The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1919-09-12

longest highway in the world by ex-
tending it through Mexico to the
Panama Canal.
Plans for extensive improvement
Of the Woodrow Wilson Way have
been made following the promises of
towns and cities along the route to
cooperate in the work of blazing the
trail from Ely, Minnesota, to Ell Paso.
Texas. State organizations have
been formed to carry on the work.
and tours of inspection have been
completed in number of states.
The original section of this high
way was organized at a meeting held
at Lake Mills. Iowa, in the early part
of 1916. The main promoters were
j. B. Conley, a real estate man of
Lake Mills, Iowa, and M. A. Aasgaard
Secretary of the Lake Mills Com
mercial. Club. The original route
was organized under the name of the
"Wilson Highway" and connected
Albert Lea, Lake Mills and Ames.
At the next meeting, which was
held at Garner, Iowa, during the fall
of that year, the route was reorgah-
lied and Farley Sheldon, prominent
banker of Ames, Iowa, elected pres
ident. 1t was the intention to extend
this route north to Minneapolis and
south to Kansas City, but the war ne
cessitated the holding back of the
completion of this proposition.
During the month of October, 1918,
A. E. Nissen, special representative
of the Auto Trails Department of
Rand Mentally & Co., Chicago, inter
viewed Mr. Sheldon and secured his
consent to extend the highway from
Albert Lea to Minneapolis and Ely
Minnesota, and from Ames to Kan
sas City and Ell Paso.
Mr.. Nissen held meetings and at a
very enthusiastic gathering held at
Kansas City, on January 21st, repre-
sentatives were present from forty
one towns between Kansas City and
Ely, Minnesota. The route was or
ganized under the name of the
Woodrow Wilson Way"
Hon. Joseph ]. Moriarity, an at
torney of Shakopee, Minnesota, was
elected president; Burris A. Jenkins,
editor of the Kansas City Post was
elected secretary; A. E. Hutchins,
President of the Kansas City Auto
mobile Club, was elected treasurer,
and Frank A. Davis, Secretary of the
Associated Highways of America, was
appointed as Assistant Secretary and
Manager.
The executive committee will be
composed of the three officers elected
and the presidents of the different
divisions. The president of the Min
nesota Division is H. ]. Merdink,
Secretary of the Commercial Club of
Ely, Minnesota; the president of the
Iowa Division is Hon. Farley Sheldon,
of Ames, Iowa and the president Of
the Missouri Division is George A..
Pickens of the Maryville Commercial
Club.
1t has been decided to postpone or
|ganizing the Kansas City and E. Paso
Divisions until those Divisions have
been thoroughly marked and sign
boarded.
This route will probably be by way
of Coffeyville, Kansas, Tulsa, Oklaho-
homa City, Amarillo, New Mexico,
and Ell Paso.
The markings for this highway is
as follows: A 14-inch blue band
around the poles with a 3-inch
white band on top and bottom, with
a red letter w painted on the blue
background. Two poles are to be
painted before and after each turn
in the road and intersection. Also
attractive signs will be placed at the
necessary locations.
The Board of Directors unanimous
ly voted to recommend the use of
|enameled signs of rust-resisting Arm
co Iron along the entire route from
Ely, Minnesota, to Ell Paso, Texas.
It is the intention of the promoters
of the Woodrow Wilson Way to ex-
tend it from Ell Paso, Texas, to Mex
leo City and the Panama Canal, and
thus have the unique distinction of
connecting the Panama Canal with
the Theodore Roosevelt International
Highway at Grand Rapids, Michigan.
In this case it would be the longest,
continuous, organized trunk-line high
way in the world and a great boon to
the American tourist.
The Woodrow Wilson Way, from
Minneapolis to Kansas City, completes
with the jefferson Highway, both of
these routes connecting Minneapolis
with Albert Lea, Des Moines and
Kansas City.
The Woodrow Wilson Way, how
ever, is about rs miles shorter from
Minneapolis to Kansas City than the
jefferson Highway, and serves a
very desirable territory, connecting a
large number of very prosperous and
progressive towns and cities,
Woodrow Wilson Way Clubs are
being organized in great many
towns along this route for the pur-
pose of securing concentration of