Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1912-08-26
GIVES AID TO TRANscoNTlNENT
A. AUTO ROUTE WHICH FOL.
Lows LINE.
ALL CROSSINGS ORDERED
PUT EXCELLENT SHAPE
Weeds Cut, Double Plankins Put Down
and Marrow Crossings to b Wild
snsd-Routs Growing to % Most
Popular for Travel Between Chicago
and. Omaha.

Clinton, Aug. 2e.-The Northwestern
Railway Company has joined the llli-
nois and Iowa highway commissions,
city and county officials, commercial
clubs and organizations in the improve
ment of the official transcontinental
auto route thru Iowa and Illinois. By
this cooperation much Of mutual bene-
fit is being accomplished and the Of
fetal transcontinental route is being
rapidly made the best stretch of road
in the country.
The co-operation of the railway COM
pany with the good roads enthusiasts
in lettering road conditions is in ap-
probation Of the fact that the good
roads movement in the various coun-
ties thru which the railway lines pass
is benef1ting tho railway company in
making better the roads leading to
depots, making it possible COR the farm
ers to more easily reach the railway
company's facilities. This is due to the
fact that attention Is being given to
the improvement of cross lines of road
as we'll as the main highways.
crossings, the Northwestern Railway
Company has won the commentator OF
residents on .:s line and Of thousands
Of tourists who annually pass over the
official Transcontinental route thru
Iowa and Illinois. Tourists from all
states declare that the crossings are IN
the best condition of any they have
ever encountered, practically every
crossing having been snloothed in ac-
cordance with orders from Vice Presi-
dent r. H. Ashton.
Northwestern Aids.
Relative to the Northwestern rail-
ways work in improving road condi-
tions. W. F. Ccan. of Clinton, treasurer
Of the Iowa Official Transcontinental
Route Association, has received the
following letter and enclosure from Mr..
Ashton:
Il am greatly obliged to you for
your letter of the fifteenth enclosing
copies Of Trans Continental post card
guides.
"You may rest assured that as far
as our company is concerned we will
do everything. that is consistent and
practicable to help along the movement
for good highway parallel to our line.
You may be familiar with the action
that has already been taken. I am
enclosing. herewith copy Of letter to
our superintendent in relation to the
keeping in first-class condition Of all
crossings over our tracks and now
have information that they have about
completed the work of carrying out
! these Instructions"
II hope you may be successful in
securing for his route a very large
amount OF the rans-continental
travel which is bound to come and
we feel sure that great good will
result to every community along the
route thru the increased travel
and increased demand for supplies
and accommodations and we also
feel that this company will benefit
in a measure thru the increased
prosperity Of the communities we
serve
Orders Are Given.
Following are the orders given by
the company to it's superintendents:
what is known as the Trans
Continental Automobile Route runs
alongside Of and crosses this COM
pany's tracks a great many times be-
tween Chicago and Omaha.
II think section foremen and road
masters are generally familiar with
these crossings.
II wish that Immediately on re-
ceipts Of this letter a special inspec-
tor would be made Of each one Of
these crossings and that they be put
in more than ordinary good shape.
If there is a single planking make
it a double planking, or better still
plank entire width between cattle
guards or fences. II approaches are
narrow arrange to have them wild
ened and slope made proper and
surface covered with some gravel.
cinders or something that will pre-
vent mud holes. II weeds have
grown up alongside Of crossing or
view is INSTRUCTED in any way have
the view made as unrestricted as
possible II any of them cross
diagonally or make sharp turn just
before crossing track see that add
tional sign board is placed sufficient
distance away to give warning. In
other words use your very best
Judgment to have these crossings
put in such good condition that 1t
will not only avoid criticism, but
will! be matter Of comment.
please advise on receipt OF this
letter, points at which this route
passes over our line and action that
has been taken to put them in good
condition"