Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-04-30
IOWA Highway
GIVEN PRAISE
NEW NORTH AND SOUTH RoUT0
LAuDED az ST. LOUIS PAPER
RECENTLY.

Iowa is becoming known for it's
highways and the gospel Of good roads
preached in the Hawkeye state Is
finding an audience elsewhere. All
OF the more important cities of the
state have one or more highways that
the autoists have mapped out and
charter in their guide books and
transcontinental travellers have no diff
ficulty In their cross country trips
when they strike Iowa, for good road
will be available at some convenient
place for the journey across the state.
This Is true whether one is travelling
east, west, north or south. Routes In
the latter two directions are being
mapped out and improved in order that
one can traverse Iowa from any dEec-
ton. +
That other states are attracted by
tribute to the Burlington way" which
appeared in a recent issue Of the st.
Louis Globe-Democrat:
The Burlington way" is to the auto
mobilists of central and southern I'LL
nois what the Lincoln highway Is to
those Of northern Illinois. Starting, to
be exact. at Twelfth street and Wash.
ington avenue, ST. Louis, 1t crosses the
Mississippi river on the Mckinley
bridge, then passes through Granite
City. Alton. Godfrey, Brighton Piasa,
Medora, Kemper, Rockbridge, Green.
field. White Hall, Roodhouse, Man.
chester. Murrayville. Woodson, Jack.
sonville, Arenzville, Beardstown, Fred
erick, Rushville. Littleton. Industry,
Macomb, Blandinsville, La Harpe, Fort
Madison, finally reaching Burlington, q
distance of 243 miles. An orange-col.
ored band, ranked above and below by
white, is the guiding mark. These
guides are painted upon all telegraph
and telephone poles between st. Louis
and Burlington.
Although not the shortest road be-
tween the two points, 1t Is marked by
the best highways, great care being
taken in the selection. In some in
stances there was great rivalry be-
twene certain cities to secure the route
but 1t is significant that no matter
what influence was exerted at the time
the best was selected In each case, In
dicating that the main object was
first-class highway, over which auto
mobiles could move in fast time be-
tween st. Louis, Central Illinois and
Iowa. The route crosses the Missis-
sippi river twice, at st. Louis, and also
at Fort Madison. and the Illinois river
once at Beardstown.
Credit for establishing this trail Is
due largely to H. c. white OF Green
field. G. J. White of Beardstown,
George Kuhlman of Beardstown, M. B.
Metcalf Of Greenfield and s. G. Strem-
mel and Van s. Hampton, both of Ma
comb These officials appointed vice
presidents in each city touched by the
route to further the project. Through
them funds were raised and work per-
formed on sections of the roadway
they have in charge. After each rain
the trail is dragged. hedges cut and
trimmed along the approaches, and
bridge crossings graded. BY this con-
slant care travel is facilitated and
drainage improved. The entire dis
lance was marked in two weeks time
due to the number of persons interest
ed. Many counties along the trail will
spend large sums in improving It,
Madison county, in Illinois, has appro-
priated $4,000 for this purpose.
A feature OF the trail are the Official
signs, sixty-fve in number, which
have been placed one mile on each
side OF each city located upon the
route These signs are three feet
square, painted in orange and white.
The distance to the next city is shown.
The signs are placed at the top OF
twelve foot cedar post, painted white,
with band Of orange near the base.
1t is said that these signs are the most
attractive ever used for a western trail
The design was worked out by Charles
P. Frantz. OF Burlington, president or
the Burlington Auto club. With the
installation Of these signs. the prompt
ers claim the best marked trail In the
world. It is also promised to be kept
in first class condition twelve months
out Of the year.
The Burlington way Is believed to be
the first completed route where so
much pains were taken to secure f1rst
class roads, and with such distinct
marking. The cost Of painting the
1900 road poles was $3.50. The sixty
five signs cost 5000. In addition, free
folders will be distributed to tourists.
which contain maps, milage and much
information of value concerning each
city enroute, together with all points
of interest. Ten thousand of these
folders have been printed. The St.
Louis Auto club has promised It's as
sistance. while every auto owner in the
cities along the route is booster to
keep the road dragged and in good
condition.
With the completion of the Burling-
ton way, the next movement will be to
continue the trail to Minneapolis. 1t
has been proposed that the trail be
laid out from Burlington through Win
field and New London to Iowa City,
where 1t connects with the Red Ball
route between st. Louis and Minneap-
oils. Another suggestion has an en-
tirely independent and shorter route
between Burlington and Minneapolis,
to be known as the continuation Of the
pur1in oton way This nrOiect will he