Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-07-07

DETROIT, Mich. July s.-on a
Thomas A. Edison handed Henry
Ford a basket of lunch she had put
up and waved him and his chauffeur,
Burns, "good-by and luck" as they
drove away from the Edison home in
East Orange. N. j., where Mr.. Ford
had been an overnight guest.
1t was O'Clock. Clear sky. Picnic
lunch. Just q little nonstop trip-ex-
cept for gas--from East Orange to De-
troit in one day was the program.
A bad day for such a trip, for it was
Sunday, when all the United States
gets on wheels. But Mr.. Ford, who was
in one Of his own little caxs, wanted to
see the most of folk and countryside
and highway trafflc possible in one day.
The route was through the Delaware
Water Gap, on route ~. s. 20" and
"U. S. g." through the Alleghanies,
Troy, Pa; Erie, Cleveland and Toledo.
Asked his impression of people.
homes, farms highways and automo-
Everything, everywhere. looked rs
per cent better than 10 years ago." he
I'VE drove through in one day. made
fast time, and we did not break the
law. But we kept going. Mrs. Eolsons
basket of lunch saved US the time we
must otherwise have spent waiting ior
meals at hotels. We ate as we rode.
Reasons for Betterment.
why are things so much better
than 10 years ago?"
is the answer" Mr.. Ford said. The
highways we're crowded nearly all the
wav after the early morning hours.
More and wider highways are coming
in this country We need them. Inere
will be three tracks each way. Inc
neonle Of this country have learned
what transportation has done and Is
doing for Il. And 1t is transportation
and industry combined which nave
given the people this money ana leisure
to get out and go far, .A.
II think we saw tens OF tnousanos
NJ automobiles on that days drive. Ano
everybody out for the days rub with
nature and a visit to the next county
or state appeared happy. prosperous
hopeful. Most of them were the plan'
healthy folk who do the work OF Inc
world and use what they have created
They are our best people.
They seemed happier than tney uSeo
to be. They seemed to be getting along.
with plenty Of work for the work oays
money to finance 1t. The very high.
ways-broad and smooth-representeo
labor and money enough to indicate
Motoring is q much happier pastime
than It used to be. Most OF its worries
are gone. You remember back IN the
early years of the automobile industry
when you couldn't drive far on any wen
travelled road without coming 10 some
notorist by the roadside working on
tire or fussing with the motor?
Everything More Dependable.
"That is all gone. Everything is more
dependabIe. Good roads, good motors.
good tires-these have removed the
numerous deliberations Of motoring.
"As we drove through we saw many
people driving of on side roads for pic
mics and others buying at roadside
stands what they needed TO add to their
supplies for the picnic. Leisure AND
money to do these things have gained
rapidly in recent years among the plain
people in the United States.
But prosperity was not in evidence
only on the highways. Farms and
homes and industrial plants all through
that section of the country appeared In
fine condition.
There are many new houses. Many
houses with new paint on them. Paint
is a good sign of prosperity-for both
the people and the paint concerns:
Yards were we'll kept Happy and
prosperous people take pride in these
things. Many front porches, arbors and
yard fences between the lots were
covered with roses. Flowers around
homes all along the way were evidence
of a good state Of mind among our
people.
"Of course. the broad view Of that
route Is beautiful at any time OF the
year. But closeup there was every
evidence that the people have time and
money and thought for dressing up
homes and yards and making them
comfortable and beautiful.
Auto Spreads Ideas.
Now, I suppose hundreds of these
home owners in former years had very
limited ideas about how to make their
fail NJ tn n