hundreds upon
hundreds of markers to indicate to the
motorist the number of miles per hour
at which, along any given stretcn OF
road. he may lawfully and safely pro-
coed. Additionally they find 1t desirable
and unavoidable to set up other nun
dreds of markers telling him where he
may or may not park.
Almost a Charted Track.
Altogether the signs and markers and
nointers for travelling directions alone
are almost enough now to change the
old Washington Baltimore pike from
road through the country to the near
equivalent Of charted track IN rae
ing stadium.
On top, then, of all these necessary
diversions from the beauties ana joys
of the countryside and all these neces-
'sarv reminders of imminent danger and
of lawful procedure, which by them
selves would turn the trip from pleas
IRE into effort, there come the en-
deavors and the attentions OF those
friends of the motorist who provide
him with his supplies and with his
Hundreds of signs tell him the best
tires. Hundreds tell him the best OILS.
Hundreds expatiate to him on the re!a,
tive merits of rival gasollnes. SUI
other hundreds discourse to him on
makes of cars, on varieties Of head
lights, on distinguishing characteristics
of ignition systems.
If thus the appetite of his vehicle
receives solicitous consideration. so,
too, does his own appetite. Unendlng
signs are erected to stimulate his pre-
paredness for lunch, for breakfast, Tor
dinner. The boldest of these are not
satisfied with one statement or invita-
ton to him. They go in for repetitive
and cumulative appeal. They announce,
more or less:
"Six miles to the worlds hottest hot
dog" ..
give miles to the worlds hottest
hot dog"
-Four miles to It,"
"Three miles to It,"
Why Look for . Daisy?
Who can keep an eye out for daisy