The Washington times., 1931-01-24
SMOOTH MOTOR.
ROUTES LEAD
To SOUTH
Fine Highways Connect North
With Resorts; Florida, Geor-
gia, CaroIinas Lure Many

gla, Car0lInaS Lure many
AS soon as the leaves fall from
the trees and shrubs, the ardent
motorists thoughts turn to the
Southland. to North and South
Carolina. to Georgia and to
Florida which are the center of
attraction during the winter tour.
ing season.
There are many routes leading
into the famous resorts in these
regions. and the "best" route de.
pends largely upon the morotist's
objective. In this first article,
The Automobile Club of America
describes the routes running
down into the Eastern part Of
North Carolina.
Leaving Washington. cross the
Potomac and follow Federal Route
No. through Alexandria, Dunn
fries and Quantico into Fred
erickSburg, and then straight OIL
southwark into Richmond, one
Of Virginia's most historic cities.
Much Of interest may be seen
in Capitol Square. which covers
IL acres Of ground in the center
Of the city. The capitol building
was designed by Thomas Jeffer-
son, the foundation for which
was laid in 1875, the building
being finished in 1892. During
the civil war, Richmond, in ad-
dition to being the capital Of Vir-
ginia, was also the capital for the
Confederacy. In the rotunda of
the building is the famous Hou'
don statue of Washington, the
sculptor coming from Paris at
the suggestion of Jefferson to
Mount Vernon to make the i'm
age.
Much of Interest
Continuing along Route /,
Petersburg is the next important
city on the highway. This city
played a big part in both the
revolutionary and the civil wars
and there is much of interest to
be seen. Perhaps the two greatest
points for the tourist are Bland.
ford Church and the Crater. With
in the walls of the cemetery
stands the ivy-mantled church
whose handsome stained glass win
dows were contributed by the Con-
federate States in honor Of their
10000 soldiers who were laid to
rest nearby.
The Crater is a spot Of unusual
interest. It is a depression in the
ground caused by an explosion.
This occurred when the Federal
troops in 1864 set off the mine
they had laid under the Confed
crate fort here. Two hundre1 j
men were killed by the explosion.
and a great rent torn in the Con
federate lines. Their guns were
Immediately turned on the breach
and in the ensuing conflict 5000
men from both armies were
killed.
OF present-day interest Is the
fact that Petersburg is a great
tobacco city, the territory round
about having great quantities OF
this product from early t1ues.
Raleigh Modern City
Leaving Petersburg, continue
along Route / through Dln'T1d-
die, Alberta, South Hill, and
across the State line into North
Carolina, then down through
Henderson, Franklinton and
wake Forest into Raleigh, the
capital Of the State. This city
is indeed a modern city OF the
new South, one that combines old
Southern charm with modern
enterprise and progressiveness'
OF interest to the visitor Is the
historic old State capitol build
ing. famous for the beauty Of
its architecture; the State Hall Of
History, President Andrew John
sons birthplace, and four points
Of special beauty, Christ Church,
Dix Hill, the country club, and
the Federal cemetery. A 75-acre
virgin forest is located three
miles northeast Of the Federal
cemetery.
From Raleigh, run westward
over to Cary, and still following
Route / go southwark and west
ward through Sanford to South
ern Pines. Here leave the main
road and runover to Pinehurst,
one Of the premier winter resorts
Of the country. Here in the pine
belt may be enjoyed all outdoor
sports, golf on five courses, horse
back riding, tennis, polo, shooting
and archery.
Motorists who want to visit for
q few days along Virginia's ocean
coast, should turn east at Rich.
mond, running via Toano, Will
liamsburg, Leehall, almost down to
Newport News. Here there is a
choice Of routes. One Is to cross
over the James River bridge, and
then over the other two bridges.
one over the Chuckatuck Greek
and the other over the Nansemond
River, coming into Portsmouth
Ferry service is available to Nor
folk, and then it is a 20-mile run
out to Virginia Beach on the At.
lantic Coast.
Other by Ferry
The other route is to ferry from
either Newport News or Old Point
Comfort directly to Norfolk, and
then run out to the coast. Vir
g1nia Beach is coming to the front
more and more each year as a