The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1920-08-14
STATE ORGANIZATION
FOR MERIDIAN ROAD
SEVEN COUNTIES REPRESENTED
AT BIG MEETING HELD AT
COMMERCIAL CLUB.

Seven counties in the lower half OF
I South Dakota participated last eve
ming in the big road rally held in the
commercial club rooms. Chief amons
the prominent men who are vitality
interested in the improvement of the
meridian highway and present to lend
their assistance in forming a perma-
nent organization that will keep right
up on the firing line of all road mat
ters were President John G. Nichol-
son, meridian road secretary; Mr..
McNaughten, Mr.. Turner and others
whose efforts to establish a well-de-
fined artery for travel are widely
recognized throughout this state.
Following a trip to Lake Madison
early last evening all visiting dele
gates became the guests of the COM
! mercial club members and the busi-
ness men of the city. All the avail
quickly taken and extra chairs were
brought to accommodate the large
number present.
The meeting was the largest busi-
ness gathering held in Madison in
years and each person present realiz-
ed that the matter that brought them
| together was easily the biggest and
most important proposition now at
issue.
Following President r. E. Scud-
| der's delienation of the purpose of
the meeting, James Dougherty of
| Watertown, was selected as ten
rary chairman.
| Upon being introduced, Mr.. Nict
olson stated that the initial effort
looking to the esta blishment of what
is now known as the meridian road
| began back in 1912 and that Joseph
nj. Hanson practically did all of the
original work in connection with thas
highway. He stated that the old road
organization was defunct and that re-
| rewed interest could only be main
| tanned through a newly elected Sc,
of business officers whose mind was
| in the project of improvement and
all things relating to upkeep. Mr.
l ANiSioiooii 90 ouiO thdt TIC IuSI luidu
road was the first highway across
the United States from Winnipeg
outward without paralleling railway
lines. The road was intended for
| North Dakota alone at one time, but
| expanding interest in travel and
transportation has destined it to be-
| come a close integral part of South
Dakota's general system of highways
| The speaker mentioned that Yank-
ton would build bridge across the
Missouri if the road came that way
and that the bridge once a fact would
become an essential factor in upkeep
and continuance of the meridian
highway. We were informed that,
in the main, most of our best inn
proved public highways, such as the
4 King of Trails the Sunshine
Highway" and other well known ov-
erland routes had an east and west
trend, hence the necessity of a north
and south trail similar to the straight
course of the meridian road. Mr..
Nicholson remarked with commenda-
tion on the splendid road building
accomplished in Texas, Kansas, Okla
homa and the effective beginning OF
that kind of work in Nebraska where
dirt roads are receiving attention al
ia cost of $500 to several thousand
dollars per mile with the aid granted
by state and federal authorities. He
thought that we ought to catch tn.
vision Of the future of all roads
grown vastly important out of the ex-
pansion of the automobile industr,
that ushers in new era in general
transportation. The opportunity Ii
now at our gate since the presence OF
an improved and fixed highway woulC
ultimately mean enhanced land val
ues, the building up of consolidated
school centers and a re-establish
lment of the sphere of influence o
now almost decadent country church
i Secretary McNaughten next spok.
briefly of the roadways in Texas tha
offered to tourists and travellers il
general hundreds and hundreds o
miles of Tarvia coated highways cap
able Of resisting wear and tear fol
many score of years.
Chairman Dougherty explained tn,
two methods of organization, namely
by Lewiston of the state with loca
governing board in each and ais,
through single set of officers 10
the entire state. After some discus
sion of the most feasible method /
: was finally decided to organize on
> basis OF the latter. It was though
2 that under state organization stat
I and federal aid could more easily b
secured. All understood that the en-
9 tire meridian road was simply an
4 purely matter Of patriotic motive
: and not influenced by the sel1ishnes
OF any Individual or community an
with that thought uppermost In thei