Evening star., 1922-07-23
$1,5OO,OOO IN CONTRACTS LET
FOR LINCOLN HIGHWAY WORK
Association Gives 100000 Toward I'M
proving of All Poor Spots From
Utah to Reno.

NEW YORK. July z2-Contracts
involving the prompt undertaking Of
100000 worth Of improvement on
the Lincoln highway across Nevada
have been signed here by J. N. Gum.
president OF the Lincoln Highway As
ISOLATION, following their approval by
the associations executive committee.
The contracts which were negotiated
early in the year between George W.
Borden. state highway engineer Of
Nevada and officials OF the associa-
tion. had been previously unanimous
ly approved by the Navada highway
commission and the attorney general
Of Nevada. under date OF April 1s.
The closing of these contracts,
which involve 100000 of the asso-
ciation's funds, required to assist the
state Of Nevada in meeting the fed
eral aid provided under the terms of
the federal highway act for interstate
highway construction, is Of national
interest, az representing another step
toward the, final completion of the
Lincoln highway across the continent
and the opening OF satisfactory
through road to the Pacific coast.
ciic coast north of the Colorado river
and south OF the Columbia river must
cross Nevada. a state half the size of
France. the north boundary OF which
corresponds with the north boundary
Of Illinois. while its southernmost tip
Is on a line with the north boundary
of Mississippi and Alabama. 1t is as
far across Nevada by motor as 1t is
from New York city to Cleveland via
PITTSBURGH and anna in % this vast area aoa,e are
highway. traversing central Nevada.
is the shortest and most direct link
across that state on the road from
Salt Lake City to Reno. II is OF
| that this road be properly completed
as soon as possible. providing unin-
teTrupted service for that vast volume
OF traffic from every section Of the
Union headed to and from Pacific
coast points from Los Angeles to
Portland.
Federal Ala Given.
The Lincoln Highway Association
has for years been conversant with
the problems to be met in providing
the important Nevada link in the
transcontinental road. Previous to
the recent passage OF the federal
| highway act. which provided long
needed relief to the western states of
large area and small population, the
association had recognized the neces-
sity of outside assistance If the old
trail Of the pioneers across Nevada
now the Lincoln highway, was TO De
put into proper shape for motor
travel
In 1919 the association first offered
the state OF Nevada s115,000 to aid
in the improvement of the worst sec
tions. which were serving as barriers
to all through travel. Two of the
directors of the association had
brought about through their interest
the contribution OF funds totaling
3l50.000 to aid the western states. w.
G. Durant, then president of the Cen
eral Motors Corporation. was respon-
sible for. che contribution of 100000
to the ASSOCIATION from that corpora
ton and John N. Willys. president of
the willys-Overland Company, made
possible the contribution of $4,000
from that company. 1t was from these
funds that the S115,000 was offered to
Nevada, and the money was placed
in escrow in Carson City to be paid
over to the state as the work pro-
gressed.
Even with this aid. Nevada found