The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1913-10-20
SLOW TO BUILD
NEEDED HIGHWAY


| ing how long the people OF NpNlhSto'l
township Bsraga county, are going to
delay the completion Of n highway
which will connect with the road Civ.
ing access to Marquette county ana
the eastern part Of the upper peninsu-
Ia.
Having bonded itself for $4,000,
L'Ansc township built n highway OK
tending north and south within its
boundaries. This road extends 10
within three miles Of Nestoria, the
terminal OF the system of highways
extending from the eastern part or
the peninsula, and on the north il con-
meets with the roads built ny thu
counties 20 the north. With the COM
pletion of the three mile stretch from
LAnse township line TO Nestoria, tho
practical isolation of the Keweenaw
peninsula would, as far rs good roads
is concerned, be at an end.
Being keenly interested in the up.
| building of their township, and Of the
entire territory for that matter, the
people Of L'Anse are showing the
greatest concern In matters of road
Improvement. \ visit TO L'Anse con-
vinces one that they are earnestly ard
conscientiously looking TO the develop
mcnt Of their township through the
medium of good roads.
Engineer Townsend. OF the state
/ highway commission, on a recent visit
10 iIAnse, assured the residents that
the road into the Keweenaw peninsula.
leadinr northward from Nestora and
| including the IAnsa township high
way, would be made a part Of The state
trunk line system. as.soon as IL Is
| completed and brought, up 10 the re.
quirements Of tho commission. While
he made no promises, ne said that it's
location gave ii great advantage over
other highways, and could IL hc COM
pleted so rs to connect with the high
ways Of the eastern counties by the
time the route Of the syetcm is .es-
iablishod IL wonld probably be inchd-
cd. In this case. L'Anse township
would receive a reward Of between
$4,000 and $4,000 n mile for the road,
although an expenditure Of $1,000 4
milo would be necessary TO bring tho
road NJ TO the standard requirements.
Tho present situation, however, ~
ton have given no assurance that they
will complete the three stretch OF
highway through that township and
they seem reluctant TO spend any more
money FOR road Improvement for some
time 70 come Mon who have given
tho matter closest attention and who
are well posted on the subject, say
that Covington township has plenty Of
resources and, considering how little
Expenditure is really necessary for the
completion or highway that would
mean 50 much 10 tho territory, they
nclicve their ncirhbcre' delay almost
! incXcusablo.
WHAT makes thc situation appear
particularly distressing 70 the people
OF LAnse is the fact that about four
years aro. when IL was decided to di-
vide tho township Of LAnse, giving
two surveyed towns TO Covingtoa
township and another 20 Spur town
snip, east 81 L'Ansc. there was reach
Cd an agreement by the terms II
which Covington promised 20 build
he throe-mile stretch OF road that is
now the missing link. But during tho
intervening four years only promises
have been received from Covington.
\ year ago CoylnRton township
bonded itself for $1,000 for road
building purposes. The people ol
L'Anse were given to understand the
money was 10 he used for the compile
ton Of the highway TO Nestoria. In
stead Of the money being used for that
purpose. however, II was expended for
the Improvement Of road between
the villages OF Covington and Nestoria
cunning parallel with the South Shore
fight-of- way ana which is OF little use
10 anyone but the inhabitants of the
two communities. Tho highway gives
acccss to nothing west of CovinPton,
there heing hut few improved roads
between Ncstora and the state line.
Now thai this money is spent, the
township board Of Covington has, it il
said, signified that it will not increase
tho bonded Indebtedness Of the town .
ship for further road improvement,
Idespite the cact that tho limit to which
the township may bond itself has not
been reached. Ii IS this reported re-
lluctance on the part Of the Covingtou
township board that is disturbing the
lL'Ansc people and Is arousing thci.
Idisplcasurc. The small cost OF the i'm
lprovcment OF the thrcc-milc stretch II
highway makes tho attitude of the
iCov;ngton people appear unreasonable
in ne eyes of the LAnse residents. /,
is argued that there is no sensible
basis for tho attitude assumed. since
- per cent of the taxes are paid by
outside corporations and the repro
sontatiycs Of these interests have
strongly advocated the road improve
mcnt.
| EAnse people believe that with a
little outside urging and with pres
Isurc brought To boar upon the Coy
ngton township board, the much dc
sired improvement can he had within
H. year. The burden Of tho bonds nee
lcasory would be but little IN tho in