Best Roads of Louisiana

A handy pocket map of Louisiana’s roads from the mid-1920s.

This utilitarian road map of Louisiana and portions of adjacent Mississippi was published in 1924 by the Clason Map Company. According to the front cover, this example was compiled and issued expressly for The Co-Operative Auto Men’s Association of Dallas. C.A.M.A. was a member’s club that functioned as a hybrid between a trade guild and professional cooperative, helping to vet garages, encourage pro-automobile legislation, obtain wholesale pricing, and network local auto enthusiasts.

Paved & Hard Surfaced Roads are noted with thick black lines, while Highly Improved Roads (presumably gravel) are shown with thinner strokes. Distances between points are provided, offering a useful reference when trip planning. Local Auto Trails, eight in total, are listed in the lower right and accompanied by their respective sign markers, which would have been posted or painted on utility poles to help guide the motorist. Despite being introduced in 1921, the Louisiana State Highways are curiously omitted from the image.