The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1912-02-16
THE MERIDIAN ROAD.

ElSeWucFo Wo give d UeSCrlpClOu ana
map of the automobile meridian Road"
as now fixed and as received from the
headquarters of the ASSOCIATION at Dallas
Texas.
During the past two weeks there has
been quite stir in different parts of the
county TO change the location of this
road across the county. A delegation
from Bathgate, Neche and Gretna visit.
ed Winnipeg and interviewed the pro-
vincial authorities in the hope of divert
| ing from tie location laid out, from Em.
) erson, to Gretna, and consequently from
Pembina to Neche.
The road as laid out by the associa-
ton as shown on accompanying map is
now located via Emerson and Pembina,
thence to Hamilton, st. Thomas and on
to Grafton. This route was establish
ed by the Winnipeg bicycle clubs some
eighteen years ago as the official route
south to Grand Forks and the Twin Cit
les, as being t best to travel. and when
the automobiles came they also followed
this road.
Then here comes toilette and Drayton
and wants the road to pass along the
Red river ard through their localities,
on the ground of practically equal dis
tance, and being the old Red river trail
and stage route.
ALI this movement will doubtless re-
suit in better roads. 1t is all right for
each and any locality to seek to have
the road to come lis way, but 1t is all
wrong for any one locality. or it's repre-
sentatIves as reported from Winnipeg, to
knock at any other local ty in terms
that would lead stranger to think the
eastern part of this county is swampy
wilderness without good highways or
progressive people. 1t was about sto-
ry to that effect that was told to the
ManitoOa authorities according to the
dispatch. We consider such represen-
tations as not only unneighborly but ab-
solutely untrue.
Underneath the question of location
comes also another matter. There is an
automobile tax on every auto under a
state law A part, or most is this mon
ey IS to be expended under The ap, ,roprl-
alton of the county commissioners on
the highways. The Meredian Road As
soclation are trying to have this money
expended on this proposed automobile
highway, hence the localities through
which the road runs will have somewhat
of bonus to expend in improving such
road, which will be to their own advan-
t .ge in many other ways as we'll as for
automoblling.
The Neche delegation which went to
Winnipeg presented a letter from Com.
missioner NORM stating that it was au-
thorized to say that the commissioners
would only expend this money on con-
dition that the highway ent via Neche,
stating that Commissioners Matthison
and Olafson were backing him up. The
same letter was read in the Grand Forks
convention Wednesday, which, if true
is rather arbitrary on the part of the
board, but we doubt the authority for.
such statement.
AS the matter stands, SO far as this
city is concerned it is q fight between
Emerson and Gretna, as the Canadian
authorities control the situation over
there. Pembina otherwise has no spe-
lcisl interests, as either route south from
here will under any 'circumstancebe sat-
lsfactory.
AT the Grand Forks convention We'd
nesday Nsche and st. Thomas with two
thirds of the deleeaIes present polled.
] iss sues aud controlled tho county orKani
zation, and in spite Of Secretary. Graves,
IinstrIcttOns that the Meridian rnad
mus end &t PembinA pruceded to or.
Kanizs t0r64ct 4 change. Several letters
lfrom the original promoters Id Kansas,
and the CAnad dian aut hositiss at Winni.
4 ~ Nefsi Rad by MI. Graves shox ring
thlS anthOfisy, Ststing that III printed
illtslatu tuss md blus book wieIs ont shosl.
I ,ng 81 u sonts g !. 5sas IL