Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-10-25
LINCOLN HIGHWAY
REPORT GIVEN AT
WEEKLY MEETING
Edwin W. Woodcock Tells of
American Road Congress
Held at Detroit.
MAY FORM ASSOCIATION
Greater Moline Committee Goes on
Record in Favor of Tri-city
Organization of Boosters.

Edwin W. Woodcock. as the author
lied representative of the Greater Mo
line committee, read before a full ses-
sion of that committee at the regular
weekly luncheon yesterday. his writ
ten report on the American Read CON
gress recently held in Detroit and upon
THE Great Transcontinental High
way"
Mr.. Woodcock. was accorded rising
vote of thanks by the committee for
his presentation of the recognition
claims of the tri-city community in
his address made at Detroit to the
Lincoln Highway association. The
Greater Moline committee then passed
the following resolution, as an initia-
tive step towards organizing a tri-city
good roads association:
Resolved, That it is the sense of
this committee that the suggestion
made in Mr.. Woodcocks report on the
great transcontinental highway re-
garding the organization of a tri-city
good roads association possesses suffi-
Gent merit to warrant the Greater Mo
line committee in unselfishly taking
the initiative in promoting this organ.
ization.
1t is further resolved, That this mat.
ter be placed in the hands of the ex
ecutive committee for fulfillment and
that Mr.. Woodcock be requested to ad.
wise with this committee in this con
nection.
THE REPORT.
Mr. Woodcock's report in full is as
| follows:
Like every worth while movement
| in the world of human realities. the
great transcontinental highway found
| conception in the inspired dream Wis
ion of an individual.
Carl G. Fisher of Indianapolis is the
man, it is claimed, who had the vision
! and gave birth to the idea of broad
highway, sweeping from the Atlantic
to the Pacific, laden with farm vehi
! cles, with motor cars, and with crowds
of care-free folk, travelling both cas-
and west, contented and happy in the
new age spirit of freedom and gooC
| fellowship.
At first this ideal vision was regard
ed as an idle dream and scoffed at by
the people; but the spirit of it found
resting place and took firm root i,
the minds of others. 1t spread rapid
| ly. The daring conception soon crys
talized into a well organized and un
selfish movement.
Under the inspiring name, "Lincolr
Memorial Highway" an evergrowinl
army of public-spirited men and wo
men has developed this one-time OBJ
! scure movement into a national one
/ These people not only saw a smooth
and broad expansive highway, but they
further visioned national chain o
productive farm lands galvanized int
new life by this memorial connecting
link. Instead of dilapidated, ole
and weather-worn farm buildings, the,
saw this highway parked on eithe
side by modern, up-to-date residences
and outbuildings, decorated in &
manner befitting the new era o
prosperity now dawning in thu
scientific light of knowledge useful
ness. They saw vast non-productiv,
western plains covered with an i'm
proved stock of domesticated animal
feeding and fattening upon rich alfalfI
fields, which are multiplying with ever
increasing wonder.
And in the new knowledge light nov
commencing to shine resplendentl.
upon the whole world, they saw thi
memorial highway crowned with al
the glories of electrical appliances
and from this trunk line center the.
saw radiating to every locality nortl
and south all the benefits of moderl
civilization.
They further saw with the eye 0
certainty country life made profitable
attractive and beautiful through tn
use CT modern farm implements an
other useful inventions. and with tn
joy of vision they are now acting II
concert TO make this United State
garden the most glorious and health
freedom spot On the face of the globe
In building the Lincoln highway. cor
crete will be the principal materia
used. It will cover a distance OF
little over 5000 miles.
To stimulate and further this nation
wide movement, IL is proposed on tn
coming night of Oct. 81 to have Dol
fires. torchlight professions an
speeches in every city, village, hamIt
and crossroads touched by the higI
way.
On Sunday, Nov .. the life of Lii
coin. his character, his great publ
! service, and his homeIy nature an
virtues win be touched upon by II
: pastors Of every religious denomin
r ton along the entire route, and {
Arbor days school children will b. i
spired to plant trees and shrubber
: thereby making this worthy monumel
= TO a great man a beautiful as well
I a servieeable one.
I HIGHWAY ENDORSED.
The lincoln HIGHWAY movement T
] ceived the hearty Enforcement OF II
American Road congress which WAS =