In taking such a long tour as across the continent it is well to pay a little more care to the camping outfit. Here the increased comfort will fully compensate for some added outlay. It is recommended also that the tourist be sure to have along a shovel, ax, one hundred feet of five-eighth-inch rope, and a tarpaulin. The likelihood of mud on some of the trails east of the Rocky Mountains makes this equipment advisable. Two desert water bags should be taken along if the route leads through arid country. They may be hung at some place on the car where the evaporation of the water which soaks through will cool the contents. Fill with soft water whereever [[170]]that is procurable, and at every opportunity.
For a long tour load the car light. You will not need to load up with gasoline or oil cans. Remember that you will have no difficulty in obtaining gasoline along the main traveled routes, and need not carry an extra supply. But it will be well to fill your tank at every station, whether it is empty or not, for thus you will be sure to have a sufficient supply of gas until you reach the next place. Of course it will be wise to have extra parts, and before starting on such a long tour the car should be equipped with new casings on all wheels and two spares with the addition of a few good inner tubes. If you have bad luck with blow-outs, new casings can be bought at almost any town along the route.
You will be able to buy needed food supplies along the route, but it will be just as well to carry some emergency rations, such as chocolate bars, seeded raisins and malted milk tablets.
The Main East and West Highways
The main east and west highways in alphabetical order are:
The Bankhead Highway, from Washington, D. C., southwesterly to San Diego, Cal., a distance of 3,450 miles, and leading through Richmond, Raleigh, Atlanta, Birmingham, Memphis, Little Rock, Dallas, Fort Worth, El Paso, Douglas, Tucson, Phœnix to San Diego. The colors are yellow [[171]]and white bands with letters B. H. on white band.
The Dixie Overland Highway, from Savannah to San Diego, a distance of 2,814 miles, and passing through Montgomery, Meridian, Shreveport, Dallas, Fort Worth, Roswell, El Paso, Douglas, Bisbee, Tucson, Phœnix to San Diego. Colors: Black letters D. O. H. on yellow and black sign.
George Washington National Highway, from Savannah northwesterly to Seattle, 3,943 miles, and going through Atlanta, Memphis, St. Louis, Kansas City, Omaha, Sioux City, Sioux Falls, Deadwood, Butte, Spokane to Seattle. Colors: Red, blue and red bands with white letter W on wide blue band.
Lincoln Highway, from New York to San Francisco, 3,323 miles, through Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Canton, Lima, South Bend, Chicago Heights, Cedar Rapids, Omaha, Cheyenne, Salt Lake City, Sacramento, Oakland. Colors: Red, white and blue bands with letter L on the white.