The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1912-12-13
Ocean to Ocean Thorough
fare Planned - Govern
ment Asked to Construct
the Great Highway.
ORGANIZER HERE
TO AID THE PLAN
National Old Trails Road
Association Is Backing the
Movement for the Great
Thoroughfare.

L. B. Bevier, of Kansas City. nation
al organizer of the National Old Trails
Road association, outlined the purpose
of the organization to persons inter-
ested in the project last night in the
high school auditorium.
Organizers of the association are
working in every state of the union
through which the so called middle
route runs, creating sentiment that
will influence congressman to vote for
a bill which will provide funds for the
construction of an ocean to ocean
highway to follow the route of the old
National road.
A large committee was appointed to
secure members for the organization
in Richmond. 1t is pointed out that
Richmond will be benefited if the
middle route is chosen. The establish
ment of this national highway will
bring Richmond to the attention of
thousands of tourists who will use the
road on their way from the Atlantic to
the Pacific in automobiles
Mr.. Bevier last evening said that
Congressman Borland will present a
bill in the March session of congress
asking for funds to create the high
way from the Atlantic through Rich
mond to Los Angeles.
Strong Sentiment.
The national orpa 1er old in mort
THE sentiment for an ocean to
ocean highway is strong, especially
along the overland and transcontinen-
tai route, commonly called the north
ern route. In the states through which
this route passes many cities are in
contention with one another Cities
along this route are not organized on
any one definite line from coast to
coast. Buffalo, Chicago, Detroit, Oma-
ha and Denver are pulling every wire
to get the route. This contention IA
vors the middle route.
The middle route follows the old
national trail from Washington,
through Columbus, O., Richmond, Indi-
annapolis, Terre Haute, st. Louis, Kan
sas City to Sante Fe, and thence to
Los Angeles over the old western trial
This route passes through the geo.
graphical center of the United States
touches the center of population, has
the lowest attitudes, best climatic fea-
lures, finest scenery and leads through
sections and cities rich in historical
sentiment and association.
The middle route is the logical
route and will serve the most persons
least money and will be used the whole
year around
To Draft Bill.
The National Old Trails Roads as
sociation, with headquarters in Kan
sas City, whose president is Judge ].
NJ. Lowe, of that city. now has vice
presidents in every state through
which the route passes, and is now
collecting sentiment and forming
large congressional committee. bill
favoring the project, drafted by Judge
Lowe will be presented to the March
session Of Congress by Congressman
Barland
The association has received pied
ges of support when it routed cars
over the road last year Practically ev-
cry city and town along the route has
a club in the association. The member
ship costs $3.50 year, but this in
cludes also a subscription to the Bet
ter Roads magazine, edited by Jesse
H. Taylor and copy of the guidebook
of the old national roads through In
diana. These guidebooks received wide
circulation in the hands OF automobile
clubs and hotels.
The establishment of the national
highway will have tendency TO bring
thousands of tourists through Rich
mond on their way TO the Western
and coast states.
"Clubs have been organized in the
following Indiana cities: Terre Haute.
Brazil, Stilesville, Plainfield, Char
lottesville. Knightstown, Lewisburg,
Dublin. Cambridge City, indianapolis
and Richmond. The Indiana organiza-
tions will be power in influencing
favorable legislation for the middle
route.
The national association is now or
ganized in New Mexico, Colorado.
Kansas, Missouri, Illinois. Indiana and
Ohio