The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-01-02
ROUTE IS LOGGED
Canada and Gulf Highway Is
Nearly Finished.
Galveston CauseWay Ends 1000
Mile Link.

Newton, Kan, Jan. 2.-The Meridian
road is logged, organized and open for
motor car traffic from Winnipeg to
Galveston. From Winnipeg to Wichita,
Kan, more than 1000 miles, it already
is a first-clasS dirt road. From Wichita
south two routes have been located,
one through Enid, Ell Reno and Law
ton to Wichita Falls, Tex, and the
other by way of the Santa Fe towns to
Oklahoma City, thence pot Ell Reno
through Lawton to Wichita Falls. From
Wichita Falls to Fort Worth the tour
list can take his choice between the
Jacksburo route or the Bowie route.
From Fort Worth there are again
two routes. The one to Cleburne and
thence to Waco by way of Glenrose,
Cliffoton and Meridian is a longer but
better road than by way of Hillsboro.
That part of the Meridian road be-
tween the Red river and Waco is cali
ed the North Texas division. The gulf
division of the Meridian road was or
ganized at Houston.
At Waco the Meridian road forks, one
branch extending southeast on the east
side of the BraZos river through Mar
lin, Hearne, Bryan, College Station,
Navasota, Hampstead, Houston to CAL
weston; while the other branch extends
from Waco, through Temple, Granger,
Austin, San Marcus, New Braunfels to
w
Hampstead is a very poor road. Many
miles of it is what is called black,
waxy land and many miles of sand.
From about 25 miles east of Hemp
stead through Houston to Galveston is
shell road about 100 miles in length,
which is the longest and best stretch
of road on the Meridian road between
Winnipeg and the Gulf of Mexico. Be
tween Waco and Granger the road is
very bad III wet weather.
Some Fine Roads in South.
From Granger through Austin to
san Antonio is fairly good road.
Near Houston and Galveston there has
neen constructed about one thousand
miles of shell road that are equal if
not superior for motoring to the oiled
roads in southern California.
Realizing that it is necessary to
have good road in and out of the
Gulf coast country, Houston and Cal
ment to construct and maintain the
gulf division of the Meridian road.
Likewise San Antonio will do all it
can to cause to be constructed first
class road between San Antonio,
Waco, Fort Worth and north. There
also will be constructed in the near
future a road from San Antonio to
thereby forming a loop for
traffic in Central Texas
The Meridian road will also connect
with Dallas through Fort Worth,
thirty miles distant, thus placing all
of the large cities of Texas on the
road. Governor Colquitt re-
Gently recommended the construction
Of the above roads, which are entitled
to federal aid.
Over the Causeway Route.
Entering Galveston the route goes
two miles over the famous causeway,
which cost $2,50O,00O. The causeway
is 10.642 feet in length, divided into
n \, hi
The arch bridge consists of twenty
eight arches with 20 foot span and a
foot rise. The roller lift bridge
gives a clear waterway of 100 feet.
The roadway is 154 feet wide, carrying
40 feet Of county roadway and five
railroad tracks with room for four
more. The arch bridge part has a to-
tai width of Sc feet consisting of %
feet for county road, 5 feet for single |
rack interurban and % feet for dou-
Die track steam road. The massive |
roller lift bridge is the largest of it's |
kind in the world. Tt stands 165 feet |
n the air from the high tide mark |
Ind weighs 3,293,000 pounds of which |
seven hundred tons is steel. The rest
II the weight is made of 500 cubic |
7ards of concrete placed as a counter |
balance. The bridge is operated by |
electric power furnished by two so |
lorSe power motors with storage bat |
cry for reserve. This causeway prac- |
lcdliy HldheS OdINeSlOl d part OIL the |
main land. Galveston ranks next to |
New York among American ports in |
he total of foreign exports and is the |
greatest cotton port in the world.
There has been expended upon the |
Meridian road north of Oklahoma the
irst year between $350,00O and $780,
100. On that part across Oklahoma |
md Texas, at least one-third of a mil
ion dollars will be expended in 1913.
The work begun will persistently be
up until there is first class
Dad from Lake Winnipeg to the Gulf
If Mexico.