The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1914-03-12

across the plains of Nebraska, through
the Rockies. down the valley of the
Oregon and up into Washington is the
old Oregon trail, which is the New
Pioneer Way already marked by ap-
preparation from Congress and soon to
be the last link of the Ocean-to- Ocean
boulevard.
The line extending from Newton,
Kansas, to Grand Island, Nebraska, is
about IT'S miles long, and it is a sug-
gested connecting link between the
Santa Fe and Oregon trails. Moreover
it is the only part of this great cross
continent speedway that good roads
agitators have not sought to improve.
Here is the situation In a nutshell ::
The Ocean-to-Ocean Speedway COM
pleted from Atlantic to Mississippi
River, by way of the Cumberland road;
states through which road passes re-
pairing the highway as fast as weather
and funds permit. Trans Missouri
highway planned from st. Louis to
Kansas City, by way of old Boone s
Lick road and Santa Fe trail; improve
ments waiting only for legislature to
to remove technical defect in road laws.
Kansas counties ready to complete.pav-
ing the Santa Fe trail from Olathe,
Kansas, where the macadam road out
of Kansas City ends, to Newton. I'M
provement of Oregon trail throughout
it's entire length assured by good roads
agitation in Nebraska, Wyoming,
Idaho, Oregon and Washington. One
connecting link of about IT'S miles from
Newton, Kansas. to Grand Island, Ne
braska, through country as level as a
floor, yet to be considered.
Will that connecting link of 175 miles
stand between the motor enthusiasts of
the country and an Ocean-to- Ocean
Highway? 1t will not. All that the
motor enthusiasts of the country will
have to do is to suggest to Kansas and
Nebraska that they would use such a
road if built. That will insure the con-
Meeting link. Kansas and Nebraska
are waking up to the good roads propo-
sltion; they have a surprisingly large
number of motor cars Of their own, and
they want the advertising.
We begun to see the solution of the
cost problem. The 800 miles of Cum
berland road is not all in the best of
condition. There is some talk of ask
ing Federal aid in repairing it. AS a
matter Of fact, most of the old National
Highway is going to be in first-class
condition before congress can be in
duced to take notice. Dividing the
cost between county road districts all
the way from Maryland TO Missouri
does not leave heavy burden on any
one district. Pennsylvania, Ohio,
Indiana and Illinois have been making
repairs on the highway. All that is
now needed is a continuation Of the
agitation. Considering the size of the
project, the cost to each community is
Insignificant.
The Trans-Missouri highway is a
joint project between State and coun
ties The State has authorized the
counties TO form road districts tor Jna
purpose Of issuing bonds for highway
construction. The State furnishes one
dollar to the districts two. Bills now
before the Legislature will remove de-
fects in the original Act, which have
heretofore prevented the sale of bonds.
This summer will see the cross State
highway started in at least a dozen
sections. The cost being thus divided
is heavier than it will be east of the
Mississippi, but not burdensome.
Kansas counties and road districts
have already rebuilt the Santa Fe trail
from the Colorado line to Newton, and
from Kansas CITY, Missouri. to Olathe.
The gaps will be closed within eighteen
months. Good roads associations hag e
the matter well in hand, and have Sc
cured co operation from the counties
through which the trail passes.
Brave old Ezra Meeker has not lived
IN vain, and there is enough sentiment
between Council Bluffs and Tumwater
to convert every foot of the old Ore
gon trail into the New Pioneer Way.
Good roads associations. covering the
course of the highway from the east
ern boundary of Wyoming to Puget
Sound, are seeing to it that the pro-
iect to boulevard this longest of the
pioneer trails shall not die. In Ne
braska the good roads people, spurred
on by the State Historical Society, are
awakening to the possibilities of the
trail. Some little work has already
been done on the eastern end of the
highway. and more will be done this
summer.
Meanwhile, the Federal government,
as the result of Ezra Meeker's trans
continental drive, has given official
recognition to the boulevard plan. A
bill by. Representative W. E. Hum
phrey. of the State of Washington,
carrying $50, 900 for markers and sur
veys, was passed by the last Congress.