Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1919-06-02
F ARMER JOURNAL
SINGLES OUT LOCAL
ROADS FOR ATTACK
ARGUES THAT FEW SHOULD BE
BENEFITED TO THE EHCLU-
SION OF THE MAJORITY IN AS
SAULT ON OTTAWA MORRIS
BOND ISSUE HIGHWAY.

On the theory that the farmer
should be benefited to the exclusion OF
the centers of population and the
greatest number Of people the Prairie
Farmer in Its issue of May 81 deyotes
the first page to an attack upon the
$50, 900 600 bond issue roads leading
east of Ottawa and connecting Morris.
The article, which is written by the
| editor, Clifford V. Gregory, makes
| plea for the township line road be
! tween Ottawa and Morris in prefer
| ence to the charted route, which
| kirts the base Of the north bluff,
/ rouchng Marseilles and Seneca
| As the federal and state roads ar
merged over this latter route and all
/ preparations have been made for
/ going ahead with the government high
! way, local road enthusiasts consider
! the Prairie Farmer article not only
! Intimely but exceedingly misplaced
/ But to give the other version the
editorial which singles out Il small
"trip OF a 100000 600 undertaking for
attack, the Free TraderJournal prints
It in full.
Under the caption, "Politicians Run
ming Away With Hoard Road Bacon
/ Editor Gregory says Of the local hard
roads situation:
There has been growing suspi,
cion in the minds Of farmers that tn"
motorists and certain politicians are
exercising undue influence in the loca-
ion OF hard road routes in Illinois,
and that farmers interests are not re
ceiving due consideration.
This is a very important matter,
the more 50 since the high cost OF
ma .erial and labor viii reduce the
road mileage which We will get from
the bond issue by at least 40 per cent.
One of the principal arguments used
in adyOcatlul the bond issue was the
! value OF hard roads in enabling the
farmers to get their crops to market,
Now that the bond issue has been APP
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.cmg considered
One Of the roads provided for IN
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FROM "'o'''S 10 o''d"''
running west from Morris Is a
Straight road, known as the Town
line read. This is a straight, level
rairie road, easy TO build and easy
o maintain. Some Of the best farm
| ng land in the state lies along TINS
road, and the farmers here have =
ong haul TO market
The alternative route from Morris
to Ottawa is the Bun road, running
along the Illinois River at the foot
81 the blutiS, through Nurseries and
Seneca. There is only a narrow strip
7 land between TINS ROAD ana the
river, ana only lew places Whc"e
-armerS from the higher land can get
down to TINS road. Inc Bun road Is
crooked and dangerous and Will be
expensive III Improvement ana
maintenance.
1T Is estimated that the cost OF
uiIding a hard road on the Io"n
line route, including spurs to Mar
eilleS and Seneca, would be consid-
erably less than the cost OF lhproF-
Ing the Bun road. Farmers IN thjj
section OF La sale county are
tronsly IN FAVOR Of the loWn Line
route, for strictly BUSINESS reasons,
The people oi MaIseiileS ana Seneca
are divided on the proposition, but
'hey Will be served III either case.
fhe influential factor IN the selection
# the Bun road seems to be the mo-
'oriSts, who prefer TINS route lof
scenic rea onS. Il IS rumofed that
roliucal influence has also had much
to DO with the selection OF tllS route