Evening star., 1922-03-26

through at least as much will be
spent on the betterment Of the Lin
coin highway as was spent last year,
when thirty and seven-tenths miles
teen and eight-tenths miles Of the
route We're graveled and nineteen
miles OF new permanent grade es-
tablished. preparatory to paving.
Nebraska.
Nebraska completed 1895 miles Of
construction on the Lincoln way last
year. Most of this work comprised
sand. clay or gravel surfacing. West
crn Nebraska has neither the funds
nor the need as yet for a paved road.
and the fine graveled sections are
kept in magnificent condition by
state maintenance. Five and one-
half miles of new brick were COM
Dleted west of Omaha, closing the
gap between that city and Fremont.
One hundred and ten thousand dol
lars was spent on maintenance on
Ncbraska's 4Y5-mile section last year.
With the exception of one or two
short stretches in the central part Of
the state. the drive from the Missouri
river to Cheyenne. Wyo.. this year
should be an unalloyed pleasure.
Wyoming.
Wyoming will be the first western
state to properly complete her Sec
tion Of the Lincoln highway. The
magnificent road which has been built
across the state for 452 miles through
what appears to be almost uninhabit-
cl country is d never-failing wonder
to the eastern motorIst. Only fifty
miles OF Improvement still is re-
quircd In Wyoming. and this. it Is
expected. will he completed this year.
The work will not necessitate de-
tours. Last year the state finished
III IsS Nf
ri"d grade. at a cost OF s166.441 The
abundance Of road-bu:lding material
makes possible the construction of the
highest tyne OF road for the traffic
there, at an average cost of $4,000 a
mi.e. Wyoming's maintenance cost
is also low. averaging last year $136
Per mile, or $6O,i16.
Utah.
Utah has done practically nothing
to improve the Lincoln highway or
any other road west out of Salt Lake
City to the Nevada line for several
years. The state has practically no
road-butlding funds and such con-
atructiOn as is undertaken must be
financed by the counties with federal
aid. The desert counties in western
otah have a sparse population and
a very low valuation. They them
selves are almost helpless in en-
dcavnr'ng to provide q proper road
for through traffic. AS IL result. Utah
now presents the only real barrier to
through traffic across the United
states In 1921 few miles Of
salt Lake City near the Wyoming
line. at cost OF S31229 This rep
resctned the states total contribution
toward the completion of a through
route across the continent.
Since the passage of the federal
~
from Salt Lake City east to connect
with the Wyoming improvement. has
been designated as a primary federal
road. and will be put in fine condi-
tion this year. The situation from
salt Lake City west is still unsettled.
ton in 1918 contributed $125,OOO to
the state to aid in the Improvement
Of the desert CUTOFF and the money
has been spent. the state has not
carried the Improvement to compile
tion as agreed or properly maintained
the work accomplished. with the re-
suit that there Is no satisfactory road
west OF Salt Lake to the Nevada
line.
Seventy miles of the Lincoln high
way west of Tooele will be found
in poor to very bad condition. de
pending upon the weather. The only
other western connections possible dur
ing 1922 are. first. the road south from
Salt Lake City to Provo, thence via
Delta and Baker. to Ely. New. which
increases the distance between Salt
Lake City and Ely by fifty miles. and.
second. detour from the Lincoln
highway at Echo to Ogden and Brig
ham. and around north of Great Salt
Lake. via Snowville to Cobre. New.
thence south and connecting Ely.
These latter routes are also in bad
condition and their use will depend
upon the weather.
Efforts are being made to bring
about the completion of the Lincoln
highway in western Utah with the
federal aid now available to the state
under the terms of the federal high