Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1912-02-14
EAST IOWASCENIC TRAIL
Beautiful Automobile Road to Run
Through DEBORAH.
PERMANENT ROADS FOR COUNTY
Definite System of Roadways to be
Kept in Best Of Condition
Cross County Both
Ways.


agreed by practically everyone that
it was the proper thing to do, but
was never done, it appears that a
definite plan is to be carried out in
the improvement of Winneshiek
county roads.
Public Opinion, along with many
other papers and citizens of the
state, have made a campaign for
good roads extending through
number of years. We have contend
ed, in and out of season, that pub
lie funds could be expended for no
purpose that would yield larger re-
turns to the people of all classes.
That good roads between the farm
and the town brings the people clos
er together, enables the farmer to
deliver his produce to market when
the market is right, and to procure
goods from the town when he wants
it; saves money for everybody, and
makes life more enjoyable.
Throughout the entire state of
Iowa a definite plan of road improve
ment is being laid out under the
supervision of Mr.. A. E. Nilsson, rep
resenting the Iowa Publishing Co.,
duly authorized to carry on the work
by the good roads clubs of the state
and nation. Several lines of high
ways are laid out across the state,
which will be placed in the best of
condition and kept up as permanent
highways, among them the River to
River Road, Hawkeye Road, Wau-
konsie Trail, North Iowa Pike, Blue
Grass Road, Des Moines to st. Paul
Road, etc. The one in which De-
corah and WinneShiek county is most
interested is the East Iowa Scenic
Trail, with which all the cross-state
roads will connect either at Daven-
port or Clinton. The road will take
the ridge much of the way in view
of the Mississippi river and the ad-
jacent country, to Maquoketa, and
Dubuque, where it will strike the
old military road to McGregor and
Fort Atkinson, turning at Calmar to
Decorah and then north to Burr Oak,
Hesper, Mabel, Caledonia and La
Crosse The North Iowa Pike will
cut across from New Hampton to
meet it, 1t will be the most beauti-
full scenic road in the middle west,
and II is expected that it will attract
many autoists during the summer
months.
Maps and aliases are being issued
which will feature all of these high
ways, and good roads and auto
clubs have already been organized
in 81 of the SO Iowa counties to
further the good roads movement.
1t is the hope and plan to have
complete system of good roads
throughout the entire state, crossing
each county both ways, and these
roads kept in good condition first be-
fore attempting to keep other roads
up as they should be.
In Winneshiek county the move
ment is we'll along. The plan is to
have a road from Jackson Junction
to Fort Atkinson, Calmar. Decorah,
Burr Oak, Hesper and Mabel, being
the north and south road; another
from Frankville to Decorah and
northwest over the new Bluffton
road to Cresco; another from Cas-
talia to Ossian, Calmar, Conover.
Ridgeway and Cresco. Main roads
from Decorah to Springwater, Locust
and HighIandville; from Burr Oak
to KendaIlville and CreSco: from
CaImar to Spillville and Protovin:
and from the West Union road at
the southeast corner of Military
township north to Ossian, Nordness
and Decorah via Trout Run; another
from this point north to Calmar;
and still another from Decorah to
Ridgeway via the Oregon road COM
pletes the plan for permanent road
work in this county. 1t is believed
by those who have given the matter
much study that if the most atten-
tion Is given the roads mentioned, and
an attempt made to place them IN
first class condition without delay,
keeping them up every year, the peo-
pie of all parts Of the county VIII
be able to get onto a main graded
and dragged highway with only a
short drive. That by this plan there
will be a good highway between all
towns, and this is most necessary.
The Decorah Commercial Club,
the Winneshiek County Auto Club,
| the business men of Calmar, men,
bers of the Board of Supervisors and
others have agreed that this is the
practical plan. The next question is
how to put it into execution. AS
vet no definite steps have been taken,
and there may be some objection to
the plan outlined, but we think. all
things considered, it is as we'll as
can be done. Mr. Nilsson has gone
over the matter carefully both III
Decorah and Calmar, and has as
sured our people the hearty cooper
alton of the state organization. There
will be much more money this yeai
than ever before to spend upon the
roads If il is wisely and judi
ciously expended upon definite
plan of road improvement, Winnie
shiek county can in a few years
, have a splendid system of permanen
roads, that will be passable at al
times OF the year, and that will b.
, a Joy to everyone. If the automobil
tax be spent entirely upon the road
mentioned, and as much as can D
spared of the other road money,
ought to accomplish this purpose
This doas not mean that other ROAD