Imperial Valley press., 1911-11-25
ROAD BUILDING
NOW A mania
Every Citizen Realizes Impor-
tance Of Project
GREAT RESULTS EXPECTED

There is one moy ement that is now
fngrOssing the thinking portion or tile
country that has universal support 4!
is without political preference or part!
creed. Il numbers its supporters IL
every party. The Importance of th'
good roads movement is conceded ey
erywhere. from the highest hnanclel
to the most humble laboref. and al
apparently are willing to DO their snare
toward obtaining better highways.
The longest and most impUr'un
highway proposed Is the ocean to Oceai'
road from the Atlantic to the Paclh,
coast. That such a highway is posSl
bility has just been proved by party
Of forty men, women and children III
twelve touring cars This party made
the trip from Atlantic City TO Los All
geles, more lnan /. 100 miles. in thirty
days, at am average OF 1856 % miles
day Every car was driven by its own
er, and there was practically no me-
chanical trouble. Only three springs
We're broken. and several OF the tires
finished the Tanscontinental journey
with the same air in them with which
they started. Considering the hundreds
OF miles OF desert and mountainous
country traversed. this showing was re-
markable. 1t furnishes conclusive
proof that tranScontlnental highway
is already reality and that all that
is needed is improvement. There Is no
desire to convey the idea that the
transcontinentai journey was not diff
cult. There were innumerable dificul-
ties that would have discouraged any
but the bOideSt motorists.
On Aug. 10 Senator Cullom Of Illi-
nOis introduced in the United States
senate a bill providing for the con
strnctioD OF the most extensive sys
TEN OF DatiQnal highways ever pro-
posed in the history OF the world.
His plan is to make the national cap
ita! the hub OF great wheel from
which will radiate seven national
highways. They are to terminate. he
proposes. in Portland, Me-; Buffalo.
N. T.; 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.
It is estimated that these seven
highways will cost about $148. 900, 600.
and Senator Cullom'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-
e.tly is contagious President Taft II
to take an active part in the COED
roads convention in November. and
the governors Of all the states through
which the transcontinental caravan
passed pledged themselves to this
work. In several Of the western
states, including Arizona and New
MexSro, the movement h 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 q sys-
tenn Of good roads IL Ut more impOr-
taDce than the Panama canal. Present
indica tons 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 Ia
mentally bad. bat that is not strange
in view of the. fact that the country
is comparatively new and in many
portions undeveloped. The Romans
hundreds OF years before Christ are
said 10 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 is due for the
present good roads movement Mr..
MeekeT crossed the plains from Indian
apolis to Puyallup Wash. over the Old
Oregon trail in 1862 with the custom
ary OK team and prairie schooner. Dur
ing the past few years he has repeated
that tollsome journey two or three
times In the same manner for the sole
sentimental reason OF saving from OBJ
livion the route of the old Oregon traH.
AS a result OF his efforts the route has
been marked by monunSuts Alr
Meeker may not live 10 see his dreams
realized. but he has done his share OF
a big task.
The most important factors In the
good roads movement are the motorists
They are famous tor getting action.
and they want good roadS II Is estr
mated that there are S5O00O motor,
cars east OF the Rocky mountans. aad
that $400O0.0OO are annually spent IN
Europe. Many autos are shipped across
the ocean that The owners may tour IN
the old country. national highway
wonld mean that much of This money
would be kept at home. California
alone possesses 5000 motorcars. and
II Is believed this Anmbpr will be