Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1911-01-25
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J" build an automobile road $50
miles long, stretching from the
Mississippi to the Missouri
rivers, across the state of Iowa.
in a single hour, might seem
proposition fit only for the land of
fairies and hobgoblins. But this has
actually been accomplished as the re-
suit Of organization and cooperation
by thousands Of farmers along the
route.
There had been much agitation for
river-to-river road. A proposed
route had been mapped out and the IL
counties through which 1t was to pass
organized.
The Glidden tour, however, was the
When it was learned there was pos.
sibility of getting this tour to pass
through Iowa, plans were made. After
the agreement was perfected it was
arranged through county officers,
down to the farmers living along the
route, that at ten o'clock on the given
day all should start dragging the road
for an hour.
The work was so well organized
that every mile was prepared for. So
In single hour an automobile road,
level as pavement, stretching from
river to river, was dragged. and the
Glidden tourists sped over 1t with the
compliment that it was the best they
had found. It is estimated that 10000
men were engaged in. the work stimuli
taneously.
Ever since that day the work has
been continued. After every rain the
farmers drag their allotted road. The
continual dragging and grading have
placed the road In an excellent condi-
ton.
Probably the greatest thing In con-
nection with the construction and
maintenance Of this great dirt thor
oughfare was the interest shown by
the farmers who did the greatest
share of the work. Their interests
have been stimulated until they are
the greatest enthusiasts.
When the Glidden tour passed
through the state it's route was hung
with American flags across the state
Shortly afterwards the governor of
the state and the state highway CON-
mission made trips across this road.
Good will has been greatly devel-
oped by consideration shown the farm
'ers by the automobile people. 1t is
their watchword to be courteous to the
farmers. When they meet a farmer
with frightened horse they stop, get
out and help him get the animal safe.
~ past the machine.
They wave their hands to the chill
dren along the way and a general good
feeling has been aroused. On this
road there is no Automobile preju.
dice"
Iowa's river-to-river road stretches
across the state from Davenport, on
the eastern border, to Council Bluffs
on the western. 1t crosses Iowa in
practically straight line,
It passes through Des Moines, the
state capital, and dozen bright, hust
ling little cities ranging from 5000 tt
$4,000 inhabitants and some 80 small
towns and villages. There are over
600 farmhouses fronting on the roac
and more than $500 that stand with
in one mile Of the road.
Lafayette Young, recently appointed
United States senator by Gov. B. F
Carroll 20 succeed ]. P. Dolliver, de
ceased, is given credit for the orig
inal idea. After determining that tt
get sufficient money appropriated BY
the legislature to build a permanent
highway would be impossible, he con
ceived the idea that by organization
and uniform work dirt road could be
maintained that would serve all pur
poses.
The plan was taken up by newspa
pers all along the proposed route anl
boosted. The plan was originally de
signed as an example Of what gool
road dragging meant to the state. ant
1t has been one.
In the fall of 1909 the highways Of
the state were the worst they haG
been for many years. "The bottom
simply dropped out all over the state.
No one could more readily notice this
condition than the state editor on a
newspaper, whose mail commenced tt
come to him a week late because rura
deliveries were mired.
So the river-to-river plan was
sprung, The plan was to have the
road maintained by people living along
the route.
This plan was based on the road Of
f1cers of an unbroken line of town
ships from one side of the state to
the other improving and maintaining
the section of the road lying inside
their township borders. This idea took
root and a general good roads senti
ment sprung up over the whole state
Governor Carroll issued call for a
good roads convention in Des Moines
in response to this call, 1900 dele
gates from all parts Of the state gath
cred in Des Moines.
At this convention 200 delegates
from the counties along the proposed
,river.to-river route gathered in eau
Gus. The association was organized.
In each county five men were Sc
lscted q IN executive committee