The Newport miner. [volume] (Newport, Wash.) 1899-current, 1911-11-09

coast. That such highway is q posi-
bility has just been proved by a party
of forty men. women and children in
twelve touring cars, This party made
the trip from Atlantic City to Los An
geles. more than AGO miles. in thirty
days. at an average OF 156 2-3 miles
day. Every car was driven by It's own
er, and there was practically no me-
chanical trouble. Only three springs
were broken. and several OF the tires
finished the transcontinentai journey
with the same air in them with which
they started. Considering the hundreds
country traversed. this showing was re-
markable. 1t furnishes conclusive
proof that a transcontlnental highway
is already reality and that all that
is needed is Improvement. There is no
desire to convey the idea that the
transcont1nental journey was not diff
cult There were innumerabie Difficult
ties that would have discouraged any
but the bodest motorists.
On Aug 10 Senator Culiom OF iii
nOis introduced in the Uuifed States
senate a bill providing for the con
structioD OF the most extensive sys
TEN OF national highways ever pro
posed In the history of the world
His plan is to make the national cap
ital the hub OF great wheel from
which will radiate seven national
highways. They are to terminate, he
proposes. in Portland. Me; Buffalo.
N z; Seattle. WASH; San Francisco.
Cal: San Diego. Cal; Austin, Tex
and Miami. Fla. and are TO be called
respectively, the Washington national
highway. Roosevelt national highway.
Lincoln national highway, jefferson
national highway. Monroe national
highway and Lee national highway.
1t is estimated that these seven
highways will cost about $14S.OOO.OOO.
and Senator CuIlom's plan is to raise
the money by issuing bonds to cover
the cost OF actual construction. After
the roads are built the plan Is to
maintain them by collecting tolls.
The good roads movement appar-
emily is contagious. President Taft Is
to take an active part in the good
roads convention In November. and
the governors of all the states through
which the transcontinentaI caravan
passed pledged themselves to this
work In several of the western
nj mi
Mexico, the movement is already
under way. and 1t Is proposed there to
build their own portion or link of the
ocean to ocean highway. prominent
statesmen have asserted that sys
tenn OF good roads is OF more impor
lance than the Panama canal. Present
indications are that both soon will be
realities.
An era of good road building ap
parently is at hand The roads OF the
United States are conceded to be la
mentally bad but that is not strange
in view of the fact that tue country
is comparatively new and IN many
portions undevel0ped The Romans
hundreds of years before Christ are
said to have had model roads. Their
work. however. was comparatively
small when set beside that confronting
the United States
To the white haired veteran. Ezra
Meeker. much credit Ia due for the
present good roads movement. Mr.
Meeker crossed the plains from indian
apolis to PuyaIlup. Wash. over the olo
Oregon trail In 1852 with the custom
airy OK team and prairie schooner. Dur
ing the past few years he has repeated
that toiisome journey two or three
times in the same manner for the sole
sentimental reason OF saving from CD
iivion the route of the old Oregon trail.
AS a result of his efforts the route has
been marked by monuments Mr
Meeker may not live to gee his dreams
realized. but he has done his share OF
big task.
The most important factors In the
good roads movement are the motorists
They are famous for getting action
and they want good roads Ii Is esti'
mated that there are 85e.OOO motor
cars east of the Rocky mountains. anu
that S4O.OO0,OOO are annually spent LII
Europe. Many autos are shipped across
the ocean that the owners may tour LII
the old country. A national highway
would mean that much Of this money
would be kept at home. Caiiforhia
alone possesses 5OOOO motorcars' anu
it is believed this number VIII De
doubled If the national highway Ii
made an improved reality.