The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1916-07-27

Officials of the Jefferson highway
officially dedicated the Bemidji, loop
of the highway yesterday. They ar
rived in this city last evening from
the state park on their trip to Win
nipeg and greeted their highway
neighbors here.
1t is the idea of the promoters Of
the Jefferson highway to make it as
lone big street" with every person
along it a neighbor to every other
person. Such was the greeting Be-
midi gave last night to the highway
officials, a greeting of neighbor, al
though some Of the neighbOrs lived
a thousand miles down the street.
The people of the "Pines'' welcomed
the people of the "Palms.''
Never before in the history Of Be-
midji has so much enthusiasm been
shown about a highway and good
roads. One prominent enthusiast
last night stated on the arrival of
the highway officials that if the
present enthusiasm for good roads is
kept alive in Bemidji, before sew
eral years pass Bemidji will be the
scene of some of the best roads in
the country.
Make Good Time.
The highway party was given a
"royal' welcome at Park Rapids
yesterday afternoon and a large
party of autoists from that town es-
corted the officials to the state park.
The party arrived at the state park
at 4:50 o'clock and after "sight-
seeing" trip through the park was
served supper at Douglas lodge. At
the park the party was met by F. S.
Lycan, chairman of the highway
committee in Bemidji, A. P. White
and party of Bemidji people. The
party left the park for Bemidji at
about $3.50 o'clock and the roads
were so good that one car is reported
to have made the distance in one
hour and three minutes.
Eighty automobiles, valued at
about 100000, occupied by several
hundred people welcomed the tour
lists to Bemidji.
The cars were lined up from Am
erica avenue on Fourth street to Bel.
trami avenue and on Beltrami av.
enue to the Markham hotel. When
the tourists passed the cars, the Be.
midi autoists honked their horns
bells were rung and lusty cheers
were given. At the hotel the band
greeted them with spirited music
1t was a wonderful welcome, accord.
ing to one of the officials of the JET.
ferson highway.
Southerners in Party.
The highway party was composed
of the following men: J. D. Clark
son, Walter Parker, New Orleans
S. Wolstencroft, Des Moines, pub
licity manager of the highway; Pau
Nesbitt, Manchester, Okla, presiden
of the Oklahoma Jefferson Highway
association; Paul Russell, Paola
Kan; O. England, Bethany, Mo-, ant
Edward Alderman, Nevada, Mo.
After the party had registered a
the Hotel Markham they were es
corted by the Bemidji autoists to thu
Birchmont Beach hotel where they
were entertained and where the!
entertained Several hundret
Bemidji people attended the enter
tainment.
C. w. Jewett, president of tht
Minnesota Retail Automobile Deal
ers association, presided. In shor
Introductory talk he thanked the Of
ficials for selecting the Bemidji route
1--WE thoroughly appreciate th'
route,' he said, 'and Bemidji is go
ing to keep the route by fulfilling al
conditions required Of it,
Clarkson Gives Talk.
ID. Clarkson, general manager o
the Jefferson Highway association
introduced the members of the high
way party. In a short address, il
which he addressed the Bemidji peo
pie as neighbors of the Jefferson
highway, he said that $500 Jefferson
highway signs had been ordered an
will be distributed along the trail il
Minnesota The tin sign shows
palm and a pine tree in green on
white background and reads 'Fron
New Orleans to Winnipeg" Tele
phone poles will also be marked.
1--WE are gratified at the reception
that has been given us all along tn
road" said Mr.. Clarkson. 1t Ger
tainly makes us feel at home. i
building a highway that is ~