Evening star., 1932-10-02
FINE TOURING SEEN
IN WEST VIRGINIA.
"Tucked Away" State Has
Vast Completed Good
Road Program.
BY ERNEST N. SMITH,

Executive Vice President. American Auto
mobile Association.
So quietly has West Virginia COM
pleted its splendid road program and
so modest are the citizens thereof about
blowing their own horn that motorists
in general haven't the slightest appre-
citation of the fact that here Is a unique
membering in Winter or Summer.
I could describe West Virginia best
by calling it the tucked away" State.
It is hidden in between Ohio and Penn
sylvania on the north, Kentucky on the
West, and Virginia on the east and on
the south. But 1t has an individuality
and q charm that Is quite its own. It
is tucked away" within itself. for noun
tains cover 1t everywhere and cities and
towns are popped upon suddenly as you
emerge from deep valleys and curving
ravines. There are some breath-taking
vistas from the tops of mountains and
divides but more often there are eye
catching hooks and crannies in the hills
and ripping waters, and cabins under
the trees and the rustic Of wind among
the leaves. West Virginia Is caressing
State rather than one which inspires
awe. The people are bit reserved as
becomes all humans who have for gen.
Vision Limited.
Their vision OF the outer world was
limited to the sight Of roaring locomo-
tives and trains hurting around curves.
If you drive that fast your journey will
be blur. Linger awhile and you'll love
the country and its people.
They are very human down there. 1t
was Just about this time OF the year
when I swung around a curve and
bumped into the open draw of g ferry
at the moment on the distant shore.
From a highway standpoint West Vir-
ginia is the axis upon which many i'm
portant roads turn. There Is almost an
air line route from Buffalo. N. Y. to
Jacksonville, Fla, which runs through
Cumberland, Md, to Elkins, w. Va,
thence to Lewisburg and Bluefield, w.
Va, and on south. Here you can ride
for one or two days between towering
ranges Of the Alleghenies and have
three rivers alternate in keeping you
company on your way-the north
branch OF the Potomac. the Tygart and
the Greenbrier. Here you will avoid all
large cities and have the complete JOY
Of a country ride.
Or you can drop south from Pitts
bureh into West Virginia via Morgan
town and Fairmont and Clarksburg, run
south through more open country to the
capital Charleston. and thence enjoy
valley drive along the banks OF the New
River and thence out OF the State over
magnificent mountain roads by way OF
Bluefield Or continue on southeast
along Route so into the country OF
many springs and leave the State at
beautiful White Sulphur Springs right
on the border.
Airline Highway.
Within the last two years there has
been completely opened through west
Virginia an airline highway from Bal
timore and Washington to Cincinnati.
This is Route so and parallels the Lin
coin Highway and the National Old
Trails. 1t runs through winchester,
Va. directly west through Red House,
Grafton, Clarksburg and Parkersburg
into Ohio. From the high tableland OF
the eastern part of the State wide.
modern road drops downward through
the attractive Cheat River Valley into
Grafton know of no mountain road
in the East that exceeds this one for
soft beauty. especially In the Fall. when
leaves are turning.
From the Middle West one enters the
state dL WIccuIS VA AloA sAfcih
boundary and runs west to Clarksburg
and continues on road described
above.
But should the traveller seek his
torical route and one Of the great river
road journeys in the East. then I beg
Of YOU to follow the Ohio River from
Wheeling clear down to Huntington,
distance roughly OF 200 miles. I say
this is a historic route-rather. should
say it follows the historic water route
from the East to the West. The packet
boats and freight barges still come and
go. There are quaint old river towns
and landings to inspect and II you
watch your chance you might run
across an old-fashioned show boat"
putting on an entertainment.
At times you'll cross the river for a
spell into Ohio to get better road. but
for the most part you'll be in West Vir-
gi1ia and like 1t.
Unusual Scenery.
I. call your particular attention to
some unusual bits Of scenery in various
parts of the State. On Route so. run
ming from White Sulphur Springs
through Charleston to Huntington, is
the Hawks Nest" and adjacent to it
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