South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1913-12-19

Audience at Booster Meeting at
EIkS' Temple is Urged to
Assist in Movement by Chas.
BOokWalter.

The first appeal 20 the citizens Of
South Bend and OF the surrounding
territory 10 make a subscription for
the Lincoln highway was made
Thursday night at a boosters mass
meeting at the Elks' temple when
Charles Bookwalter. ex-mayor Of In
dianapolis. one OF the original pro-
meters of the new highway, urged
the cooperation OF everybody along
the $500 mile route.
Besides Bookwalter. a. r. Pard-
ington. president of the National Lin
coin Highway association, talked,
pointing out the magnitude OF the
project and proposing that South
Bend rededicate one Of her streets
as the Lincoln highway. G. D..
Frank, road engineer. gave an Illus
trated talk. mapping out the highway
and showing the process Of construct
ing by moving pictures. Fred Wood
ward presided. J. b. StOll also spoke.
In response to an announcement
that in several cities hotels, garages
and public buildings were being ded-
icated IN honor of the new road. 1t
was announced that the former Smith
garage on S. Lafayette st. will be
known in the future as the Lincoln
Highway garage. This is the first
after the new highway and the street
10 be used by the new road may be
named for il.
Should Interest Farmer.
In his address, Bookwalter particu-
larly emphasized the need OF interest
ing the farmer in the new road.
"One whisper OF a farmer in the ears
OF legislator about this gigantic pro-
ject is more potential than the siren
sounds of all the automobile horns
in the United States" asserted he.
The farmer is the solution In this
proposition and he must be inter-
ested."
He pointed out the advantages to
the farmer 10 be gained by the new
road and asserted that IL costs a
farmer more TO haul his produce to
market over the poor roads than it
costs TO ship IT TO Liverpool. He
showed that the value OF lana would
be infinitely increased. That the
automobiles that travel the gravel
roads are driving them backwards
faster than they can be rebuilt, was
the statement of the speaker.
a need for a better constructed
road which will be able TO stand the
wear of automobiles was the point
urged and he said that concrete bed
was necessary TO provide a suhstan-
tial foundation.
He pointed with pride to the fact
that the big project had originated
with a HoOsier. Carl E Fisher of In
dianapolis. who had given large
amounts OF money as well as a great
part OF his time toward the scheme.
When the idea was presented TO the
citizens of Indianapolis the first night
$35O,OOO was subscribed although
every donor believed the big high
way would not go through the capital
city. Already a sum OF $500. 900
has been raised for the construction
by the long list OF auto and business
concerns as we'll as by individual bust
ness men. he declared.
Network OF ROadways.
After the completion of the Lin
coin highway through South Bend. ="
he asserted. concrete roads of the
same material will be constructed TO
this city from Indianapolis on the
south, possibly from Detroit TO the
north as well as from numerous other
points. II will not be long until
northern Indiana is a network Of
solid concrete roads with South Bend
a central terminal"
He said that when the road is COM
pleted IL has been estimated that
100 600 automobiles will pass through
South Bend over the new route the
first year. IL will be the greatest dis
tributor Of money Of any source in
the United States and Will be more