Richmond Palladium (Daily), Volume 37, Number 151, 30 April 1912 — Page 13

THE RICHMOND PALLADIUM AND SUN-TELEGRA5I, TUESDAY, APRIL 30, 1912.

- PAGE FlYJ PNEUMATIC TIRES ; MADE GO0D ' ROADS League of Amrican Wheelmen Start Movement and Auto Men Contlne It WIDE MONEY TRAIL ACROSSCONTiriENT More Than a Million to Be Spent in Touring From Ocean to Ocean. Those going to California for the first time are almost unanimous in saying that the sign posting in California is the best in the United States and comparable with some of the best sign posting abroad. As a result of this the state' of California as a whole, and especially southern California lias received an immense number of tourists from other sections, and is now in the midst of one of the most important road improvement plans in the country. It is estimated that for every dollar spent In this promotion of good roads, directly or indirectly. at least twenty are returned to the state, which at the same time gains a number of residents of substantial and progressive kind. It is estimated that the increase in population in the Los Angeles district has been at least one-half greater ov ing to the coming of the automobile and the spreading of good roads interest. . US! n 11 t-4

Pneumatic tired vehicles, first the bicycle and later the automobile, have been responsible for the greatest Impetus to the general good roads measure. The campaign begun inline late 'SO and waged with Increasing strength for a number of years thereafter by the League of American Wheelman had Its results in the adoption of state aid In road building activities. And yet it was only twentyone years ago that the first of all states in the Union began on a definite plan of assisting in the development of the highways for all. New York was the' fourth state to take up the system. New Jersey, Massachusetts and Connecticut all proceeded New York. Now this is one of the most prominent of good roads .states in the Union. At this time thirty-seven states employ the system whereby the county authorities are considerably helped to build and maintain roads. The character of these roads has changed considerably since first they were laid down, chiefly because of the automobile, which with its great speed demands roads more permanent and stable than was the case under other conditions. With the need for firm

er roads have come improvement In

materials and machinery, so that

those communities which wish to keep up with , the times at least have the tools with which to do it. New Jersey was the first to take a definite step in the matter of state cooperation in building roads, and In 1891 a state aid law was passed in that state and a new era in road building was begun. The control of state aid funds was at first vested in the president of the state board of agriculture and It was not until 1894 that an act creating the office of commissioner of highways was passed. By the provisions of the original law aid was extended to counties upon petlontion by property owners, the state paying one-third of the cost, the property owners one-tenth and the counties the balance. The first year's appropriation for carrying out the provisions of the act was 125,000.

A Wise Father. "I win agree to let you hare tny daughter on one condition." "What is it?" "That you deposit to my credit an amount sufficient to pay her expenses when she gets ready to go te Reno." Chicago Record-Herald.

More than a minion dollars will be expended this year in transcontinental touring, according to a compilation made by the American Automobile association. It is estimated that E00 cars with an average of four persons to a car will go across the country

by the "trail of sunset" this year, and

their estimated expenses, based on in

vestigation and past experience, prob

ably will be as follows:

Gasoline ..$ 55,000

Oil 15,000

Tires 180,000 Garage 15,000 Equipment for car 25,000

Equipment for passengers . . 60,000 Hotel bills 320,000

Incidentals, purchase of sou

venirs, etc 30,000 Return, railroad fares 250,000 Frieght on return of cars .... 76,000 This makes a total of $1,025,000, which is enough to Interest even the

transcontinental railways. No esti

mate is made of the money to be spent

by tourlmtm while on the Pacific coast.

There is some depreciation in cars, and thus many nw machines are

bought for the specific purpose oi

transcontinental trips. It is a oer tarnty that the number of cars mak

ing this trip will inorease each year as road conditions Improve. Work is being done all along the route this year

to better road conditions.

Perhaps the figures quoted are not surprising after all, in view of the fact that Dr. F. L. Bartlett, good roads

director of the Denver chamber of

commerce, says that 6,000 automobiles

visited bis state in 1911 and that they left no lesB than $2,700,000 in that

commonwealth. "See America first"

is growing, and Europe will feel the diminishing of the stream of dollars

in course of time.

In the growth of cross-country tour

ing it is becoming quite common for

many Callfornlans to be seen in New England, and many New Englandera are making the journey to the coast New England's attention. to road construction and maintenance has given it

a lead over all other sections of country, but California Is making progress.

due in part to the activities of the Au

tomobile club of Southern California

and the California State Automobile

association, which has in hand the

northern section of the state.

ON:

H U IP IP -YEAT S

LEOMC

;.h ,) r,

In order to Introduce the Hupp-Yeats Electric Cars In Richmond we will make a special price to sny snd all persons who will purchase a car BEFORE MAY flOTM THE SAVING IN PRICE WILL BE ENOUGH TO EQUIP YOUR BARN FOR CHARGING.

This Offer Absolutely Closes on May 10th

E TE A M

AUT AGENCY

Richmond Auto Inn

(SO TV

We dare you to bring us your automobile to repair. We won't get mad we'll repair it cheaper and better than you have been accustomed to having it done. DARE US!

T Tin) IP(3p)Il

Why do you Insist on paying an excessive rent for your machine? Why not bring it to us and have it gone over thoroughly and board it for less money than elsewhere. We won't bite; we're sincere in soliciting your business. All accessories, autos for hire, and a few new machines now ready for the people of Richmond.

Phone 1G25 SPENCER, Prop. 1513 Main St.

A ft m (0) 8 II

i i

tmrnicaLiPfl

Duoters, $1.00 EnHoh Cabardinea, from $1500 up Rubber Coato, $5.00 Chauffeur Suite Rubberised Coats, $5.00 Chauf f eur'o Coato only Mechanician's Vnion Suito, waterproof , 500 IDHAMCDKIin) TERES .RHFJIsriBlLILr. ($ILQ)VIE. Cooking Outfits Lunch IBaoketo Refrigerator- 13a.sk.eto Thermos IBottlco Spark Plugs Columbia IBatteries Tire Sundries

MAGS

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