Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1911-08-24

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the best way to cross the creek
near De Soto were so lucid (?)
that we took two different routes
for about one mile each way only
to recognize by a kind of intuition,
that we were OF a wrong road and
to prompt us each time to return
to the town. After our second re-
turn, we secured @ road-worker as
guide. simultaneously with our
last return a large nail in one of
the streets of De Soto, which nei-
Their enjoys street-signs % street.
cleaners, caused a puncture of one
of the tires, retarding decidedly,
our departure. 1t was not until
ii 80 A. NJ, when we left the hot
and smoky town with III guide.
A total loss of an hour and a half.
The disheartening effect of our
experience in De Soto, the uncer-
tainty of finding the proper road
after the guide had left US and the
very imperfect, though promising
condition of the road of about 20
miles between De Soto and Bonne
Terre, renders it very difficult to
describe this part of the trip i'm
partially. 1t lives in our memory
as a road through desolate wilder
ness. Only a few farm houses are
met with and of heart-uplifting
views we noticed none. But one
must surely admit that the two
counties that participate in the
improvement and partly new crea-
ton of this road deserve the high
est credit and praise. That part
of the road which belongs to st.
Francois county, is so far ahead
over the corresponding of Jeffer-
son county that n can recognize
very distinctly the borderline be-
tween the two counties. The au-
tomobilist's mind is at once seized
by a sense of assurance which,
markedly supported by the fine
roads from Bonne Terre to Farm
lngton, makes the continuation of
the trip more like a trip over a
royal highway than yer a coun-
try road. l would not liberate my
conscience sufficiently from my
feelings of gratitude towards st.
Francois county would l not In
hesitatingly state that the high
roads from Bonnie Terre through
the mind elevating, heart-inspir-
ing, life-pushing Lead Belt to
Pennington are next to the beau
tiful roads around Joplin, the best
in the State of Missouri, not ex-
cepting the roads in st. Louis
county.
Our trip from De Soto to Bonnie
Terre lasted from 1850 A. NJ, to
2:30 P. M, twenty minutes of
which were absorbed by a rest
taken for the enjoyment of our
self-prepared lunch. The distance
of 6 1-2 miles from Bonnie Terre
to Flat River was made in % min
utes and the 8 miles from the last
named place to Pennington in 81
minutes. Whilst passing through
Bonnie Terre, Elvins, St. Francois,
Desloge and Flat River we were
repeatedly forced to stop for in
formation as to the right road.
AT 1920 P. M. we reached Farm
ington. Machine in splendid con-
dition; no necessity for filling
the tank with gasoline. We had
thus far passed about 80 miles in
6 hours real automobiling time
and found ourselves within %
miles of our country home. What
soul-stirring sensation we felt
after hours of uncertainties as to
route, roads, possible happenings
and even real distances is impos-
sible to describe.
AT $3.50, after a sojourn of a half
hour in Pennington, pleasantly
spent with kind gentlemen, we left
this clean, impressive place think
ing that there was now clear sail
ing before US, and forgetting all
about our former experiences as to
the roads in our own (Iron) coun-
ty. But we had yet to find out
that the worst road of the whole
trip was still to be met with, viz:
that between Middlebrook and Pr
lot Knob. In our ignorance as to
the county to which the greater
part of this road belonged we felt
ashamed of our county. When
properly informed we felt doubly
relieved. Iron county's reputation
as to roads was not completely
trodden down in our estimation,
and the fact that the burden of an
improvement of this road rests up
on the shoulders of st. Francois
county gave at once the promise OF
a correction of this condition in
the nearest future. At present,
everyone is advised through oul
experience to automobile from the
valley to Iron Mountain ovel
Graniteville, Schneider's and the
Belleview road. No more time
is required, and the roads are toll.
erably good.
If automobiling between st. Lou
t is and the Valley would be purely
} a question Of pleasure, | would mo-
i have taken the time to address the
public. But if one takes into con.
sideration the necessity of compe.
tition for the improvement Of the
, service Of a railroad without com.
1 petition; If one thinks Of a more O.
4 less lasting railroad strike; If ONT
: only considers the fact that aftel
4 8 P. M. there are nc means tt
reach the valley until after a lapst
Of more than half a day; then al
automobile road presents itself a
once in a very different light, anc
8 as OF the greatest aid, if not to say
: necessity, for the welfare of ever,
: ono living south Of St. Louis ant