South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-01-12
CHANGE
IN ROUTE Of THE
LINCOLN WAY
Petition Filed With Commits
SionerS Asks Improvement of
"RiVer Road to Join Elk
hart Highway.

A proposed change in the route Of
the Lincoln Highway at the eastern
extremity of the county was present
ed 10 the board of commissioners
Monday when a petition signed by A
property owners was filed.
The change proposes the improve
ment Of the sO-called River road"
at the north Of the road first pro-
jected as the highway route. The pc
titioners urge this route in order that
the road be made to connect with the
highway as ordered TO be improved by
the Elkhart county commissioners.
The Elkhart officials have completed
all ection toward the Improvement of
the road in that county and unless
the change is made in ST. Joseph
county the roads will not Join. The
south road first proposed enters Elk
hart county a mile and a quarter
from the point where the highway as
established in that county reaches the
border.
The commissioners received the
petition and a hearing probably will
be held in the near future when the
question viii lie considered. A. G..
Graham and Geo. Crane and Iden :.
Romig. local attorneys for the Lin
coin Highway association; Z. i. Ar
q.
Williams of this city appeared before
the board Monday when the proposed
change was presented.
Want Roads to Meet.
Arnold, who has been active in the
Lincoln Highway project in Elkhart.
explained to the commissioners the
action taken by the Elkhart county
beard EIe said that all legal steps to-
ward improving the river road" had
been taken in that county. Unless
the St. Joseph county board meets
this road the route Will lead along the
county border line for more than a
mile. The difference in distances IS
nearly two miles. the river road" be-
ing shorter.
All but a portion OF the proposed
new route is already established,
but not improved road. Under the
fve-mile road law Of Indiana COM
missioners are empowered to i'm
prove established" highways. but not
TO open new ones. According TO Ar
mold he believes the proposed road
can be brought under the provisions
OF the fve-mile act by securing deeds
from the Indiana x Michigan Elec-
trio Co. which owns the ground. He
EXPRESSED the belief that the company
would cooperate TO this extent.
Ii was generally admitted that the
new route proposed would De r1cneT
in scenic beauty than the south one.
There is some opposition. however,
among Mishawaka. il i9 said. who
maintain the river road" is a by
way and who favor the Improvement
OF the other road because il sustains
more travel. It is possible the COM
missionerS may be asked 20 improve
both roads as a means OF solving the
problem.
The north route follows closely
along the river bank and circles a
bayou near OsceOla. Part OF the
route would probably have TO be flll-
ed The petition asks for the appoint
ment o. two viewers To examine the
proposed route aud report on it's
practicability.
The commissioners, after hearing
the presentation or the matter. de-
cided 10 hold a hearing on the peti-
ton next Monday.
Viewers for the Lincoln highway
west We're appointed Monday 20
qualify next Monday and hle their
report not later than April I. They
are Melville Mix and r. G. Eberhart.