The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1912-05-30
ST. FRANCOIS COUNTY
HIGHWAY DEDICATED

Arcadia Highway" as u stretch OF
macadam and gravel road between
the States metropolis and the Ar
eadia Country Clubs home in Iron
county though 1t lacks continuity
In places, especially In Jefferson
county-has been dubbed by the
aforesaid club. The Arcadia Coun-
try Club aud the Missouri Automo-
bile Club of st. Louis, which have
furnished good deal OF wind along
with "path-tinding" excursions in
selecting IA route, while the people
along the highway and the counties
have furnished the money and the
work, were to have been here on
Thursday to participate in the cere-
monies of dedication.
However, they did not put In an
appearance. y week before the date
named for the event the A. {. G.
gave notice that the dedication was
to be postponed until Jefferson
county caught up with its part of
the road, then few days later the
postponment was recalled with an
announcement that goodly com
pany of the A. &. G.. and NJ. A. &.
would motor over the road Thurs
day, starting from st. Louis NJ a,
IN, arriving here Mt the designated
hour, and then the evening before
another notice was received that
there was nothing doing.-it was all
called off.
II they had come we suppose they
would have proceeded to christen
\ the route as the "St. Louis Arcadia
! Highway but this prospective
highway has larger significance.
If fully carried out, and eventually
il will he, IL will really be an Inter.
state Highway from st. Louis to
Little Rock, Ark.
But there was a highway dedica-
! ton Just the same, all to the credit,
| enterprise and progressive spirit OF
| st. Francois county, through which
a splendid stretch of good rock aud
gravel road has practically been
completed from the Jefferson county
| line to Bonnie Terre, and through
Flat River to Pennington and thence
via Doe Run and Iron Mountain to
the Iron county line. Judges Mar
shall and Kinzer of the County
Court authorized the dedication Of
the st. Francois county part Of the
"St. Louis to Little Rock" highway,
and ii was one of the feature events
OF the Drummers' Convention.
Hon. Edward A. ROzier, president
of the Pennington Business Men =
Club, was chosen as master OF cere-
monies. A large and Interested
crowd gathered around the stand in
the Court House yard aud entered
freely into the spirit OF the occasion.
In his Introductory remarks Mr..
Rozier dwelt upon the Importance
of good roads and quoted the state
Highway Commissioner as placing
st. Francois county in the first rank
of good road counties OF this state.
He introduced President W. j. Riley
of the Southeast Missouri Drum
mers' Association as the first speak
er.
Mr.. Riley emphasized that this was a
very important link, in more than 10
cal road, or inter urban system. II be
| longed to the great interstate highway
from St. Louis to Little Rock. Speak
ing for the travelling men he said that
they were not only interested in road
development, but also we're pledged &c
help in the movement in every way pos
sibie. lie closed with story showing
that grass growing in the small towns
meant permanent and irreparable ruiz
TO the cities, and the country generally
and that without good roads the sral
towns would not exist.
The chairman i'll introducing Col
Robert Sellers, Of the ST. Francoi
County Automobile Club, stated tina
! autos had only limited right OF thu
r roads. Their principal influence in TIL
good roads development was 10 call at
tention TO the needs OF them. No one
in MS Judgment, had done more t.
+ bring about the road development O
county than Col. Robert Sellers, whom
he introduced.
, Mr.. Sellers gracefully acknowledge
1 the compliment paid by the chairma'
b. and disclaimed any such honor. ii
E. emphasized that the road being dedi
h, Gated under no circumstances should b
called an automobile highway. IL wa
for buggies and pedestrians; 1t was 70
the bettcrment of facilities for the farm
er to market his produce; and for til
/, closer communication between towns
Although there were present represel
i tatives of the Arcadia Club he espresso
!. his regret that they would not accede
d the request to take part III the exc
cisss. SO far as the present dedicatlo
was concerned, they were therefore o,
of the running. He added that in o
| der to bring about a successful roaSwa
a system the ladies must be interested.
is Mr.. Rozier in introducing Judge job
:, Marshall, Presiding Justice OF the Coui
y, ~ ~ Court, said that wind did not bull
W roads. Talking much of dedicatir
u highways and doing nothing more d
moi accomplish results. Such thin
take money and executive ability. 5
Francois county in the past s or
wears had been blessed by having goo
executive officials, and the present 70;
a system was due to the County Coui
n and its immediate predecessors. Amor
IA these none was more distinguished
10 had accomplished more than Hon. Jol
to Marshall.
Ia Judge Marshall Ill a practical W
showed the value of the good roads
the farmers. The triHing tax paid
good roads in many instances bel
- more than made back in a single IL
10 market. In the county, he sal
y there were 500 miles OF roadway.