Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-07-31
VALLEY WAY IS ONE
Of STATES Chief
ROUTES Of BEAUTY
HIGHWAY FOLLOWS CHIEF RlV-
ERS OF STATE THRU DEER
PARK, STARVED ROCK TO Pc.
ORA SAYS j. r. BLACkALL.

al says.
The Illinois Valley Way will con
meet Chicago and Peoria with an i'm
proved. well defined and established
motor road thru the scenic and his
toric Illinois Valley and following the
cources of the Desplaines and Illinois
rivers Not only will this new high
way afford direct connection with the
Starved Rock State Park and Deer
Park in La Sale county, and with
Dellwood Park in VIII county, but to
the motorist who desires to travel
road continually unfording new vistas
of river and forest rather than, at
times, the monotonous journey thru
interminable corn fields, the proposed
way will offer a strong appeal.
No highway or trail leading out of
Chicago will afford better hotel ac-
commodations The Woodruff Inn and
the Monroe Hotel have just been com
pleted at Joliet; the New Clifton, Ho-
tel Ottawa and Zeller Inn are known
to every motorist who has visited OF
tawa; the Hotel Kaskaskia, modern
hreproof building, was opened at La
Sale in 1915; there is the firstclass
Peru Hotel at Peru. and good accom-
modations in Henry and Lacon. Pc
I oria has the fine jefferson House and
numerous other hotels Offering excel
lent accommodations
New Marking Scheme.
A somewhat unusual feature will be
the method of marking the way. In
stead of using paint and convenient
telegraph poles, a special marker has
been adopted by the officials 1t stands
five feet above the ground and is a
two by six niche reinforced shaft with
rounded top and a square target On
a white background is the inscription
III " w. to Chicago facing north
and east, and IT, V W. to Peoria,
facing south and west. The letters
are black.
The project was launched at meet
ing held in La Sale, ILL.,, September
16, 1915, which was attended by Gov
Dunno. members of the legislature ant
/ representatives from Chicago, Jole
and Peoria, and the intermediate citie
and villages along the Illinois Valley
Has Splendid Scenery.
The project contemplated the estat
ishment of the continuous good roa
from Chicago to Peoria thru the va
ley. II is doubtful if the scenic am
historical possibilities Of the highwa,
l are equaled in the United States. TIT
location of Starved Rock State Parl
practically midway on the route. thu
intersection with the Lincoln highWa,
at Joliet the paralleing of the course
Of the Illinois waterway an dthe estaD
lishment of direct communication be
tween Chicago, Joliet and Peoria ant
some twenty-five intermediate cite
and villages are included among thu
many important features OF the pro
loct
Route Thru Joliet.
The way as established runs on
q of Chicago IN s0uthWesterly diret
ton thru Summit. Willow Springs, l'
mont and Lockport, and keeps on tn
south and eastern banks Of the DcS
G PLANES river TO Joliet Good roads 81
n thusiasts in VIII and Cook countie
O have been cooperating in the matte
of improving the way between Jolle
s. and Chicago. and definite assuranc
h have been made that by 1918 at tn
very latest, this section will be IN
= proved with a concrete pavement
Leaving Joliet the route follows To
j. the northern slope of the valley thr
Channahon to Morris, and keeps to tn
north of the river as it proceeds I
Seneca and Marseilles, At ottaW
" the Illinois river is crossed, and tn
southern bank followed to StarW
Rock state Park Here the way run
along the Canyon drive, the bcautlll
scenic road which skirts the heads
!, The canyons and which has mad
= Starved Rock famous This porto
:, Of the way, while recently construc
cd. is now being improved wit
macadam, and by the time the tours
season is on will probably be con
pleted and in splendid condition,
If Passes Deer Park.
r. A new ROAD also being improve
% leads directly north from the wa
A. at a point a mile north of the Starye
e Rock lIool Continuing toward I'll
west, the way passes the cntranC
e to Deer Park, and thence into /
r Sale crossing the Illinois river
the north shore at this point TT
n board of supervisors OF LA sal
Io county has just approved prop
sition 10 improve the road leadil
70 south from Utica to the NermilliC
n River with an eighteen-foot concrc
highway. This highway will 10
in one of similar type which was con
re- pleted in 1915 from La Sale to Il
Vermillion river bridge. a stretch
H. four and onehalf miles.
The road from the Shippingspc
bridge over the Illinois river to
0s Sale, Il distance of one mile. W
4 H. IAl,I - L.