Columbia Automobile Club Launched Plans for Organizations

A mere corporal’s guard of good roads enthusiasts and automobile owners gathered at noon in the office of Secretary of the Chamber of Commerce Hamby and set on foot the organization of a State Automobile Club which it is planned to later affiliate with the national association. While the attendance at the meeting was small on account of the counter attractions and business engagements, the spirit that pervaded the talk indicated that the men meant business. Reports from 11 clubs were read and all indicated that they will accord to the movement for a State club their cooperation and support. The Columbia Automobile club will take the lead, as the project had its origin here. The club will nominate the officers of the proposed club and send the list to the other clubs for their acceptance or rejection. This was deemed the most practicable method of launching the club. With the officers known, the movement may then be said to be on a fair road to success. A conference of the allied clubs will then be held in Columbia.

Another meeting will be held Tuesday night at the office of the secretary of the Chamber of Commerce. The plans set on foot Friday will then be perfected.

Those present at the meeting were: Ex-Mayor W. S. Reamer, Dr. E. M. Whaley, Messrs. Frank Gibbes, Frank Graham, S. S. Ingman and T. G. Graham.

Some interesting facts were bought out in a general conversation following the adjournment of the meeting. The Columbia Automobile club has pledges to the amount of $2,500. From the amounts collected from the members the Capital Highway association received $500 and the town of Blaney $200 to improve a part of the Columbia to Camden road. The ful number of pledges will be collected and the money expended for placing mile-posts and oiling the road.

The first work on the COlumbia to Camden road was begun 1908. It is not necessary to state that the Columbia Automobile club claims any distinction for having started the plan, but seriously speaking, within the past three years the good results following the interest and activities of some of the members have come very much in evidence. The sign-posts will be the next work undertaken. Mr. G. M. Berry is chairman of the committee having this feature of the work in hand.