The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1922-06-06
LINCOLN VS.. THE
VICTORY HIGHWAY
Former Road Engineer for Nevad.
Gives Views of Controversy
and Says One Route IL
~ Bad ~ the Other

Making a mountain out of a
molehill' is the way in which C. C.
Cottrell, manager of the Good
Roads Bureau of the California
State Automobile Association, Char
acterizes the supposed controversy
over the relative merits of the two
roads crossing western Utah and
northern Nevada, units of the
Lincoln and Victory highway, re-
spectively.
Mr.. Cottrell was state highway
engineer of the state of Nevada
from 1918 to 1921 and in this
position was able to gather first
hand data concerning the conditions
Of the two auto routes. He has
contributed sane discussion of
the merits of the two routes for
the current issue of Motorland, and
it goes far toward clearing the
atmosphere" of vague assertions
and counter-assertions made by pro-
ponents Of the controversy.
The effect of the so-called con-
troversy has been the usual one,
that is the effectual tying up of
road construction programs and a
general antagonistic stand over the
whole matter on the part of the
districts traversed by the two
routes. A severe setback on these
important units of the transconti-
mental highway will follow this con-
tinual pickering.
The conclusion, to which Mr.. Cot
trell comes after summing up the
various points of the supposed con-
troverssy are: First, that both road
links in the state of Utah can be
built without any unusual prob
lens confronting the engineers in
charge; second, the State Road
Commission Of Utah appreciates as
much as anyone the necessity of
making adequate connections with
both highways; third, investigations
are being made of the different
routes by the engineers of the
United States Bureau of Public
Roads, the state road commission of
Utah and the highway department
of the state of Nevada. From these
investigations a concrete knowledge
OF the proper procedure will come.
In the meantime, it is well to
call halt on pickering and dubious
assertion and denial, so that the
whole-hearted cooperation of every
one will be enlisted toward an
actual commencement of work on
this important connection for trans
continental traffic.
So very much has been said and
written of the highway situation
between Salt Lake City and San
Francisco, particularly of the rela-
tive merits Of the two roads cross
ing western Utah and northern
Nevada that another small con-
tribution to the subject if it might
clarity the atmosphere, would not
be untimely.
From the beginning of 1918 to
the end Of 1921, the writer was
State Highway Engineer Of Nevada,
and If any one exists who should be
familiar with the situation, it is the
one who for any length of time has
occupied that position.
The great trouble with most that
has been said and written of this
situation and supposed controversy
is that it is little better than trash.
Those familiar with but a few of
the facts speak as authorities on the
entire subject. Men who are un-
able to view this or any other sub
ject intelligently or with an un-
biased mind have submitted to those
seeking knowledge very convincing
statements.
Public Bewildered
The public has been bewildered
and it is doubtful that it even now
knows as much of the true situation
as it would have learned by merely
glancing at the map.
This making of a mountain out
of a molehill and the creation of a
controversy where once none should
exist is very bad business for every
one, and especially is it damaging
to those trying to do something in a
constructive way.
The effect Of all this turmoil Of
the past has been to divide state
into sections to the extent that each
~ re