Evening star., 1942-05-03
BY JACQUES FUTRELLE, Jr.,
Travel Editor.

IraYel Edltor.
The Eastern motorists prospect
Of shipping his automobile this sum-
mer into an area of unrationed gaso-
line, there to drive unrestricted eX-
cept for a reluctance to wear down
his tires, has gone giimmering. At
least the reduced rate for moving
cars to selected point, to be avail
able for continuing journey or
for convenient side trips, will dis
appear from the travel bargain
counters June ! and the regular
freight charges reinstated, practi-
cally doubling the car transporta-
ton costs in many instances.
The car shipment plan destined
to end this month was instituted by
the Nations railroads several years
ago, and was sold to auto-conscious
Americans on the idea of eliminating
the long highway drive to their des-
tinations, at the same time giving
them convenience Of car for jog
ging around the vacation area of
their choice. Never reaching wide
popularity in the days when neither
gasoline or rubber was an acute
factor in motoring, the scheme new
ertheless did serve as a boon to
drivers, especially women, who
dreaded long distance trips. 1t was
of especial service in eliminating
travel over icy roads, and it substi-
tuted air conditioned railroad ac-
commodations for summertime's
glaring and superheated highway
discomforts.
Still available through this month,
the plan calls for delivery of the
automobile at freight depot, where
1t Is loaded in car. 1t is dispatched
by expedited freight to the point the
driver intends to pick it up again.
Wartime movement of materials has
not yet seriously affected the sched-
ule which generally gave the motor
ist his car on the West Coast, for
instance, within four or five days
after his arrival there Delivery of
the car can be fastened by notifying
the railroad of intention to ship the
car on specified date, so freight
car will be available.
The reduced rate, costing one and
a third the passenger tariff, is per-
mltted only when accompanied by
two flrst-class passenger tickets or
three of tuorist class. Under the
regular freight charge mandatory
for shipments after May 81, weight
of the auto as well as distance will
determine the cost.
Speaking for the Western rail-
roads, Hugh w. Siddall. chairman
Of the Trans Continental and West
ern Passenger Associations, adds his
voice to the summer-t time vacation
doctrine that passenger movements
! concentrated in the peak months
Of July and August and travel on
week ends may tax the railroads
beyond capacity, but that modifi-
cation of these two American vaca-
ton habits will permit many ad-
! ditional thousands to 60 to recre-
! ational regions without conflicting
with the war effort.
THE Western railroads" Mr.. Sid
dali said, have a capacity, over
and above the all-important mill
tary requirements, to transport
many thousands of vacationists to
the mountains, the seashore and
other recreational regions, provided
vacationists will utilize train ac-
ccmmodations when they are avail
able. On the other hand, the rail-
roads may not have the surplus
equipment to accommodate every
one if the majority Of people try to
travel at the same time
Happily, the idea of spreading
vacations over broader period OF
the year fits IN with the necessity
for staggering vacations in war in
| dustries so as not to interfere with
production. May, June. September
and October are delightful months
out of doors, and winter vacations
in warm climes or for snow sports
are especially healthful.
| "Operati0p Of Offices and indus