South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-11-30
HOLD BARBECUE,
DESPITE RAIN;
HUGE SUCCESS
Committee Changes Place
From State Line to Cham
Der of Commerce.
GOODRICH FAILS TO APPEAR

Literally picking it up out of the
mud and water at the Indiana and
Mic higan state line. the South Bend
Chamber OF Commerce. Saturday.
took the Niles road celebration TO
its building on w. Colfax av. and
made It a success.
More than 1000 men, women and
children visited the gymnasium room
at the chambers building Saturday
afternoon and partook of the bar
becue beef. sweet cider and dough-
nuts provided by the celebration
committee for their refreshment.
Early Saturday morning it looked
likt there would be no celebration
in honor OF the completion of the
first unit in Indianas new highway
system. Ii had rained all Friday
night, and il was still raining Sa-
turday morning with no prospect of
letting up.
The grounds at the state line. where
preparations had been made for
holding the celegration, were sub
the celebration committee were for
giving up any idea of holding a
celebration Other members were in
a quandary as 10 what might be
done.
Comes to Rescue.
Then the Chamber of Commerce
went TO the rescue OF the cele-
bratiOn. It was pointed out that
there was a big gymnasium room
in the chambers building. 1t was
suggested that the barbecued beef,
bands and the guests of honor be
taken there and the celebration held
where the rain could not wet, and
where the wind could not blow.
The suggestion met with the ap-
proval OF the committee, and at .
o'clock Saturday afternoon the eel
ebration was beginning. a half hour
later there was a fair-sized crowd
of men in the gymnasium. and by
o'clock the big room was becom-
ing we'll filled. After that there was
continuous crowd. The exercises
were short. Talks were made by
Gov. Albert Sleeper Of Michigan,
Frank Rogers, chairman of the Mich
igan state highway commission, May
or Ralph w Gaylor of MishaWaka,
L. H. Wright, chairman of the In
diana commission; Archy campbell,
member of the commission; H X
Bishop, chief engineer for the COM
mission: A. II. Hinkle, maintenance
engineer for the commission: NJ. T..
Noblett, secretary of the HOOsier
state Automobile association, and
Sam Leeper. whose efforts at the
assembly aided in securing the pas
sage OF the present road law, Great
ing the state highway commission.
Base Too Light.
During the meeting Saturday aft
ernoon Mr. Leeper took occasion to
tell the members of the commission
present that they are building their
roads with too light a base He de-
clared that road bases should be at
least II inches instead Of four in
ches.
Gov. Goodrich Of Indiana was not
present at the celebration. a tele-
gram from the governor. stated that
owing to the acute coal situation
he would not be able to attend.
There was much comment heard
among those present at the failure
OF the governor be here.
Before and after the exercises.
there was great demand for the bar
becued beef, sweet cider and dough-
nuts. Men, women and children, at
least 1000 Of them, during the aft
ernoon swarmed up TO the impro-
vised counter for two. three and
four helpings OF the edibles and
cider.
An orchestra furnished music dur
ing the afternoon. Some OF those
present wanted 10 dance, but, they
did not know whether they ought
to or not. There were many out Of
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