Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1914-08-04
Wilmington NOT TO
GET Lincoln ROAD

THROUGH letters exchanged between
President Wilson and Henry b. Joy,
PRESIDENT of the LincolE Highway
Association. Il has been made public
fhat the Lincoln Highway Association
had not found II possible to accede 10
Nir Wilson'S suggestion I'm regard TO
,,e- routing the Lincoln Highway TO go
from Philadelphia to Washington
through Wilmington. MI JOY sets
forth that the route suggested by the
President in his letter Of June 10 last
would be 178 miles longer between
NV York and san Francisco.
Here "a President Wilson's letter
"Nfv Dear Sir.-I am sure that the
whole country is interested to see 10
AZ mat there should no longer exist
North or South in this absolutely
united country which we all love, ana
fkai the imaginary Mason and Dixon
Inc should be made once and Tor an
thing of the past. ana as a small
centribution 10 that end II earnestly
eorresl that the Lincoln Highway
Association should grant permission
IA Mace the Official Lincoln Highway
narkers on the macadum roadway
rnnninr from Philadelphia to WASH
incton through the properly selected
y els OF the latter city TO the Linz
Memorial now under construc-
"a. and from thence along the road
,Sav through Frederick. Nd and
from Frederick 10 Gettysburg
am reliably informed that this
e.oute is now or Will be in the very
luear future be a modern macadam
broadway from Philadelphia to Gettys-
tonrg by way of Washington. Inc
ntire expense OF the road, ] am in
+, Formed. including officially marking
TIE highway. will be betrayed by
local interests"
Mr.. Joys letter. which follows, was
dated July 2S;-
t"Your letter was duly received and
'cniy acknowledged. In that letter
YOU suggested that the lincoln High
,tlv Association give It's consent to
tbt placing of the official Lincoln
highway markers along route from
H4rhadeiphia to Baltimore, thence to
Washington, thence 20 Frederick,
thence TO Gettysburg, thus rerouting
the Lincoln Highway via those cities
AID increasing the length Of route
~ 173 miles between New York and
SIN Francisco.
81 have delayed replying 10 your
tFirst. OF course, on account of the
seriousness of the request as coming
fgom you the President, you have
e Loyalty supported the Lincoln
Memorial Highway project, and who
sent TO our association your check
among the very first in support Of the
great and good enterprise.
Second To ascertain the attitude
OF the counties and cities lying be-
tween Philadelphia and Gettysburf
and from which the Lincoln Highwa,
would be diverted by The change il
route you suggest
Third. To fully again review an,
reconsider the purpose and plan 81
ctrefully originally adopted by oul
Association after elaborate inyestiga
tion and consideration.
81 am under the necessity Of stains
20 you that the work OF the Lincoln
Highway Association. no doub
greatly assisted through your recog
milton Of its work in its early stages
has progressed so favorably tina
there scarcely remains along the en-
tire Lincoln Way any section OF it.
route which has not been marked
end to a very great extent renamed.
THE Lincoln Highway Association
hes committed and entrusted the Lin
coin Way 70 all the people and espe
cially to the States. counties, villages
and cities through which IL
route extends. II is not possible L
undo the wonderful work Of the com
inunities whose loyal patriotic effort,
ore making. having indeed made, tn,
lincoln Highway a part of the maj
Of our country.
The Lincoln Way Is the shortest
most direct and practicable routi
consistent with the topography Of tn,
country from New York on the Allan
tic TO San Francisco on the Pacific
and to- change from that basic prin
cRle and extend its length by devious
Windings from city to city or fror
point Of interest TO point of interes
would insure its failure as per
manent. useful Memorial Way.
1t is not within the power Of on
Association to alter the alread
1alnstaking selected and actual
ADOPTED route
1T Is rather II woulc seem. m
burden of all to advance the work I
permanent betterment Of the Lincol
Way, now SO healthily started, I
every aid it is within our power
extend.
I'VE solicit therefore. your col
tinued loyal support Of the patriot
work IN hand"