The Meeker herald. [volume] (Meeker, Colo.) 1885-current, 1913-09-20
Good Ro.ds--ve'u &c. Them

Good Roads--we'll Get Them
As we intimated In last weeks
Herald, Pathfinder Westgard arrived
here with = peeve and . deprecated
opinion Of Rio Blanco county people
and roads. The pathfinder left with
an equally Tor more so) deprecated
estimate Of himself In our opinion.
Both opinions might have been AZ
rived at too hastily and without due
consideration.
Mr.. Westgard was peeved because
there we're no Rio Blanco people 1t
the Utah state line to meet him.
This overnight wss caused by the
non-arrival In Meeker Of . telegram
sent from Salt Lake City, by Mr..
Westgard, to Advisory Commission
or Walbridge. The latter never re-
ceived the telegram. Mr.. Westgard
met with all kinds Of hard luck after
leaving Salt Lake City. resulting In
his delayed arrival ut Vernal, and
missing Highway Com missioner
Ehrhart and party, who went to that
place to meet him (WestgsrdD. Mr..
Ehrhart and party made the trip
from Vernal to Meeker In less than
eight hours; Westgard could have
done likewise had he been on hand
to have accompanied the Colorado
party. Storms and accidents, over
which the people of this section had
no control, were the cause Of Mr..
Westgard's accidents and delays.
When word was received here of his
mishap other side Of Rangely, Mr..
Ed. J. Wilson, Of White River, was
hastened to Rangely with men
and teams, with instructions to spare
no expense In getting the Westward
party and machine to town. A pilot
car, In charge Of Vern Phelps, one Of
the safest and best autoists III these
parts, was sent out in heavy rain
storm to assist. Could We do more /?
Following are some Of the develop
ments, ~ noted by the Denver Times
~ they occurred at the banquet
given by the Denver commercial
bodies to Pathfinder Westgard:
IA peacemaker - we'll rs . pace
maker is A. L. Westgard, pathfinder
Of the National Highways sssocia-
ton, who talked enthusiastically Of
the good roads situation in Colorado
today ~ he watched the overhauling
Of the car In which he IL to travel
5000 miles more In completing his
years work.
Both Westgard and David Matt
son, secretary Of state Of Utah, have
messages Of peace and harmony.
THAT the Midland trail and the
vernal route to Salt Lake City should
both be used by Utah and Colorado
people Is the opinion Of both.
"Wsstsard Il in accord with the
suggestion L. =. Curtis Of Colo
RADIO Springs, made at the goods roads
luncheon yesterday. He believes
that the roads should be combined
- the Grand Junction Price di.
vision and the 'Meeker- Vernal d.
vision Of the Midland trail.
~ think Of the Midland trail this
way said Westgard, drawing . line
with two symmetrical loops on .
piece of paper. The first loop shows
the Denver Berthoud pass and the
Colorado Springs Tennessee pass
roads converging on the western
slope. At Rifle they fork again for
the Meeker-Vernal road and the
Grand Junction-Price road.
"'Both loops pass through sections
that should not be left Oh the high
ways and In this method the best
interests Of Denver and Colorado
Springs will be served
"'The people Of Utah cannot get
along without either road,' said
Secretary Mattson. Each passes
through important places that must
not be overlooked. The 'Vernal road
10 In good condition already. AT Jen-
sen. fifteen miles from the Colorado
line on the Vernal route, . new
bridge across the Green river has
just been completed 1t . cost of
10000. So you zee Utah will have to
maintain the road to use the bridge.
The Midland trail meets the
Vernal route At Cotton, the nearest
railroad point to the Indian reserva-
tions, and the Midland trail road IL
important too
Speaking Of the roads in Colorado,