Chariton courier. (Keytesville, Chariton County, Mo.) 1878-current, 1922-03-17

to meet the requirements OF the law
for the designation of 1,50O miles OF
preferred highway.
We believe that while you realize
that the task before you is one OIL
great difficulty, that you will in the
designation of these preferred high
ways carefully consider the selection
of such roads as will best serve the
interests of the state at large.
We believe that it is within the
power of the State Highway Commits
sion to agree on certain basic prin-
.ciples in the designation of the pre-
ferred highways and thus eliminate
all justified criticisms.
1t is the judgment of the North
Cross State Highway Association
that no better principles could be-
adopted in the designation OF
1900 miles of high type road than
the traffic area; valuation; popula-
ton; auto license revenue; available
ity of materials; necessary bridges;
Typographical conditions; Importance
of feeder roads; the present and fu-
ture auto traffic over the roads selec-
ted to constitute the preferred high
ways; the value of farm products OF
the counties traversed, subject to con-
veyance by highway vehicles, and
marketing centers reached.
The friends of the North Cross
State Highway require no argument
to support their cause that is not fur
nished by the facts and figures ap-
piled to the principles outlined.
The traffic area of the counties
traversed by the North Cross State
Highway is 10 per cent of the entire
area of the state and if we annex
to the same the area covered by the
counties reached by the Hannibal and
st. Joseph extensions this route will
serve traffic area which constitutes
1876 per cent of the entire states
d
area.
The taxable valuation Of the coun-
ties traversed by the North Cross
State Highway constitutes As per
cent of the states valuation.
The population of the counties
traversed by the North Cross State
Highway is 421s96 of the states
population and if we consider the
Hannibal and st. Joseph extensions,
it will connect five of the nine larg-
est cities of the state and serve Alb
per cent of the entire population Of
the state.
The counties traversed by the
North Cross State Highway paid in
1921 47.4 per cent of the auto Ii
-cense revenue.
The North Cross State Highway
follows very closely the Wabash
Railroad which, with its frequent sta
tions, renders It possible to deliver
road material and road construction
machinery at such points as will
greatly shorten the haul Of such ma
terial and machinery and thus reduce
the expense Of construction.
The North Cross State Highway
is an all bridge route between St
Louis and Kansas City and the top
ographical conditions Of the country
greatly lessons the expense Of con-
struction.
The North Cross State Highway
with its possible state branches, rem
ders it possible with 750 miles of road
to connect each and every county Of
10000 or more population and each
and every city of $500 population
north Of the Missouri river. No othel
road in the state Of equal mileage car
serve a larger population. The terri
tory served by this system Of 75t
miles paid go per cent Of the states
automobile license fund for 1921 ant
connects cities and counties in which
are 57.6 per cent of the states valua
tion.
The North Cross State Highwa,
with its Hannibal connections affort
the nearest and most practical rout'
for traffic, between Chicago ant
Kansas City and with its st. Louii
extension affords the natural routt
from the territory tributary to tina
city with st. Louis. The coal minei
located on the North Cross Stat
Highway makes the tonnage over thii
highway excessive and renders
high type road essential.
In 1920 the counties traversed b!
the North Gross State Highway pro
,duced an average of "a bushels o
corn to the acre against an average o
50 bushels for the state; Of wheat Al
average Of 1876 bushels against
state average Of 12.5 bushels and o
oats an average Of 1927 hushel
against an average Of 30-6 bushel