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

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forts. The sentiment for the boule-
ward is now strong in Nebraska, strong
er in Wyoming and Idaho and over
whelming on the Pacific slope. With
the Congressional delegations of the
five states touched by the proposed
Pioneer Way unit for Federal aid, and
public sentiment in each of these states
backing the project, there is no doubt
that rebuilt Oregon trail will be the
last and longest link in the Ocean-to-
Ocean Speedway.
The cost of e-buildIng the trail from
Omaha to the foothills of the Rockies
in Wyoming will be comparatively
small. For the greater part of the dis
lance the soil is of a sandy nature and
will easily yield to the government
formula for gypsum treatment, which
is being used in Kansas A mixture of
sand and gypsum gives hard, water
tight, springy running surface that is
difficult to improve for either wagon or
motor traffic.
From the eastern foothills of the
Rockies in Wyoming to the western
foothills in Oregon the road winds
through valley and canon, across ridge
and plateau, by gentle grades. The
problems in this great stretch are those
of mountain road building, but it is to
be remembered that the men who
blazed the Oregon trail took with them
heavily laden wagons and that grades
that would merely embarass modern
motor car would have been impossible
to them. There are not at this time
any prohibitive grades along the trail,
and when the road builders begin their
task they will not have to blast any
mountains out of their way.
The Ocean-to-Ocean Highway is not
so far out of reach, after all, is it? A
boulevard something like $500 miles
long, without bad grade in its entire
length, is something more than a dream
it is more than half a reality. And
the completion of the greatest pleasure
drive.the world has ever seen or ever
will see is comparatively simple and
easy matter with the cooperation of
the thirteen States that the boulevard
viii cross.
When completed the trans continental
pleasure drive will be world wide at
traction to motorists. Nowhere on
earth will there be continuous road so
long nor with such variety of scenery
and historical interest. From the At
lanuc to the Mississippi every foot of
the road is historic ground. Where it
does not actually touch, it brings with
in easy reach battlefelds OF every war
fought upon American soil since the
founding of Virginia
Imagine yourself in a touring car
some fine May morning, speeding out of
Washington, bound for the Pacific
coast. Up the picturesque Potomac
valley you go to Cumberland. thence
through the beautiful Alleghanes by
way of the Cumberland Narrows, across
corner of Pennsylvania and of West
Virginia, where the scenery has placid
beauty IN spring that will move the
most matter-of fact heart Next YOU
cross Ohio, still picturesque, a rich,
comparatively level country, broken
here and there with hills just big
enough to keep the trip from being
monotonous. Richer and still more
level becomes the land traversed as you
pass through Indiana and Illinois. BY
the time you have reached st. Louis
you have gotten an idea of most of your
countrys chief Industries and you have
visited many spots where history has
been made. And you have travelled in
comfort, for at no place along the
Cumberland pike are you far away from
anv of the modern conveniences of life
After you cross the Mississippi at St.
Louis you enter country that presents
marked contrasts. You have not left
the city far behind when you cross
another great river, the Missouri. To
the north Of you Is a thickly settled
farming country, rich to opulence. To
the south is the Missouri, accurately
described as majestic in its sweep. and
just beyond, the rugged foothills of the
Ozarks, dotted here and there with
villages of the wine-growing German
Americans, bit of the Rhine trans
planted to America. You are travelling
now over road first travelled by Daniel
Boone and his sons. You visit the
famous Boone's Lick springs, and at
Old Franklin you come to the ancient
head of the Missouri river navigation
where the early fur traders left the
steamers to enter the wilderness
where now are the rich cities of the
Missouri valley. You cross the Missouri
river again at Bonneville, perhaps, and
come to the great prairies-the richest
farming and stock-raising lands on
earth.
Presently you are in Independence.
Missouri, the seat of the original Lat
ter-Day Saints, sometimes called Nor
mons. Next YOU are in Kansas CITY.