St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1919-07-19
HAD ARRIVED At DEs MONIES,
IOWA. LAST SUNDAY
AFTERNOON.
FIND DIRT ROADS
GENERALLY GOOD
People Along Route Hospitality en-
terrain the Traveiers-state Off
ciaIs Welcome Them at sor-
ders-seven Car in Run.

Mr.. John w. Lewis has received
from Mr.. R D. Nfbert, secretary of tht
Bunkie chamber Of commerce ane
/ secretary of the Louisiana Jefferson
Highway Association, a member OF
the soeiability run over the Jeffer
son Highway to Winnipeg, Canada
the following very interesting aecounl
OF the experiences of the party. TIE
letter was written from Des Moines
Iowa. Sunday.
July IA, 1919.
Hon Jno. w Lewis, OpeIousas.
Dear Mr.. Lewis: This is seven o. m.
Sunday, in Des Moines, and the first
opportunity I have had to give you
anything like a letter. Everyone is
kicking because he has not had time
to get shave or write postal card
to his wife. They claim that Clarkson
ought to be the car of Russia.
Up to this time, the run has been
a most wonderful success. Not drop
ef rain has fallen on us since we left
home, although we have been one day
behind two hard rains in Missouri
There are seven cars still in the run
that made the start from Louisiana.
Mr.. McNeely dropped at Eufaula. Ok
lahoma. The old fellow, it seems, had
made up his mind that, Ii he kept on
going he never would get back home.
The day we left Bnnkie we did fairly
well, although it was two o'clock in
the morning before we reached
Shreveport. Since then, we have been
running pretty well up to schedule.
although as you know, one day late.
We found the roads IN Texas gem
orally good. About one-haIf of the
mileage in Texas is hard surface
Practically the same condition exists
in Oklahoma. We found some
stretches in Oklahoma that would
have been impossible had we struck
them just at the end Of the rainy sea
son as we struck the Southern Louisi-
ana roads. The difference between
the roads In Oklahoma, Kansas, Mis-
souri, and Iowa and those of Louisiana
is that in those states the dirt roads
are practically in perfect condition.
For miles and miles, hour after hour,
we maintain a schedule of thirty to
thirty-five miles on dirt roads without
injury to cars or hardship to passen-
gers.
II we could get the presidents of all
our police iuries over these dirt roads,
It would be wonderful thing for the
state of Louisiana We felt we under
stood what the Jefferson Highway is
and means to the various towns. /
counties and states, but the spirit
hat pervades the communities be-
sWeen Shreveport and Des Moines, f
iowa, have opened not only the eyes
# the governor, the two mayors and /
Mr.. Bnie, but of the writer who had I
| far wider conception of what the +
'oad meant than any of them. The
Jefferson Highway up here means
and you may rest assured
hat there will be four or five boosters
n Louisiana after this run.
Through parts of Kansas, practical
y all of Missouri, and so far In Iowa,
he road is marked 1t is not necessa-
= to ask anyone the direction. and 1t
5 possible, therefore, to run the cars
n relays, which is being done.
The welcome that has been extend
d the party, the receptions we have
eceived, have in some instances been
ctua1ly touching. Day before yester-
ay, | think we had six meals. We
ever knew there was as much fried
hicken, cake and lemonade in exist
nee as we have consumed. Way Bur.
IAN says he Is being tried out on
amonade and coca cola for days that
EE IL SUl1fG- At EuldAtd, Gk1aADIAG.
aey gave us banquet that was a
andy, would not let US 60 to the hotel
ut took rs to their homes. They took
ur cars, washed them, inspected
1em, filled them with oil and gas.
nd then told us that our money was
lade OF tin. Many Of the towns dis
Iayed the flag Of the State Of Louisi.
na, had printed attractive souvenirs,
lenus and programs. all Of which It
Ill be our pleasure to show You upon !
" return
At Miami, Oklahoma. the party In
Dected the wonderful zinc mines and
'und them very interesting At Pitts
urg the lead and coal mines we're in
1ected. and 1t was there that we met j
overnor Allen Of Kansas. It is said
lat Governor Pleasant made the best !
llK af the entire trip at Pittsburg. I
he governor Of Oklahoma could not i