White Pine news. [volume] (East Ely, Nev.) 1920-1923, 1922-02-19
DIRECT EFFORTS FOR
THE LINCOLN HIGHWAY

way controversy has reached al
stage where something more must
be done than filing the circumam-
bient with cries of whereas" and
Resolved" IL we expect to accom-
plish anything for the good of Ely.
Unless immediate and concerted ac-
tion be taken by the friends of the
Lincoln highway WITHIN AND
ACROSS THE STATE OF NEVADA
we shall very shortly see a designa-
ton of the northern route in Nevada
as the primary highway. and the Lin
coin highway with little more than
the name.
To my mind our united energies
should be turned toward securing the
designation of the Lincoln highway
CLEAR ACROSS NEVADA as the
primary route, with the Victory high
way as the secondary route. We
should not cross the line into another
state and enter into a controversy
with the people of that state as to
what routes shall be designated by
them in their own state. 1t Is enough
that We concern ourselves with CUT
own highway problems without inter-
meddling in the problems of other
states And the converse OF this
pTOpOSitlOH Is llhtWlSt true dS dDplscu
to the people in those other states.
Up to date our efforts seem to
have been misdirected in trying to
dictate to the people of Utah what
route shall be designated in that
state as the primary route from Salt
Lake west to the Nevada line. We
should abandon this mistaken policy
and confine ourselves to endeavoring
TO secure the federal highway beDe-
fits in our own state, and for our
own district as much as possible.
The Utah officials have stated very
plainly that they will not consider
the expenditure of the money of that
state upon the Seiberling cutoff; they
have designated the route west from
Salt Lake to the state line by way
of Wendover as their choice for the
primary route. Their money will be
expended there in connection with
the federal highway money, and this
expenditure Is n matter which con-
Germs themselves and the federal gov
ernment and not us. II the govern
ment sees that the route to Wendover
is impracticable from an engineering |
and financial standpoint, then il will
unquestionably refuse to contribute
its funds to its construction, and will
just as unquestionably favor the
cutoff: and in such event
II is not probable that The Utah Of
ficiais will finally refuse to cooperate
in such designation. At any rate. we
will cross that bridge when we como
TO it,
But everything seems to indicate
that the Wendover route is not i'm
from an engineering
point of view; it parallels the West
ern Pacific railroad for miles across
the lake bed. within a hundred feet. |
and that railroad bed carries far
heavier traffic than the highway I
would be called upon TO stand; fur
thermore, the route has been exam
ined not only by able engineers on
the part of the state of Utah, but also
by federal engineers, and all have
pronounced it feasible. What, then, !
will be our situation If it shall be
We shall not only be
without any Lincoln highway from
Ibapah eastward, but shall likewise
be without any connection with the
highway at Wendover, for the ma
jority at the Chamber of Commerce
meeting Wednesday night refused to
indorse such connection.
But If we should now turn our ef-
forts TO getting designation OF
primary route southerly. either from
Wendoyer or Shafter, If that be re-
garded as q better point, to connect
with the Lincoln highway in this
county, and thence following the Lin
coin highway through Ely and across
Nevada. we would stand good
chance of really accomplishing some
hing FOR Elxy FThto Untfld m q kn tho
Lincoln highway the primary route
and would still leave the Victory high
way the opportunity of securing des-
ignation as a secondary route. Most
certainly the people along the latter
highway are entitled to an outlet
east toward Salt Lake. just the same
as we are, and the Wendover route
seems to be the only logical one for
them. In any event We must bear In
mind that we cannes expect to see the
federal government adopt such pol
icy as would serve to leave that high
way up In the air. much as some
might like to see 1t. from a selfish
standpoint.
Great progress has been made by
the people in Nevada living along the
northern route toward having 1t des-
ignated as the primary route; not
only have they secured the coopera-
tion of many influential Salt Lake
people. as well as the people of north
ern California, but also apparently
some of our own Nevada officials. We
shall have our work cut out for us
in trying to overcome this lead. But
1t Is not too late. providing we begin
at once and do not let any more grass
grow under our feet.
White Pine county will not be
alone in any such contest; We shall
find that many other communities
and counties will join with us, and
immediate and concerted effort will
accomplish much.
United we stand. divided We fall!
Let US form a strong coalition IN
OUR OWN STATE. and bend our
united energies toward having the
Lincoln highway across Nevada des-
ignated as a primary route. Let
other states solve their road prob
loma uhila Wa try IN raach saTt..