Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1911-11-16
ROAD BUILDING
NOW A mania
Every Citizen Realizes lmDOr-
lance Of Project
GREAT RESULTS EXPECTED.
Senator Cullom's Bill Apprepriates
$tAS,ooo,ooo For Seven National
hishways--Every State In the Union
30 Help.

There Is one nloS ement that Is now
engrossing the thinking portion OF the
country that has universal support. 1t
is without political preference or party
creed. 1t numbers its supporters in
every party, The Importance OF the
good roads movement is conceded CIV.
erywhere, from the highest tinancier
to the most humble lahorer. and all
apparently are willing to do their share
toward obtaining better highways,
The longest and most important
highway proposed is the ocean to ocean
road from the Atlantic to the Pacific
coast. That such n highway Is possi.
bility has Just been proved by n 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 400 miles, In thirty
days, at an average of 1876 - mites u
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 transcontinental journey
they started, Considering the hundreds
of miles OF desert and mountainous
country traversed, this showing was re-
markablc II furnishes conclusive
proof that u transcontinental highway
Is already reality and that all that
desire to convey the idea that the
transcontinental journey was not diiii-
cult. There were innumerable difficult
ties that would have discouraged any
but the boldest motorists.
On Aug. 10 Senator Cullom OF iii.
nois introduced In the United States
senate bin providing for the con.
struction OF the most extensive sys
tenn of national highways ever pro-
pused in the history OF the world.
His plan Is to make the national cap.
itni the huh of n great wheel from
which will radiate seven national
highways They are to terminate. he
proposes. in Portland. Me-: Buffalo,
N. Y; Seattle. Wash; San Francisco
Cal; San Diego. Cal; Austin. Tex.
and Miami. Fla. and are TO he called,
respectively. the Washington national
highway, Roosevelt national highway,
Lincoln national highway, Jefferson
national highway. Monroe national
highway and Lee national highway.
II Is estimated that these seven
highways will cost about SldS0O0.O00
and Senator Cullom's plan Ia 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
entity 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 transcontinentnl caravan
passed pledged themselves to this
work In several Of the western
states. including Arizona and New
Mexico, the movement Is already
under way. and It Is proposed there to
build their own portion or link Of the
ocean to ocean highway. Prominent
statesmen have asserted that sys-
TEN 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 mp.
parentiy il ut hand. The roads Of the
United States nre conceded To be In
mentally bad. but that is not strange
In view Of the fact that the country
is comparatively new aud In many
portions undeveloped The Romans
hundreds Of years before Christ are
said TO have had model ronds. Their
work. however. was comparatively
small when set beside that confronting
the United States.
To the white haired veteran. Ezra
Meeker, much credit IL due for the
present good roads movement. Mr.
Meeker crossed the plains from Indian
apoiis to Puyaliup. Wash. over the old
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 OBJ
livion the route OF the old Oregon trail.
As result Of his efforts the route has
been marked by monuments. Mr.
Meeker may not live 10 see his dreams
realized, bat he has done his share of
a 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 10000 motor.
cars east OF the Rocky mountains. and
that S40.OO0,OO0 are annually spent In
Europe. Many autos are shipped across
the ocean that the owners may tour In
the old country. A national highway
would mean that much OF this money
would be kept AT home. California
alone possesses 10000 motorcars. and
II Is believed this number VIII be
doubled II the national highway In