Semi-weekly herald., 1916-03-02
DURANGO to be on
Proposed National
Park-to-P ark Highway


any great extent the road building
program in the United States.
1t is true that the western part of
the country did not awake to the
value of good roads rs soon as did
the eastern part of the country and
the north central states, but at this
particular time the spirit has caught
the western people as never before.
From every western state comes the
report that road work is the big busi-
ness program.
This country has realized more and
more that we are behind Europe in
the matter of national highways
worthy of mention. We have just
begun the work
If the United States is little slow
about taking hold of the development
1t is because matters of this kind
can be taken up only when public
sentiment gets behind the PROPOSE
tion. In republican form of gov
ernment the officials, including con
gressmen, wait for the development
OF public sentiment and, of course,
we are unable to make such rapid
progress in determining our pro
grams.
But once our program has been de-
cided upon, no nation can move more
rapidly toward the completion of it
than this nation.
National Park
Highway.
The latest movement in the way of
road program is the proposed park
to-park highway. This road will
cross the states OF Colorado, New
Mexico, Arizona, California, Oregon,
Washington, Idaho, Montana and
Wyoming. In length it will be 1000
miles and has somewhat the general
outline of circle. 1t will connect
all the national and proposed ma
tional parks in the western part of
the country.
Beginning at Denver the road will
pass thru the Pixies Peak park,
thence to the west by way Of Buena
Vista, Salido, Canon City Pueblo,
then San Luis Valley, Pagosa, Du-
range, Mesa Verde National park,
thence to Shiprock and Gallup. Leav-
ing Gallup the road passes near and
to the south of the Painted desert,
thence to the Petrifed forest and to
Flagstaff, where one can easily reach
the Grand Canon of the Colorado
From this point the road continues
west into Los Angeles. From Los
Angeles the road will lead into Son
Francisco thru the Sequoia and the
yosemite national parks. The road
Will continue northward thru Port
land by way of Crater National park
and on to Seattle by way of Mt. Ra-
nier National park. At this point
the road bears east by way of Spo-
kane and Glacier National park on
the north boundary of the United
States. From this point the road
takes southeasterly course thru
Yellowstone National park, the Big
Horn proposed National park, contin-
uing south thru Hell's Half Acre and
Estes park into Denver.
Organizations
Being Formed.
A large part of this route is over
national and state highways already
completed. 1t will be necessary to
build only the connecting links here
and there. The large part of the work
to be accomplished will be the main
tepance of the road when construct
ed so that it will be suitable for
travel the largest possible time of
the year.
This is by far the greatest under
taking of its kind in the history of
man. No where does history record
such a gigantic enterprise. And yet,
it is only period of time when this
undertaking will be an accomplish
ment.
1t is to be remembered that the
government is now considering the
building of certain sections of this
highway. The various states are busy.
The present war and the usefulness
of well kept roads such as are found
in France and Germany has given
new impetus to government con-
struction and maintenance of nation
al highways.
Organizations are being formed in
the various states for the arrange
ment of the details and the promo
ton of the plan. The Yellowstone
Highway association is one of the
most active and letter from that
organization to the Durango Motor
club will suffice to explain itself as
follows:
Government