Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1907-08-16
THATCHER BOUND
FOR NATIONAL
CAPITAL
GOOD ROADS MAN NOW
TRAVERSlNG KANSAS
Former News Agent on BeIen
Cut of Disseminating Auto
mobile Enthusiasm in Mid
die West.

Charles W. Thatcher. formerly thf
Morning Journals representative on
the Beleu CUTOFF. and whose wagon
and team Of hardy mules are well
known TO the people Of Albuquerque
has reached the middle west In the
course Of a trip 10 Washington over
land. Mr., Thatcher. who left here
several months ago on n Of the
most remarkable trips ever UNDER
taken to prospect an automobile high
way across the west. Is attracting con
siderable attention everywhere he
goes. The Topeka Capital says:
one Of the curious outfits that ever
entered Topeka was seen on the
streets yesterday afternoon. IT con-
sisted Of a light spring wagon. roughly
covered with canvas from under
which protrudcd the end Of several
shntguns and rifles. A team Of small
and melancholy mules was attached
to IT, Alongside travelled a shaggy
mountain burro, while an equally
coated dog trottcd along IN the shady
spot under the wagon. A tan, sturdy
appearing youth. with several days
growth Of stubble and the CRIME Of
travel on his face was master OF the
caravan.
II vas Charles w Thatcher. an
apostle Of good roads. on his way
from Denver 10 Kansas city. search-
Ing out and locating a road for auto.
mobiles that viii be shorter than the
most direct npe Of railroad between
the two cities and which viii also be
free from sand the bugaboo Of the
travelling autoist. With his OUTFIT he
has travelled through the deserts of
the great west and has searched out
automobile routes through the passes
" the Rockies. He Is now locating
one across the plains that he hopes
the government In the next few years
viii convert n Il magnificent stone
highway.
u am working for a transcontinen-
tai highway. 10 be built by the gov
eminent and by prison labor" said
Mr.. Thatcher yesterday II would
have the government use an of It's
prison labor in this work and then ask
the states through which the highway
will pass to give some Of their prison
labor 10 the work. This VIII be
greatly appreciated by labor, as II
will divert prison labor ana take prison
made goods OF the market, u viii
also enhance tho value oi property
along such a highway several hundred
per sent
Men Of influence Ia Colorado aud
with the national government are En-
Ing to assist men in trying to persuade
the government 10 locate IT, rock road
from Fort Riley 20 Fort L~eavenwotth
eu that u win run through Topeka
and Lawrence and there connect with
the proposed rnck road from Kansas
city This will make tf0 miles of
good rock road from Kansas city %
Fort Riley
The automobile route I am loca'.
ing from Denver 10 Kansas city viii
be- $40 miles long. which iH eighty
miles shorter than the most direct
route by railroad This route. $50 FAR
as J have located II. extends southwest
from Denver 10 Limon Junction along
the Union Pacific main line. from Ii
mon TO Colby. Kas.. along the main
limo of tho Rock Island. via Hurting
ton and Goodland. from colby south
east along the Union pacinc 10 three
miles south ~ Mingo. hen follows tha
meridianal section line east from
Mingo 90 pluttcville, making a one
mile dctuur 90 the north around Henry
school house Co avoid some bad sand
This follows the old government trail
from Denver az far az Plaiuville. II T.
alonE the watershed. so n ~ dry and
almost level. From p|lainVille the.
route extends east seven miles. then
south three miles and from there Via
Lincoln. following the Saline river. as
the colby branch ~ the Union Pacific.
90 Prescott. From Prescott Il goes
four miles and Then north three miles
Go avoid one mile Of sand hen seNe1
mites east and south one mile, taking
the main road into Bennington. !
placed "a finger board north Of Ben
ninEton Go mark the way. From Ben
nington tho road follows east along
the section through Tnlmadgc a.
junction city thence 10 Fort Riley "a
Manhattan. then Via Wahaunsec Go
WameEo. following the south side Of
the river 90 avoid bad san on the
other bank then follows the railroad
tH d point beyond bellevue. where the
r'ad crosses the railroad track. The
r"ufs follows fhr north road mile
and Then Iuus east o. 81 MBtys From