The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1917-10-05
CONCRETE DRIVE
To Be DEDICATED
CELEBRATION Is PLANNED WHEN
WAYNE COUNTY's OUTER
BELT Is FINISHED.
INVITE ALL MICHIGAN PEOPLE
Detroit Automobile Club Sponsors Big
Affair Which Gov. Sleeper and
Others Will Attend.

In the last few years the building OF
good roads has been given a wonder
full impetus In Michigan, as the city
man and farm owner came to realize
the value OF them. In nearly every
county there has been activity along
this line. Some counties that could
not afford to surface the roads kept
them graded and dragged. Others
built gravel. Some built asphalt and
brick, while those who knew that per-
manent roads must be built construct.
cd their highways of concrete.
Wayne county, in which Detroit Is
located, has been the leader in build
ing concrete roads, because the road
commission quickly learned that the
out In a year or less most any other
type Of road. So for nine years Wayne
county has been building of concrete.
Today there Is In the county limits ap-
proximately 100 miles of paved road.
At the time the road commission Is
completing what Is known as the Out
er Belt Drive, a route encircling the
county and being 12O miles in length.
all but 25 miles of 1t being in the
county system. The 25 miles is in
Detroit and suburbs.
Thursday, October II, has been set
aside as the day for the celebration.
More than $4,000 good roads boosters
from all parts Of Michigan, including
the road commissioners, county super
visors and other officials of every coun.
ty will be invited.
The various civic organizations in
the cities and counties will be invited,
with their members, and 1t is planned
to make this occasion the greatest
good roads affair in the history OF
Michigan.
All the state officers, including Gov
ernor Albert E. Sleeper and those Of
his staff will be present. Governors
from surrounding states are coming
and there will be good roads men
from Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana,
Ohio, Pennsylvania and New York.
Governor Sleeper and Mayor Oscar
B. Marx, OF Detroit, are to play the
leading parts in the dedication of the
road. These ceremonies will take
place at Worthwhile, in the northwest
ern part of the county. 1t is at this
point the last work Is being done on
the Outer Belt Drive.
A program Is being arranged. Gov
ernor Sleeper will WELD gold and
silver shovel especially furnished for
the occasion. The blade Of this SHOW
ell Is of silver and the handle OF
gold.
More than 1000 automobiles will be
in line, II Is certain. II Is not at all
improbable that the number will be
closer to 1900. OF these cars $50 will
be parked In Cadillac Square in the
heart OF the city and nearby the head
quarters OF the Detroit Automobile
club In Hotel Pontchartrain. At noon
these cars will swing into line and
will go north on Woodward avenue
to the Seven-Mile road, which is
part Of the Outer Belt Drive. AS these
cars pass Grand boulevard nearly a
thousand more will fall into line, bear
ing Detroit Automobile club members
and other Detroiters who wish to par
ticipate.
When the cars strike the Seven-Mile
road they will turn west and go
straight through to the point near
Worthwhile where the ceremonies are
to be held. After the dedication the
boosters will go into Worthwhile and at
the fairgrounds luncheon will be
served every member Of the party. Re-
turning to Detroit the party will fol-
low along the Outer Belt Drive south
through Plymouth to Canton Center.
there leaving the drive and turning
east on Michigan avenue through
Wayne and Dearborn. All Of this road
Is Of concrete.