South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-02-04
.ELKHART AROUSED
OVER CHANGE OF
HIGHWAY ROUTE
Century Club Committee De-
CIareS Dropping of City Will
Be Regarded As UnfriendIy
Act.

Because the commissioners OF st.
Joseph county declined 10 undertake
the construction of a concrete high
way. TO be part of the great Lincoln
way, along a route designated by
residents Off this county as a mere
"by-way," the members of the Elk
hart public service board have pass
ed a resolution of protest and
regrets"
Elkhartans were disappointed by
the action OF the tSt Joseph county
board because the main travelled
road ir St. Joseph county. which the
commissioners decided should be inn
proved as the Lincoln highway. does
not come within a mile Of connecting
with the route which the Elkhart
commissioners have already decided
upon.
The Elkhart public service board
in its resolution gives the st. Joseph
commissioners this distinct slap on
the wrist:
I'VE wish to protest" the resolu-
ton reads. against the crossing of
the Lake Shore and interurban tracks
at Osceola as a part OF movement to
divert this highway from the city of
Elkh1rt, and we suggest that persist
ence liz such a plan will be regarded
by the citizens Of Elkhart and its
vicinity as a distinctly unfriendly act.
and one which will not in the end
prove TO be for the best interests Of
the highway"
Another Suggestion.
The Elkhartans offer a suggestion
by compliance with which st. Joseph
county may be restored to the good
graces of it's neighbor to the east
They outline another route from
OsceOla- involving the opening of new
road i'm st. Joseph county. Regard
ing this the resolution says:
I'VE respectfully urge that a new
piece of road be opened from some
point in or near Osceola to the coun-
ty line at some point north OF the
railroad tracks, leaving Elkhart com
" TO continue the highway on what
may be the best and most economical
route"
The st. Joseph commissioners de-
cided on the route for this county
after the matter had been considered
for some time and residents of the
eastern section OF the county had ap
peared before the board. 1t was
shown that the sO-called river
road" which the Elkhartaas wanted
to be designated as the Lincoln high
way. only passes a few farms, that
the traffic on this road is very small
compared with that on the OsceOla
road. and that it would necessitate
considerable filing and a bridge. The
only objection advanced against the
south road, which was conceded TO be
the main-traveled highway serving
hundreds of people. was the grade
crossing of the Lake Shore and inter
urban railways at Osceola. 1t is the
policy of the national association TO
eliminate as far as possible such
crossings from the route of the Lin
coin highway.
Didn't Take Sides.
A r. Pardington of Detroit, vice
president and secretary OF the Lin
coin Memorial Highway association.
addressed the Elkhartans at the
meeting Tuesday but declined to take
any part in the controversy.
IF the national association did
that we would have 1000 debating
would not have sufficient judges to
hear the cases. But get together on
it and keep the Lincoln highway out
of politics.
The Lincoln highway is not going
70 be built today or tomorrow" he
continued. I'm fact. there will be
more construction going on in FIVE or
ten years than there will be next
year
Ethan l.. Arnold. Elkhart realty
dealer. who appeared before the st.
Joseph commissioners urging the
adoption of the river route and who
was charged by Elkhartans in open
interviews with attempting TO further
his real estate interests by advocat-
ing this particular route. read a
lengthy defense TO these charges.