Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1918-04-04
LINCOLN HIGHWAY

25th. Mr.. Osterman, the field
secretary of the general associa-
ton was present, as was also the
State consul, together with the
County COnsuls and many of the
local consuls. The Highway cross
es twelve counties Of the state, 8
of which were represented at this
meeting. Harrison county sent 4
representatives Reports were gil
lven from each of the counties rep
resented and in addition thereto,
general report was made by Mr..
Osterman relating to the general
plan OF work to be done i'm i'm
proving the highway. The State
Highway Commission also gave Il
general report of the condition of
the road across the state and gave
statistics comparing the Lincoln
Highway and its general condi-
tions including bridges and Gull
herts with the other trans state
Highways. IL was found from re-
ports that while great improve
mcnt had been made in the Lin
coin Highway in the last few
years, much remains to be done to
put ii i'm condition for every day
or as is now usually termed an
call weather road
Much has been said i'm the past
about these main highways be-
ing for the benefit of tourists or
JOY riders. Tho statistics show
there is at present nothing to This
charge. 88 per cent of the traf-
fic ON the Lincoln Highway is To-
cal. On many portions of the
same. trucks are now being oper-
aled for general transportation
PURPOSES. In many counties the
road bed has been properly pre-
pared by draining and grading,
and gravel or other top dressings
placed thereon which has brought
the road to- a state of efficiency
that i'll may be used ptac tically eN-
cry day in the year for all kinds of
travel, especially including the
heavier traffic. In some counties
where gravel can be obtained
readily il is surfaced with that
material. In some of the eastern
counties oil has been applied to
the surface and while there is
some discussion as to how dur
able the surface is under such
treatment it has been found COM
parativcly Inexpensive and it has
greatly improved the general sur
face and preserved it for travel,
first by rendering it, practically
waterproof avoiding the ruts and
mud holes and incidentally pre-
venting the extremely dusty con-
ditiOns which prevail on the Wes-
tern sections where neither gra-
vel nor Oil has been used.
In the eastern portions of the
county, more especially through
Pennsylvania, and to a large
measure through Illinois, Indiana,
and Ohio, this road is now being
used by heavy trucks to assist in
general transportation. The re-
quirements of the Government be-
ing SO great it has been found the
trucks afford speedy means of re-
lief and by their use the general
congestion in freight has to a
large measure been releaved.
Under the Federal Aid Bill the
counties i'm Iowa are each entitled
to approximately $45, 100000 from
the Government to aid in the con-
structiOn of permanent roads i'm
each county. Suitable propositions
must be formulated by the Boards
of Supervisors in each county and
the same approved by the State
Highway Commission and also by
the Federal authorities before the
funds can be received by the
counties. Harrison county has for
mulated the project under which
this Federal aid may be received,
the same has been approved by
the state Highway Commission,
and is now awaiting final appro-
val by the Government. AS soon as
this project is ratified by the Gov
eminent and this fund is available
Harrison County will be able to
add that much to its general road
Improvement. While the Govern
ment may not impose as a condi-
ton that this money shall all be
applied on The Lincoln Highway it
| is fair to presume that i'm view of
| The fact that the Highway may yet
be required as a general military
road across The country, that a
greater portion of this fund will
be expended on This particular
road leaving reasonable portion TO
be expended on the connecting or
J, branch county highways. This
seems to he the general plan out
! lined by the Government and APP
provcd by The masses of people in
each community through which
these main highways pass.
Very little opposition is mani