Charlevoix county herald., 1918-08-16
Uncle George
on Dixie Hwy
Believes In Concrete Construc-
ton for Concrete Results.
August 8, 1918.

hukuSt o, 1910.
TO THE EDITOR
More than half the people in the
United States can reach the Dixie High
way in one days driving. Seven
transcontinental routes cross the Dixie
Highway twice and some of them three
times, catching tourists going and COM
ing. When the time comes for this to
be concreted, as it will be, and have
accomplished my 22-year contract with
the Dixie Highway, the crossing points
will be standing invitations to turn
north and south, up to Michigan's
thousand miles of water-washed air,
where fruit with flavor grows, and
down to Dixie's oranges and grape
| fruit.
The reason we don't want to build
roads of "soft-stuff" on the Dixie High
way is because it makes saw-tooth
roads-little estuaries cutting into the
sides OF the road like saw teeth. Along
the sea coasts and lake shores these
estuaries cut deep into the land so that
when railroad is projected parallel to
the shore line instead of going straight
ahead and bridging the estuaries at the
mouth the road frequently is built five
to ten miles or more back in the conn
try. There are examples of this all
along the Atlantic coast.
So it is with the estuaries at the sides
OF the "soft-stuff" roads, some running
inches and some foot or more. cut
ting down the effective width of the
road and making the meeting of cars
on such road mighty uncomfortable.
Not only is the bnmp-the-bumps effect
uncomfortable but it wears out tires
far faster than on concrete road.
| II l tell you the truth as to what will
/, be good for the development of the
Dixie Highway it will always remain
true because the truth cannot be chang
ed, whereas if tell you lie or make
false representations to you, that state
ment Immediately begins to disintegrate
and falls to pieces of its own weight
somewhat like some of those "soft-
stuff" roads that we have built in the
years past.
have made Michigan my summer
home for IS years and spent part of my
winters there. Naturally I love the
dear old state, but having spent last
winter at Hotel Clarendon, Sea Breeze,
Fla, where expect to spend the bal
ance of my winters, would like to see
smooth concrete road all the way be-
tween. But | can't expect that 1000
miles will be paved to suit my personal
convenience. am not important
enough. But there are plenty of
others,-thousands, millions, who will
use this highway, not only for pleasure
but for trips to freight and express
stations and for truck delivery from
farmer to consumer. All these need
the 1000 miles and my job is to show
them how badly they need it.
Question? What is the Government
going to do with its thousands of
trucks already shipped and yet to 60
abroad for war work, leave them in
France as junk? They're too big an
asset and they will come back to cut
down hauling costs on American high
ways. But they won't work efficiently
on "soft-stuff" roads. They will go in
to service in those communities that
have honest, hard roads like concrete.
Where did the post office department
start its motor truck parcel post routes,
in "gumbo" counties? Not by -
sight. They were started>where roads
were good enough to carry them. Any
community that is guessing about
whether it will get any Government
war trucks in service on its parcel post
service can settle the question by TAX
ing a local inventory of what the
Government will find to run its trucks
over.
Why shouldn't we build the Dixie
Highway with concrete when Uncle
Sam stands ready to pay half the ex-
pense with the Federal Aid money he
has so kindly set aside. With his long
range glasses on his big long nose he is
sufficiently foresighted to discern the
benefits. He will do this and he wants
to do this no matter what croakers say
to the contrary. He'll do it il we are
smooth enough to catch on.
Do you catch on?
!. Yours for Good Roads,
VAN PELT.
Q0f prairie Ave JoI;at m