Evening star., 1935-04-28

of distance by improved and Sh'
Grade crossings are destined for
final removal and the safety of travel
will be enhanced greatly. With the
large increase in car sales, monthly
noted, there is no doubt that 1885
will prove the greatest touring year
Of all times.
Highway Opening Soon.
The International highway from
Laredo, Tex, to Mexico City, affording
what has been described as a scenic
paradise for motorists, is expected to
be opened next month.
According to advices from the Mexi-
can capital only about Sc miles of this
highway remain to be completed. 1t is
possible now to drive from Laredo to
Villa Juarez over paved road and on
to Matlapa on a graveled, drained and
finished highway. The highway Is
closed from a section near Matlapa
to Jacala, from which point graveled
road is available to Ixmiquilpan. and
from there to Mexico City fine paved
surface is available.
The Laredo Mexico City link of the
proposed gigantic Pan-American high
way offers the motorist 760-mile
journey through some magnificent
mountain country, tropical jungles,
orange groves and picturesque cities.
The ancient Mexican capital, seat OF
civilization long before the dawn of
the Christian era, is expected to be-
come popular objective for thousands
of motoring enthusiasts from the
United States.
Panama's portion of the Pan-Ameri-
can highway, extending from Panama
City to the Costa Rican border, is
scheduled for completion this year.
The Highway Commission of the for
mer country hopes to have the Panama
City-David section finished before the
rainy season starts, usually around
April Is to May l.
Pan-American Road.
The American highway, large
part of which is still in the visionary
stage of development, would stretch
from Fairbanks, Alaska. through
Canada and the United States, down
to Mexico and Central America, then
down the west coast of South America
to Chile and across the Andes Noun
tains to Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Thomas H. Macdonald, chief of the
United States Bureau of Public Roads,
has pointed out that the expenditure
of funds necessary to complete the
undertaking would give employment to
many thousands of laborers now idle
in the countries traversed, put money
into circulation, increase purchasing
power and raise the standards of liv-
ing in the sections now lacking ade-
quate highways.
Proponents of the project say 1t
would foster friendly relations between
the countries penetrated, in bringing
about better racial understanding and
in unlocking great economic wealth
now inaccessible. It also would open
to travel-minded motorists marvellous
scenic objectives stretching from the
Arctic Circle to the pampas OF
Argentina.
A special commission which studied
the Seattle to- Fairbanks road project
reported that the highway would con-
tribute greatly to the development OF
Alaska, resulting in an increase In
population and consequent increase
in revenue from taxes in the territory.
Its cost was estimated as S2,00O,OOO
for the Alaskan section and s12,000,000
for the Canadian section.
Germany Aids Touring.
Touring need not be confined to the
Western Hemisphere. ..
Convincing evidence OF the desire OF
European countries to promote tourist
travel is furnished in the announce
ment that the German government
has Just completed an agreement
under which Americans taking their
cars to Germany may secure all the
necessary driving credentials from the
American Automobile Association In
advance of sailing. A similar agree
ment Is already in effect between the
A. A. A. and the Italian government.
In advising the A. A. A. that his
government had approved the new
agreement, DR.. Hans Luther, German
Ambassador to the United States, said:
II am confident that this arrange
ment will greatly facilitate and expe-
dite the clearance at Hamburg and
Bremerhaven of American tourists
cars and you may be sure that the
German officials will extend every
courtesy to your members and coun-
trymen. May take this opportunity
to extend to your members through
you a most cordial invitation to visit