Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1934-09-23

In short week end tours.
Despite the advent of prohibition
repeal in the United States, Canada,
and particularly the Maritime Prov
inces, continued a major attraction
for United States motorists. There
was also a definite increase in tour
Ing interest in Mexico, as shown by
the records of A. A. A. motor clubs
at border points. The Northwest, and
Northern and Central California had
one of the best Summers in many
years, from the standpoint of tourist
patronage. The California State Au-
tomobile Association reported that
through August $4,000 out-of-State
cars had come into Northern and Gen.
trail California, as compared with 276,-
900 cars for the same period last year.
There was a go per cent increase in
the number of cars entering Yellow
stone, which is usually an index OF
travel conditions as regards the other
national parks, national forests, and
reservations.
New England, New York, Pennsyl-
vania, Michigan, Minnesota and Wis
consin got their share of the increased
motor travel. The Middle Western
areas were definitely affected by the
drought condition, and this also caused
fewer transcontinental tours than
would otherwise have been the case.
A Century of Progress furnished the
most notable instance of falling of in
tourist interest.
''On the whole, it would appear that
motorists experienced higher stand
ards of service This was particularly
true of the better-class hotels and re-
sorts which realize by now that, with
complete mobility at his disposal any
time of the day or night. the motor
vacationist will stay and spend his
money only where accommodations,
food and opportunities for play are up
to the best modern standards"
Few Traffic Changes.
Twenty-second street, beginning to-
morrow, will have traffic regulations
similar to Thirteenth street, according
to William A. Van Duzer, director of
the Department of Traffic and Motor
Vehicles. In the mornings between
8 and $50 o'clock the street will be
one-way south. In the afternoons
between and o'clock the street will
be one-way north. These regulations
will not apply in the hours between
or on Sundays. The restriction will
be in force from r street on tine north
to Constitution avenue on the south.
A study is being made by the Traffic
Department at Union Station Plaza.
1t is being considered to put into et-
feet a one-way regulation for the out
side and another one-way rule for the
inside. For some time it has been be-
lieved that the present situation is
dangerous to pedestrian travel and
that a change is needed.
Many driving permits are expiring,
states Mr.. Van Duzer, who Is planning
to send out by mail applications for
renewals. Beginning October l about
$50 daily will go out. This plan, a
new one, is to aid in avoiding confu-
sion and to give the police another
check on changes in residences.
Possible Federal aid in financing
the construction of a 200-foot dual
highway between Washington and
New Market, Va, is seen in the an
nouncement that Secretary of the In
terror Harold Ickes will make an in
spection tour of the section for which
the roadway is planned. Upon his
recent return from Luray, Va, where
meeting of the Executive Board Of
the Lee Highway Association was held,
Arthur Clarendon Smith, president of
the organization, made known tenta-
tive arrangements for the inspection
tour.
The official party, headed by Secre-
tary and Mrs. Ickes and the Governor
and Mrs. George c. Peery of Virginia,
will leave by automobile from the zero
milestone in Potomac Park at -
O'Clock noon October 6. The motor
cavalcade will travel over the Lee
Highway to Staunton, where a banquet
in honor of the distinguished visitors
is now being arranged by the Stanton
Chamber of Commerce. The night
will be spent in Staunton. Sunday
morning the party will continue on to
Natural Bridge, from which point the
return trip to washington will be
made.
The project of constructing along
the route of the present Lee Highway
a dual drive separated by broad ever
green planting in the center and land
scaped on either side along its entire
length, is rapidly gaining encourage
ment and support in Washington and
throughout Virginia Gov. Peery is
held particularly enthusiastic regard
ing the venture, which is being fur
thered by the Lee Highway Associa-
tion Proponents of the idea are
strong in their belief that it is en-
tirely possible to complete the road
under a three-year plan now being
drawn up by the association.
Average Gasoline Price.
On September !, 1884, the average
price Of gasoline in the United States
was 1914 cents per gallon, including
the average Federal and State tax of
81 cents. This was the same as in
the previous month, August, and one
third of a cent more than the price
one year ago, according to figures OBJ
tanned by the American Petroleum
Industries Committee. They cover
retail gasoline prices and taxes in SO
representative cities located in every
State of the Union and the District
of Columbia
The figures show that retail gaso-
line prices are low when the gas tax
rate is reasonable and rise as the tax
increases. With one exception, prices
were lowest in the group of cities with
the lowest tax rate and rose gradually
with each advance in the tax rate. In
only one group of cities, those with
tax of more than cents gallon, did
this relationship fail to hold.
The lowest gasoline price in any of
the so cities was found in Providence,
r. l., where the Federal and State tax
totals cents a gallon; and the high
est priced gasoline, 241z cents, was
found in Boise, Idaho, where a Scent
tax Is In effect.
Federal gasoline and oil taxes pro-