Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1918-12-19
LINCOLN HIGHWAY
MODEL ROADWAY
EsTlMATED sl,ooc,cco HAS BEEN
SPENT ON TRANscoNTiNEN-
tai ROADWAY
OF GREAT MILITARY IMPORTANCE

SNsso sWsAsshNb WSu SNvVVvSs
$2o,ooo,ooo More Said to Be Needed
for the Road, New York to
San Francisco
Omaha, Neb.-It is calculated by ai.
thorities in the Lincoln Highway As.
sociat:on that Si,O00,O00 have been ex-
pended upon that transcontinental
roadway extending from San Francis
80 to New York. The same authorities
estimate that fully s20,000,O0O more
ale required to bring it up TO the
proper standard it's entire distance.
The association officials say they
have assurances that this money will
be provided in good 'ime, with as
necessary. as people In every state
through which the highway pa. scs
are showing steadily increasing en-
thusiasm for tie great enterprise in
which there is such vast advantage
for themselves ana for the country as
W ole.
The Importance of military prepar
edness has not been without effect
upon sentiment of the public living
adjacent to the Lincoln Highway 1t
has been made apparent as never be.
fore that an essential element in this
preparedness is modern highway
system, over which TROOPS, guns and
munitions can be moved with ease
nn6 facility
Behind the growing favor for the
Improvement also is found, of course,
the large and constantly swelling num-
bers of automobile tourists. Four
years ago, it is estimated, there Lad
been less than dozen through trans
continental trips by motor car actual
ly completed under the machines own
power.
1t is well known from figures COM
piled with some cars that last year
the number of motorists who made the
drive over the Lincoln Highway was
between $1,000 and 10000, mainly from
the Mississippi river to the Pacific
coast. Transcontinental motorists. se-
1ecting the season when weather is
most favorable can make the run in
25 to 80 days, as compared with sky
ur more prior to the creation Of a fair.
ly good roads system the entire dis
tance. 1t has become a pleasure ratll-
CT than a serious undertaking.
The Lincoln Highway across New
Jersey and Ell rs 'lvania is practically
100 per cent "a dam, maintained in
good condition we'll marked.
In Ohio, few miles of natural dit
road will be found. The state an!
counties have to date expended ST.
256,7S0 in constructive work on the
highway, brick being the predomi'
nant material.
Indiana is rapidly concret!ng the
route, and it is not until one gets
west of Chicago that any unusual diff
ficulties are encountered. Macadam.
interspersed with gravel and natural
dirt road, make up the highway across
illinois.
In Iowa the situation is peculiar.
Cue to lack of a law that will enable
counties to vote bonds for foad con.
struction. The funds available for this
work from taxation do not allow for
anything more than extensive grading,
dragging and maintenance, but the
Lincoln Highway from the Mississippi
River at Clinton to the Missouri River
a, Omaha has been graded and drag.
ged until in dry weather it is q per-
tect dirt boulevard for nearly 400
miles.
The situation in Nebraska is much
the same as in Iowa, except that the
drawback to permanent construction
IL this state is not legislative but Is
due entirely to lack Of finances, as
IL also the case in Wyoming, Utah
and Nevada.
From Salt Lake City west. the tour
jst crosses plain Of alkali dust and
traverses beds of almost pvle salt
rifles In extent, hard packed, ard of.
fering & speedway unrivaled by the
work of man.. Water is found at FIRE.
quent intervals, the route being 80
laid out as to afford an oasis of some
kind at intervals never greater than
30 or 60 miles. Gasoline can be obtain
ed at any of the ranches which dot the
route, and where hospitality is assur-
ed. This is the trail of the old pony
express, the old overland stage coach,
and the path of these fearless advance
guards of civilization, Fremont. the
Donner party, Stansbury. Lander and
others.
The Lincoln Highway in California
Il practically 100 degrees boulevard,
following, as 1t does, for nearly all
nf its distance portions of that State
h'chway system which has been Con.
structed under an s18,000,O00 bond is
sue. -u.u. hz ~
Every year, as thousands of east,
.rn motorists view the grandeurs anG
study the possibilities of tie west,
converts to coil are created. Home.
~ ring up along the route, ranches ap
near where Orce was barren desert