The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-05-09
Topeka To Be Touched by Sew
eral Kansas Roads,
5000 Miles May Be Designated
by the Commission.
100 COMMISSIONERS HERE
Proposals Made at Meeting at
the State House.
Whole State Anxious to Get
Better ThOrOfareS.

More imam o,UUO miles OF Kansas
roads may be designated as state high
ways by the state commission as
result of hearings this week before
the commission. 1t is probable that a
score or more of highways may be
designated as primary and secondary
highways under the commissions rul-
ings. Topeka, according to applica-
tions filed today, may win a place on
four important highways.
Not less than 100 county commits
sioners and highway boosters from
every section of Kansas appeared be-
fore the commission today. More
road proposals will be presented at
hearings Thursday. Application was
made for federal aid for but few of
the highways proposed at today's
hearings. All of the roads sought
recognition and a place on the state
highway maps. 1t is believed that the
commission will extend recognition
or aid to 5000 or 5000 miles of road.
Topeka is to land a place on four
vitality important highways if the
commission accepts the proposals pre-
scented at hearings this afternoon I'm
der plans submitted, Topeka would
doubtless be placed on the proposed
fort to fort road and would be on
the highway leading to Fort Riley
and Fort Leavenworth. The roads af-
fecting Topeka would be the Midland
Trail, Southwest Trail, Santa Fe Trail
extension, and a north and south road
from Hiawatha to CoffeyVille, extend
ing into Nebraska on the north and
oklahoma on the south.
On the Midland Trail.
The Midland trail is the Washing
ton-San Francisco road. with a prob
able extension from Manhattan to
Fort Riley. In Kansas. the highway
would extend from Kansas City to
Lawrence, Topeka, Manhattan, Fort
Riley. Beloit, Plainville and west to
the Colorado line This road would
include the proposed brick road from
Topeka to Lawrence, with a probable
extension to Fort Leavenworth giving
a direct permanent highway between
the two forts.
Construction of the Southwest trail
would put Topeka on highway from
St Joseph. Mo, thru Atchison. VAL
ley Falls. Topeka, Eskridge, Council
Grove, Herington, Marion, Wichita
and south into oklahoma. The new
north and south road from Nebraska
to Oklahoma would touch Hiawatha,
Norton, Holton, Topeka. Lyndon, In
dependence and Coffeyville. Extension
of the Santa F'e trail would be from
Topeka to Scranton.
In none of the applications before
the state commission today did To-
peka ask for federal aid at this time
Such permanent highways as the gov
eminent may designate would doubt
less give Topeka proportionate bene-
fits with other sections of the state
This is true especially in construction
of the fort to fort road.
Under an order of the commission.
based on instructions from Washing
ton, only military roads will receive
aid at this time Interpretation of
military roads means highways pro-
viding connection between important
points and affording benefits in the
possible movement of troops during
war period
Great Plains Road.
One of the strong pleas before the
state commission today came from
boosters for the Great Plains road. a
north and south highway thru western
Kansas from Atwood to Liberal. The
road would extend south from Atwood
to Colby. Oakley, Scott City, Garden
City, Santa Fe and Liberal. Men be-
hind this road asked only state recog-
milton. Motor car service providing
an outlet to Kansas markets for north
western Kansas wheat is one of the
proposals behind the construction of
this road. most of which is nowein ex-
cellent condition.
Another strong road argument came
from friends of the Cannon Ball. a
to Dodge City, thru Kingman, Pratt,
Greensburg to Dodge City and con-
Meeting with the Santa Fe trail to
Colorado. East from Wichita the road
would benefit Eldorado, Eureka, Yates
Center. lola and Fort Scott. A hard |
working delegation from Sedgwick and
Kingman counties presented the road, |
which asks only recognition. Wichita
men also presented the north and
south road from Wellington to Newton. |
Arguments for roads in southeast
ern Kansas will be presented this aft
ernoon and Thursday. Bourbon, |
Cherokee, Crawford, Labette. Mont |
gomery, Neosho and other counties
will be represented at these hearings. |
One plan urged today may provide
for the building of the system of pri- |
mary and secondary roads on a twenty
year plan. The primary roads would
receive first federal aid with later
benefits to secondary roads. All would
be placed on the state road maps.