The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-11-14

cent action by . county in Okla
homa in voting . bond issue Of sew
eral hundred thousand dollars to,
construct Q link In the Lee High
way Is concrete evidence Fof the
progress that Is being made In the
enterprise which Is to give the
country another transcontinentai
road. II 10 q demonstration Of the
kidd Of cooperation on the art CT
states and counties that tnsures
success to the project fostered by
the organization known rs the Lee
Highway association.
This great artery Of travel by
motor has been termed the South
6rn Main Street Of the United
States. Its promoters claim for 1t
that 1t will be the finest scenic
route from coast to coast as we'll
as the shortest. From Washington
to San Diego, Calf, it will measure
5000 miles, which is 800 miles less
than any other route. Eventually,
it is said, the Lee Highway will be
extended from Washington to New
York City and from San Diego to
San Francisco. giving 1t . total
length Of 1900 miles.
It is estimated that the road will
afford highway transportation to at
least 15,300,00 people, approx
matcly one-seventh Of our CONT
mental population. This will con-
tribute materially to the develop
ment OF . gone vt least 100 miles
wide throughout its entire length.
This is-regarded as of far more inn
portance than the facility it will
offer to tin-canners and other tour
lists to travel from the Atlantic |,
the Pacific through much of the
most beautiful scenery in the <coun-
try as well as over a comparatively
easy roadway.
Experts say there is no measLr-
ing the socially beneficent infiu-
ences Of good roads, and one author
ity recently asserted that they
really constituted q counter agent
against dangerous radicalism. The
happy homes induced by automo-
biles and good roads," he said, ARE
| incompatible with radicalism and
unrest"
Whether or not that theory will
be generally accepted, those who
are behind the Lee Highway asso-
citation are convinced that they are
engaged in q great public service
and they are gratified with the CO.
operation their project is receiving.
Moreover, they can point with pride
| to the progress that has been made.
Every Mile Nay New BE Used.
Every mile of the road is now a
connected up highway, they an
nounce, and can be- travelled any
day in the year-in fact, it is all in
daily use. 1t is estimated that ap-
prOximately so per cent Of it is
! graded and that all the necessary
bridges and culverts have been
constructed. Some of this road
way is of the type known as water
bound macadam, but this will be
replaced ultimately with scientific
ally built pavement.
From almost every county seat
along the line there is a stretch OF
this modern pavement extending in
either direction, and in some in
i stances this permanent roadway is
continuous for 200 miles. There
are Of course breaks in its con-
tinuity, but the association is now
negotiating a construction program
under which the road authorities
Of the various states and counties
will cooperate to close all the gaps.
1t Is hoped that this can be ac-
complished within the next two
years. assuming that conditions
continue favorable.
The Lee Highway runs south
west from Washington, traversine
the Valley Of Virginia, thence ives,
to cross the Mississippi river al
Memphis. From Memphis it runs
to Little Rock, Arkansas, and fol
lows the magnificent Red River
Vailey>of southern Oklahoma, then
on through western Texas, southern
New Mexico, Arizona and Califo--
mia to San Diego.
The route from the. Mississippi
on is practically one of the five