The Washington times., 1922-09-30
L|NCO[NROAD
TO PACIFIC IS
EXPECTED SOON
Managers Tell of Highway Be-
ing Paved to the Missis-
sippi River.

AS an organization 10 unueFlahe
an educational and promotional work
the Lincoln Highway Association
was Incorporated in 1913 with the
avowed purpose of Immediately pro-
noting and procuring the establish
ment OF a continuous, connected, I'M
proved highway from the Atlantic TO
the Pacific open to lawful traffic Of,
all descriptions, without toll charges.
and to be of concrete wherever prac-
ticable." Thus the Lincoln Highway,
as the first nationally important
through route. was undertaken as
ian object lesson road"
In the Lincoln Highway, carefully
and painstakingly laid out 10 be the
shortest and most direct rad con.
sistent with the topography OF the
country between the two coasts, was
provided a tangible goal for accom-
plishment I'm the form Of a great
memorial which appealed to the
Imagination of the American public.
which attracted attention and per-
mitted the fundamental truths appli-
cable to highways in every section
of the country to be perceived ana
onally-impressed.
success NOW Assured.
While working to bring about tho
Improvement of the Lincoln High
way the association has had for nine
years the financial backing of the
men who organized II. who have been
joined In the work by many others
who have appreciated its Importance.
In 1913 the Lincoln Highway was
red line traced on the map between
New York and San Francisco, ira
versing eleven States and ninety-six
counties. Then no semblance of a
through connecting road existed west
Of Pittsburgh. 1t was estimated that
twenty years would be required to
complete the proper construction OF
an adequate highway $500 miles
long, from the Hudson river to San
Francisco bay. 1t will not take that
long. While the maintaining. broad
ening, Strengthening, and beautifying
of the route will be an evolution as
the ages pass, the opening of a salts
factory through road for the traffic
of the present, from New York TO
San Francisco, is an achievement
which can, even now, be foreseen as
an accomplishment Of the early
future.
IL
course. Many years must pass be-
fore the traffic across Wyoming,
Utah and Nevada. or even in west
ern Nebraska, will warrant the
investment necessary to produce a
paved highway, but it will be every
thing that Is necessary for the traffic
that II Is called upon to carry in each
State.
Portions Already Completed.
A line on the map in 1913, today
the Lincoln Highway in 80 per cent
paved road from New York city
% twenty five miles west OF the
Mississippi river Construction TO be
accomplished this season will leave
less than sixty miles of unpaved road
out OF the first ! 100 west of New
York city. Iowa and Nebraska are
further behind, but making every
effort to catch up.
Iowa last year spent more money
on the improvement of the Lincoln
way than any other state between
the two coasts. A paved road across
the State for 400 miles can be fore
seen.
At the present weather conditions
affect the road across botl: States.
nut III "tdliltI lnt
and dragged dirt and gravel grades
make the trip from Omaha to Chey.
enne, Wyo., a pleasure. Wyoming
will this year complete her entire
450-mile section OF the Lincoln Way,
a boulevard of red granite gravel
from Cheyenne, out over the conti-
rental divide and across the great
plains where, ten years age, the
chance traveller picked out any pair
of ruts on the range his Judgment
or his fancy dictated.
West of Salt Lake City remains
the only serious barrier to through
travel, and this will be shortly elimi-
mated through the intervention OF
the Federal Government and a proper
road will be constructed across the
Great Salt Lake desert largely with
funds from the National Treasury.