South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-01-06

important Work is Accom-
pIiShed in Every State, and
National Interest Fol-
lows War Needs.

In reviewing the activities Of the
Lincoln Highway association for
1917. Sec'y a. l.. Bement states hat
the rational organization has
ecIipsed the records OF all previo s
years in the direct furtherance OF
Lincoln highway work. IN cOnse-
quence. at the end OF its fourth
year the great memorial highway,
stretching from the Atlantic 10 the
Pacific. is much nearer the state OF
completion which its founders de-
sired 70 bring about. than was an
ticipated as a possibility for many
years to come. at the time of its
establishment.
The Lincoln highway is in no
sense "A boulevard. leading from one
coast 10 the other, but II Is
through. connected and well-mark-
ed road entirely across the coun-
try, and the most gratifying con-
structive endeavor has been cen
tered upon il in each state traversed
during the year Actual eXpendi-
ture for Lincoln highway improve
ment exceeded $2,250,000 in 1917.
AS an indication OF the increase
of public interest in the Lincoln
highway, Sec'y Bement points to the
fact that in excess OF 100000
pieces of mail were sent out from
the national offices in Detroit dur
ing the war. A large proportion of
10 was mailed to individuals in every
part of the country who wrote the
Lincoln Highway association solicit
ing information concerning the
route IL is also stated that sus-
tanning members OF the association,
paying annual dues of IS each for
the support OF the orsauizatiOn, are
now numbered IN every state of
the union.
Field Sec'y H. c. Ostermann
spent more time upon the Lincoln
highway in 1917 than ever before.
covering every foot Of route from
New York TO san Francisco, repeat
eddy covering certain sections of the
road and az every point taking up
various details CONNECTED with the
promotion OF Lincoln highway in
terests. AIr. Ostermann was upon
The road from early May until De-
cember In addition to the trips Of
the field secretary, Sec'y Brement
mas spent great part of his time
during the year attending TO the
most insistent demands for his
presence at various points along the
route This has been done de-
spite the demand which calls for
his almost continuous presence at
the offices in Detroit.
Prest Henry Is. JOY has also
made a trip over the Lincoln high
way this season. from Indiana 70
the eastern coast. this beins the
first trip Mr.. JOY has made east over
the road i'm two years.
War conditions have brought
about a very general appreciation
of the value of the Lincol1 high
way as an auiXiliary to the rail-
roads i'm facilitating transportation,
and the officers and directors of
the Lincoln highway association are
anticipating an even greater in
crease i'm the activities of the as
ISOLATION and in the results to be
accomplished during 1918. Indica-
lions TO this effect are pointed 20
i'm the action of the state OF Illinois
i'm preparing to complete the hard
surfacing of the Lincoln highway
from state line 20 state line in 1918;
in the preparations being made 10y
the government for the use of motor
truck trains for more or less eX-
tended hauls and i'm the generally
expressed determination of the
county and state officials in each
state traversed by the route to Un-
dertake actual construction ut the
earliest opportunity in the spring,
in lire with the policy OF rapid inn
provement urged by the council Of
national defense.