Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1917-10-11
FEDERAL
HIGHWAY
MEETING
Court House Crowded to its Utmost
Capacity with Citizens of
Wood County.

Grand Rapids never had a more in
teresting and larger attendance at a
road meeting than what was held in
this city at the Court House Friday
afternoon. The occasion was due to
| a visit of members of the Highway
Commission and Legislative Commit
tee who were here in the interest of de
Gliding upon a Federal and State and
County Highway for Wood County.
Senator Isaac P. Witter presided
at the meeting and the first subject
of discussion was whether the Feder-
al road would be established from
Grand Rapids to Meehan on the Plov-
er road, or whether it would be es-
tabllshed along the Wisconsin river
road via Biron, then to Meehan. There
were residents on both roads present
at the meeting who advocated in fav-
or of each of the roads. Chas. E
Briere, was the first speaker in favor
of the Plover road and he represented
al the interests jointly who were in
favor of the Plover road. His arpu-
ments and reasons offered for the es-
tablishment of the Federal Highway
were excellent in favor of Plover road.
There were several speakers who ad-
dressed the assembly in favor of the
river road, as this Highway was al
ready macadamized as far as Biron.
The only extra expense would be in
the completion of a good dirt road
from Biron to Meehan. A further
reason in favor of the river road was
its scenic beauty.
1t was stated at this meeting by
one of the Highway Commission men
who were present that the drive a.
long the Wisconsin river from Grand
Rapids to Biron, for it's length, was
the most beautiful in the state of
Wisconsin. He paid Wood County an
other compliment and that was that
the Trunk Line road between Grand
Rapids and Marshfeld, via pittsyiIle
was the best dirt road in the state.
You can imagine that when he made
these two statements the large audi
anee gave him hearty encore.
The next road under discussion was
the Federal Highway between Grand
Rapids and Marshfeld. The repre-
sentatlves from PittsviIe advocated
using the present Trunk Line from
drand Rapids to Marshfeld via Pitts
vile. Residents from Vesper, Sher-
ry, Auburndale, Hewitt and Blenker
and Marshfield advocated the estab-
llshlng of the Federal Highway thru
these different villages and towns
They stated in favor of this route that
the roads were fairly good nearly the
entire length and that it would he
taVorlng larger number of towns
and population, than the other line
and the further fact that the Pitts
vile people were already provided
cor. This new route appeared to make
the most favorable impression upon
everybody present and will undoubt-
edly be made the Federal Highway.
All the addresses made in connec-
ton with the afternoons meeting wera
70 the point, argumentatvie, furnish
ing good reasons why the several diff
ferent routes should be established
The Highway Commission and the |
Legislative Committee went away full |
ly convinced that the people of Wood |
County are alive to all the benefits
that accrue from good roads. Their |
stay in Grand Rapids was altogether
too short, but while they were here
they were driven over as good roa Is |
as they will find anywhre in the state. |
barring none