Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-08-12
SAYS OTTUMWA
MAY GET HIGHWAY
c. w, THATCHER WRITES OF THE
TRANscoNTlNENTAL ROAD
HIS Is BOOSTING.

G. w. Thatcher, engineer of the
Washington Memorial highway, when
In Ottumwa, was asked about his great
transconntinental road project and
volunteered to write what he had to
say about 1t. He is enthusiastic about
his highway scheme, and says Ottum-
wa has chances of obtaining this route.
His letter follows:
"Ottumwa has two chances Of secur-
ing the Washington Memorial high
way. I am confident, from knowledge
received from reliable sources, that
the best and shortest route remains
still to be opened up through the state
Of Iowa, and route that will possess
the engineering qualifications Of direct
ness and over which moderate grades
can be secured. Mr.. Lyle, chairman
of the good roads committee Of the
Commercial club, motored me over the
north road after my arrival and, to say
the least, was most agreeably surprts.
ed at the superb quality of the route.
Hundreds of thousands of wealthy
people spend their winters In Florida,
including other southern states. Whey
summer comes, they migrate to thu
north Every boy and girl In the
United States dreams some day Of
visiting the Yellowstone park and with
= great natural highway connecting
the popular southern winter play
ground with the worlds most cele-
brated wonderland, 1t means hundreds
Of thousands Of tourist traffic each
year.
ANY city located on the Washing
ton highway will be placed conspicu-
ously on the map and become world
wide celebrated. States are spending
millions of dollars in the construction
of the greatest transcontinental high
way. Enthusiasm all along the route
is growing by leaps and bounds. 1t Is
necessary to the success OF great
transcontinental highway that 1t be
routed through low passes in the
mountains. The Washington highway
route to the Pacific coast Is at a water
grade through the Cascades. The
route traversed by this great roadway
is passing through the unxcelled
Rockies is found in central Wyoming,
The grade is so extremely moderate
that it will be very difficult for the
travellers to realize that they are cross
ling the great continental divide. AT
| the summit of Roosevelt's pass Is
(! found a spring, the water OF which
divide. Part Of the crystal fluid flow
ing from the earth at this magic spot
flows toward the Atlantic and the re
mainder to the Pacific. 1t Is an I'm
pressive sight which the tourist will
be unable to remove from his memory
Fifty miles an hour over primitive
roads can be made with ease Via tht
I Washington highway Rocky mountain
route at the present. The route II
free from snow seven or eight months
of the year. After passing over the
continental divide, the tourist. fol
miles, is treated to the most thrilling
panoramic views of mountain ranges
In the world. The joy of living pulls
ates the veins in youth, restoring rivu
lets. The mountain sunbeams radiate
the face and Illuminating as well the
pathway of the soul, cloak the eartf
with the splendor of heaven.
THE Washington Memorial highway
possesses the confidence of the PEG
pie. All thinking people doubt not one
single moment but what the Washing
ton highway is the greatest enterprise
| that has ever come their way and viii
guide municipal life of every city
| through which 1t passes to the ElysiaI
fields of progress and wealth. LIE,
everyone talk Washington highway
think Washington highway and work
for the Washington highway and ],
will surely come through Ottumwa."
Charles w. Thatcher,
Engineer for the Washington Memorial
Highway.