The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1936-04-07

EDITORS NOTE-Thfs rowing reporter
for The Times goes where he pleases,
when he pleases, in search of odd stories
about this and that.
NUEvO LAREDO, Mexico, Anil
IN 7-On the assumption that
within the next three years approx
mately Is million American motor
lists are going to Mexico, have
taken a few days of from my knit
ting to run down to Mexico City and
get the dope.
The reason for this prophecy on
the trend of American touriSm is
the fact that the new Pan-American
Highway, making Mexico City easily
accessible by auto for the first time,
will soon be finished.
1t will be dedicated late this
spring. Officially, it is still closed.
Actually, it is wide open, and
American cars are going over it
every day-at their own risk. Pres
emily the stream of autos will be-
come a flood
1t is 1853 miles from the Texas line
to Mexico City. Six hundred miles
of this is paved with macadam. The
rest is gravel, broken rock, or clay.
Within year it should all be paved.
before you can drive to Mexico
ID City, you have to get into
Mexico. I'll start by telling you how
that's done.
Before you leave home, get vac
cinated-unless you have a recent
vaccination and can prove it.
Two other things: Take the title
and registration card of your car
with you. And if you're in city
where there's a Mexican consul, get
your tourist card.
You don't need a passport for a
pleasure tour in Mexico. Just a
tourist card Git costs SD. No pic
lures needed.
When you get to San Antonio, see
William H. Furlong in the st.
Anthony Hotel for road information.
He represents the Mexican Highway
Department, gets fresh reports on
the highway almost daily by tele-
graph, and his information is re-
liable. He'll also tell you what not
to eat, and where to stay.
n y
TN Laredo, the jumping-of place,
l. see Charles Mumm in the Mag
nolia Building. By all means see
him. He represents the AAA among
other things, and he'll do the fol-
lowing for you:
Make out the necessary papers
for your car, and your immigration
papers, and your card for the medi-
cal authorities. He also insureS your
car for Mexico Gf you want IT'D and
changes your dollars into pesos.
There's nothing left but to drive
across the bridge and hand yourself
over.
If you have anything of foreign
make, such as a camera, register it
at customs on the American side,
so they'll let you bring it back duty
free.
If you have to discard a tire in
Mexico, lug it back with you, or
you'll have to pay duty on it.
There are other little things, but
Mumm will tell you about them.
You can take in three cartons Of
cigarets. After they're gone, you
can buy Mexican cigarets that taste
almost like ours.
1T was 8:45 a. m. when we crossed
Il the Rio Grande bridge and pulled
up in front of the customs house on
Mexican soil
It ordinarily takes about an hour
to get through misunderstanding
baggage, making out papers, and so
on. Personally, 1 cheated little,
by having letter which opened the
gates like a magic wand.
The customs men were delightful.
Not automatically polite, but in
formal and friendly. Nice-looking
men, in khaki uniforms, who spoke
good English. They're noted for
their courtesy, even if you have no
magic letter.
Two porters took all the baggage
out Of the car. A man opened each
bag and closed it again, hardly look
ing inside. Then he put seal on
each bag. The por5ers put every
thing back in the car.
While that was going on, I was
across the street in another build
ing, getting my official papers filled
| ont. Thanks to Mr. Mumm having
everything ready, all I had to do
was sign my name about a dozen
times. No delay. No red tape.
When it was all done, 1 paid three
pesos ca peso is % cents) for my
auto papers, gave the porter peso,
took off my coat, put on dark glasses
and climbed in.
The inspector gave us some of his
own maps, told us how to get out
Of town, shut the door for us. wished
us two or three happy trips, and we
were on our way. 1t was 9:10. The
sun was shining brightly.