Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-04-21
In the Motor World
BY q. ADAMS HOWARD.

question to Maryland, 1t would
only seem fair to interrogate the
Old Dominion. Especially during
the apple blossom season, and In
the Spring thereafter, residents
of this city are wont TO traverse
the scenic wonderland of that re-
gion to our south. Two of the
principal thoroughfareS are GER
tainly forbidding. Richmond, Pc
tersburg and thereon are allur-
ing.
But what of the direct routes
to the Valley? Years ago one
asked, "How is the road to Luray?"
The answer was, Good, except a
stretch between Warrenton and
Sperryville." The question also
was asked years ago, "How is the
road to Winchester, by way Of
Fairfax" The answer then was,
Good, except between Aldie and
Middleburg."
What the answer was then is
the answer now. Oh, yes, they
have been working on it for some
time. For some years. Convict
labor has been employed. It
would seem that they have mighty
poor convicts in Virginia, If viewed
from their work on the roads. In
the words of the Civil War song
by Charles Randall, it looks like
Potomac Calls to Chesapeake"
might be reiterated. Help is need
ed somewhere!
Danger Signals.
Call right, let's leave the two
States alone and go for a story
on Conduit road, which is Federal
property. A yarn comes from
Officer Ferguson out that way.
It was when the Government
was laying new water mains. Most
Of the upper roadway was torn
up in spots. Signs bearing Dan
ger" were numerous. An old Ger
man driver was noted driving his
car along the roadway at a mod
crate rate of speed. But every
time he came near a danger sign
he sped up towel, way above
what the law allowed. Ferguson
approached him. What is the
idea?" he asked. "You step on it
every time when you shouldn't"
WELL" the German replied,
where I was from, when I saw
the sign danger I always tried
to hurry away" He was from the
blasting coal regions in PennSyl-
vania.
Sergt. Milton D. Smith, diminu-
tive representative of the police
force, reads the ads. "Say," he ex-
claimed recently, Il see where the
automobile manufacturers say it
is two-car-for- every-family era.
Now I think it should be a garage
for-every-family era. I don't know
what city allows all-night parking
like Washington"
The policeman may rival the
late Vice President Marshall in
what the country most needs"
William H. Harland, director of
traffic, is on business trip north
ward. He will return tomorrow.
His assistant, M. o. Eldridge, has
been called out of town because
Of the illness of his mother. In
spector Brown is at present acting
traffic head. He being out the
other day, Sergt. Joe Harrington,
hack inspector, was asked If there
was any news. His only reply was,
mo, our department is caring for
the Daughters of the American
Revolution; we are too busy for
any news"
Autos Help Railroads.
One of the leading new sources
of freight income for railroads
comes from the shipment of motor
vehicles and other motor trans
portation products, according to
the annual report of the Southern
Railway. Fairfax Harrison, preSi-
dent of the road, comments on the
situation in his report as follows:
while the automobile has taken
from us a substantial part of our
passenger revenue, it has at the
same time made a large contribu-
ton to our freight revenue, no
less than IS per cent of which last
year was derived from the trans
portation of automobiles and
parts, oil and gasoline, road-build-
ing materials and other COM
moditieS which moved by rail to
supply demands created by the
widespread use of the auto
mobile"