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


nipeg, Canada, to Galveston, Texas.
When this is completed, it will in all
probability be extended southward to the
City of Mexico
AS already planned, this road will tap
the most productive portion of the Union,
the great Middle West. This is indicat.
ed by the table given below prepared
from the thirteenth Federal Census re-
port, which shows that the nine states
touched by this road furnish proportion
ally large share of the entire farm pro
duction of the United States, as follows:
corn 43 per cent, wheat ST., oats 46, hay
and forage 40, cotton a. horses and
mules 43, cattle AZ, swine 43.
Travellers along he Meridian road will
pass from the waving fields of golden
grain of the Dakotas and Kansas to the
virgin white cotton fields of Oklahoma
ond Texas; from the snowclad plains of
Canada to the sunkissed orange groves
of the southern gulf coast.
OhlO1NAIED I'm hANSASs
This proposed HIGHWAY had Its incep.
ton in the sunf1ower state about June
lst, 1911, at Salina, the Meridian road
association was organized to pr omote
north and south road across Kansas near
the sixth meridian. w. w. Watson was
elected president and John G Nicholson
socretry. The officers were instructed
10 proceed at once with definite plans of
the north and south road and to enlarge
the project if possible, into Winnipeg
to.the- Gulf road. Later the Interstate
Postal Highway Association was organ
ized at Oklahoma to extend the highway
across Oklahoma, practically following
the Santa Fe Railway.
Still later an organization, under the
name of the ':Chisolm Trail' was form
ed, which built road across the State
of Oklahoma, following quite closely the
Rock Island railroad. At Columbus,
Neb., was formed the Nebraska division
of the Meridian road. The Pembina
Highway Association with a route from
Winnipeg to the International boundary
line signified it's willingness to form, a
division of the road.
RED RIVER TO GULF G
One of the first moves to be made was
the organization of the Red river to the
Gulf highway in Texas. Later this last.
mentioned division resolved itself into
two roads, one on the, east side Of the
Brazos through Dallas, following the
Houston and Texas Central Railway,
and one on the west side through Fort
Worth, following the Santa Fe with
crossovers
The necessity for closer organization
and the recognition of one or more per-
sons as the head of such an association
was patent. Accordingly meeting of
delegates from each of the States and
that section of Canada traversed by the
road was called at Emporia, Kan, on
Jan 18th and 18th. At this meeting,
which was also the date and location of
the State good roads meeting, large
number of delegates were present. At
Emporia, Samuel H Lee of Pierre, s d.
was elected president; Col. Sidney Suggs
of Oklahoma City, Okla. vice president,
and John g. Nicholson, Newton, KIN,
secretary and treasurer.
WILL REQUIRE S8.0OO,OOOOO.
Figuring the cost of building the Mer-
idian road on basis of $1,000 per mile,
which is the estimated cost of mile of
road in Texas, it is founu that $1,000 900
will be required to finance this PROPOSE.
tion. This sum is being raised IN the
counties, through which the road is to
pass by the issuance of bonds voted for
that purpose.
The Texas Commercial Secretaries
and Business Mems Association has sent
out the following:
"This is day of highway improvement.
The germ OF good roads has affected the
Union from east to west and from north
tosouth. Everywher, is heard the noise
Of the road grader and whistle Of the
steam plow. As this is an age Of great
undertakings in every line, so it is in the
road building. The most stupendous
tasks in the building Of highways are
planned, and it is gratifying to know
that they are not only laid on paper but
on the,land. They are not the dreams
lot visionaries, but everyday happenings
in the lives Of realists. 4.
T The magnitude Of the plans for build
ing highways has passed the bounds Of
oommunity and county lines 10 assume
interstate and even international impor-
lance. The transcontinsntal high wsy.
reaching from coast to Scoast, viii be.
some 1, 100 miles in length, Of more than
eleven times g long % the world fanaons
Appain Way 3 s
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