TURNPIKES, U.S.A. — Some day, to travel through Nebraska the fastest way will be on the interstate, an ingenious system of divided highways, designed specifically for safe, fast traveling at a comfor able pace.
That highway won't cost you a penny when you hop on it nor will you be expected to help foot the bill when you get off the Nebraska section.
But, in Ohio, Indiana, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York, you pay, and podner, you pay. You pay even more if you have a flat tire and abide by the rules, tie a hankerchief on the door handle of your car, raise the hood and wait for the special super-duper highway maintenance people to come along.
But, if you are going to take a trip and you want to travel — I said travel, not look over historic spots or other tourist attractions— then the only way to travel is on the big divided highways. The only stops necessary are for buying petrol and paying tolls.
We often think of Nebraska as being a small state — certainly population-wise — but when you compare its cross country trip with Indiana, for example, we live in mighty big state. We don't give much thought of a trip to Hastings, but when you consider the distance across Indiana on the toll highway is 140 miles, then you know Nebraska covers a lot of ground. Indiana toll is $2.60.
At Joliet, Ill., a state which provides textbooks for school children, but not the writing pads, there are on sale in the school supply departments of stores, tablets with these printed words: "Joliet Public School Tablet Approved for use in the public schools by the Board of School Inspectors." Close examination revealed the tablets were genuine tablets, the same type which George Rowe stocks.
On the Ohio turnpike we saw several convoys of Guardsmen either coming or going to summer camp. Sure brought back memories to see troops moving over major highways.
Speed limit on the Indiana toll road is 70 m. p. h., but on most others the speed day or night is 65 m. p. h. Amusing thing about the speed law is that no one pays any attention to it.
Like good Nebraska safety conscious motorists — four safety belts included for the family — we stayed with the 65 speed . . . for about 10 minutes. Majority of the motorists travel 70 to 75 and the 10 per cent 85 to 90.
Of all the turnpikes, expressways, interstates and toll roads on the 1,458 trip from Clyde Stoll's station to an apartment house on Manhattan island, the best is the New Jersey toll road. The most picturesque bridge is the Delaware.
Speed limit on the New Jersey six and sometimes eight lanes is 65 m. p. h., with some changes.
Not speaking from experience, but only as an observer, I'll clue you: don't try the hotrodding on the N-J road. Big beautiful signs say, "Speeders lose licenses." And the state police chase the hotrodders in Chryslers.
And away we go . . . in our Rambler six.