The Sauk Centre herald., 1916-08-24

Mayor George D. Hamilton of De.
troIt writes to the Record OF that cit!
as follows:
"lt must now be borne in mind that
Mr.. Clarkson, to whom was referred
the question of designation has
made his decision, and that it is ad-
verse to the wishes and the interests
of the people living along the so.
called Western Route. 1t does not
matter that Mr.. Clarkson's decision
ssmacks of unfairness, if nothing more
reprehensible; that in making his de-
cision he entirely ignored his care
fully laid out point system, the recon-
mendation of the State highway COM
mission, and evry other consideration
upon which he had declared the result
would depend, and that without ex-
planation he arbitrarily designated
the so-called Central Route. The one
cold fact to be considered now is that
the Jefferson highway, if it is
improved and made passable as it
should be, will not pass through the
Park region Of the state, but will in
time divert travel from the natural
course it has taken since the histori-
cal Hudson Bay cart traffic, to the
present time.
"The one thing to do under the cir
cumstances is for the business men
and public officials upon whom the
matter of road improvement devolve,
to unite as outlined at the recent
meeting in Detroit of the Minnesota
Scenic Highway Association, and that
a better road and a more desirable
route be established over the proposed
Western Route. We have at the
present time every advantage in the
way of scenery, beautiful lakes, hotel
accommodations, garage facilities, tel
ephone service and passable roads, but
if we are not to lose this prestige
there must be prompt and united ac-
ton for road improvement, and the
Park Region route must be at all
times maintained as the better route
of the two. If this is done, Mr.. Clark
sons decision which is so generally
regarded as unfair, will prove bene-
fit rather than detriment to our inter-
ests. Whatever we may think OF
Clarkson and his methods should not
enter into the matter. AS stated by
Bob" Dunn in his remarks at the
meeting held in Detroit, the Jefferson
Highway Association does not, and
cannot contribute a dollar to the
building of that thoroughfare. On the
contrary, the demand made by the as
sociation for a contribution OF so
much per mile smacks not only OF
profit, but it might be placed IN the
category of petty graft
IF the county and township offlcers'
t,pether with the business men OF the
Park Region now proceed along the
lines of work outlined at the recent
Scenic Highway meeting, we VIII not
onlv protect our present establlsneo
h,,c;ness derived from the extensive
traffic which is now passing over l.s
natural course, but that business Will
be Increased beyond the present con-
cent;on of the most enthusiastic
kooster. Instead of contributing TO a
foreign association at so mucn per
mile for the privilege of beng oes,R-
n.tod' every dollar available can De
.nn,;ed TO actual road building, ano
in this whole matter it is good roaos
that is goirg to prove the A'e'''
ing factor.
"In short, it is up to the people
along the defeated Western route and
the entire route of the recently organ
lied Scenic Highway to show the
gentleman from Missouri that Mime
sctatans are big enough and public
spirited enough, to protect their own
interests, against the arbitrary dicta-
tions of an outsider"
Fergus Falls Journal: The central
section of the state has been very
much excited over the selection of the
so-called Jefferson highway. A vol
untary organization is the PROPOSE
tion and there is as usual an element
of profit in it for the promoters. The
route has been selected from St. Paul
via St. Cloud, Little Falls, Staples,
Wadena, Park Rapids, Itasca Park,
Bemidji and Thief River Falls to Win
nipeg. The towns which were trying
to have the route pass their way are
making a sound like that which fol-
lows an unpopular ruling at ball
game. The selection of the Jefferson
route does not mean that the travel
will necessarily go that way. 1t all
depend on what other sections do in
regard to the development of their
roads. If other sections have as good
roads the travel will go their way to
a certain extent. Another important
element in determining the routes the
public will take will be the accommo-
dations as we'll as roads. They will
not follow a route just because it has
been designated" if other roads are
just as good and hotel accommoda-
tions better. A vast amount of Win
nipeg and North Dakota business will