Evening star., 1937-03-28

so With the aid OF the American
Automobile Association, the keystone
Motor Club and the Evangeline Scenic
Association, we will delve into the
scenes far to the south of the National
Capital and plan If we like new trips
in the future.
The highway to Mexico City is as
wide and safe where it runs through
the mountain passes as the average
mountain road in the United States,
the American Automobile Association
declared today.
Following recent trip over the 1877
mile route from Laredo. Tex, to the
Mexican Capital, Elmer Jenkins, di-
rector of the A. A. AS National Tour
ing Bureau, reported that the highway
is now full-width, two-lane road in
Its entirety and, except for 68 miles,
Is all paved.
During the past year or So" Mr.
Jenkins said, while the road was
under construction. there were many
fanciful, vivid and exaggerated re-
ports as to the condition of the road
and the comfort and safety of the
trip. Even recently some writer's have
told of the dangers of the mountain
section.
Evidently they are inhabitants of
our fiat country and unused to noun
tain driving The 9O-mile stretch
through the mountains is as wide and
safe as the average mountain road in
this country. In fact, / would rather
take my chances on this 80 miles of
mountain highway than on 80 miles
Of congested interurban highway in
this county, which offers infinitely
more hazards.
Forget all the fearful tales you
may have heard about driving to
Mexico. The road is in fine condition,
it is safe, it is we'll patroled--and even
If you were to have car trouble it
would not be serious, for an average of
80 to 80 American cars are now pass
ing over this highway daily and you
will find your fellow citizens ready to
lend a helping hand in an emer-
gency."
Mr.. Jenkins said that travel over
the Mexican highway is enjoyable the
year around, but that Northerners
usually prefer to go during the dry
season, which extends from December
through June. He advised motorists
going into Mexico to stop at the A. A.
A. Club in Laredo, Tex, where serv-
ices in obtaining entry papers, money
exchange, route information and so
on are available to members and non-
members alike.
More than 10000 American motor
lists have visited Mexico City since
the opening last Summer of the new
highway between Laredo Tex, and
the Mexican capital, according to Car
los Bazan, director general of high
ways, who, with other prominent
Mexican officials, is on tour of East
ern United States.
The party. consisting of Senor Ba-
zan, Jose Rivera, head of the Mexican
Automobile Association; Alfonso Ro-
driguez del Campo, director of rail-
ways and secretary of communicat tions
and public works, and Francisco Bor-
bolla, head of the paving department
of Mexico City, were in Washington
as guests of the Keystone Automobile
Club.
Club officials were advised by the
delegation that construction work on
the new Mexican highway south of
Tamazunchale is rapidly nearing COM
pletion. Traffic is maintained with
minimum of difficulty for motorists
over the uncompleted section.
One point stressed for the benefit
of motorists planning to visit Mexico
City is that the tourist should cover
the section south of TamaZunchale
during daylight hours, as this area is
in the higher mountains and night
traffic might prove dangerous to per-
sons unfamiliar with the road.
The itinerary suggested is: Spend
the night at Laredo, Tex, and cross
the border in the morning, arriving
at Monterrey before noon. Spend the
night in Monterrey and leave the fol-
lowing morning for Juarez or Wales,
remaining at either place over night.
It is suggested that the third night be
spent at Pachuca, which is miles off
the main highway from Colonia.
Mexico City may be reached the next
afternoon.
Gasoline sells in Mexico for l9 cents
a gallon. The cost of living is ex-
ceedingly low, making the outlay for
the trip within reach of the average
person. 1t is anticipated, according
to the officials, that upward of $4,000
American visitors will use the new
highway this year
The Acadian country, in South
Central Louisiana. region outstand-
ingly different from any other part of
the United States, which for nearly
two centuries has remained little
world of its own, is now accessible to
motor tourists.
The old Spanish Trail an ancient
road through densely wooded lowlands
and across sleepy bayous in lower
Louisiana, practically the only means
Of reaching this picturesque and mis-
toric region-other than by railroad
is now a modern concrete highway.
From 1t branch many new improved
roads that penetrate the heart of this
romantic and fascinating section that
Is little known to the outside world.
Three-fourths of the inhabitants of
this quaint old section are of Acadian
descent. These "Cajuns," as they are
colloquially known, have maintained
the traditions, customs and language
OF their ancestors who came as ref
ugees to what was to become the
Land of Evangeline, after their ex-
pulsion from Nova Scotia by the Brit
ish following the French-1ndian wars
In Canada during the eighteenth CEN
tury.
The region is also called the "Teche"
country, after the bayou along whose
banks the first Of the "Cajuns" settled,
in 1856. These settlements developed
into the Acadian towns of Franklin,
Jeanerette, ST. Martinville and New
iberia. which. with their old churches.