Evening star., 1923-07-01
Neuada Senator Charges Bad
Faith to Utah in Road Program
Oddie Says State Let Neighbor Go ahead
on Lincoln Highway and Then
Refused Her O,Un Share.

OF both of these roads as quickly as
possible. Both are highly important
transcontinental highways, serving
in the development OF our western
country. The state of Utah has taken
the stand that II will only complete
the Victory highway via Wendover
and will abandon the Lincoln highway
connection via Ibapah.
States Took Money.
IT will not comment or what has
been referred to In the testimony be-
fore you as to the motive which has
impelled Utah to announce Its abar-
| donment of the Lincoln highway. 1t
Is matter Of history that Utah ac-
cepted money from the Lincoln High
way Association and spent II on the
Lincoln highway in Utah. and Nevada
accepted money from the same asso-
citation and spent II on it's line
through Nevada. The work of these
two states has been carried on for
several years simultaneously. both
working toward the same point at
the state line near Ibapah, with the
idea of connecting there, and each
state cogniZant of what the other was
doing. Hence 1 consider it neither
abandon this road after having al
lowed the state of Nevada and the
Lincoln Highway Association to spend
money in Nevada on the assumption
that Utah would connect up with that
road at the state line. II Utah had
intended to abandon this road. she
should have so notified Nevada a long
time ago. but she did not do SO.
'Utah's contention is that II will
save money by abandoning this Lin
coin highway route that has been par
TALLY completed. Her idea is to COM
pei Nevada to build a new road TO
take its place from Wendover to
Shellbourne, distance OF about
eighty-five miles which will cost
serve practically nobody along it's en-
tire length. which is undesired by
Nevada, and which will be unsatis-
factory and probably not built for
many years.
Value Of Two Roads.
II am justified in commenting
frankly on these two roads because
OF my familiarity with them. AS
Governor Of Nevada I rendered as
Lincoln highway years ago, when the
route was first planned. Later I
strongly advocated the building of
the Victory highway, and am today
a director in the Victory Highway
phatically urge that the Wendover
route be completed without delay
Il alss strongly urge you to take
steps to have the Lincoln highway
| completed from Salt Lake City
don this road now I consider Illegal,
unethical and distinctly damaging TO
Nevada
'I have no patience with Utah's
statement that she is able to build
only one OF these roads. 1t will be
both OF these roads than il has been for
Nevada to build the two she has En-
! couragement to this statement will
make Utah the more determined in her
stand
II applaud California's zeal in urg-
ing the completion of the Victory
highway without delay, but l resent
Californias attitude in sending her
representative. Mr.. c. c. Cottrell. to
of Nevada. as he did at the hearings.
! think it decidedly presumptious for
the California state highway depart
ment and the California Automobile
Association, through their agent. TO
advocate and encourage the concella-
tion OF the legal and moral obliga-
ton of Utah to complete the Lincoln
highway via Tbapah. as they have
done at these hearings. and to advo-
cate depriving Nevada of this neces-
sary connection at Ibapah, thereby
shouldering on her a white elephant
in the form of the proposed eighty
five mile road from Wendover to
Shelibourne through an unoccupied
rough country which win serve no
one and at a cost OF 100000.
81 do not blame sister states for
working for their own interests. but
! do resent them combining to injure
my state---Nevada--as they have done
in this case. | do not believe the
people Of California would for one
moment stand for the position In
which they have been placed in this
matter by their representative. Ger
tafnly. when they learn of the injus-
Justice OF their poSition they will be