White Pine news. [volume] (East Ely, Nev.) 1920-1923, 1923-10-14
CONTINUED from Page one.)

certainly the whole significance OF
our work would disappear and the
Lincoln way ultimately be consigned
to the limbo of things forgotten, ii
those of us who have guided its des-
tiny swerve from the basic policies
which we believe are ~self-evldent as
right and sound, and which have
TO our association a national support
and interest, growing yearly in power
! and effectiveness.
Many Petty Errors Rectified
We would not have you think that
our board of directors considers its
judgment infallible or that petty er-
rors have not been made in the past
in the routing of the Lincoln way,
and that such errors have not beer
corrected.
Since 1918 many changes have
been made in the route of the Lin
coin way-the correction of early
natural disalignments. The route
has been shortened by nearly a hun
dred miles. Grade crossings have
been avoided. Right angle turns
have heen eliminated. Short cuts
have been found. In every state be-
tween New York and San Francisco
changes have been made, but q" of
these have been in the interest OF
directness and efficiency, have been
based upon the sound policy of better
serving the main traffic.
Therefore, it is not mere stub
bornness or a desire to set up our
own earlier judgment as infallible,
that actuates us in adhering to the
present route of the Lincoln way
west of Salt Lake City. AS l have
before minated, if adequate reas
ons can be shown for a change in the
Lincoln way route--reaSonS other
than temporary present day expedi-
ency as related to promptness OF
construction, we would cheerfully ad"
nit our error. Lacking such reasons
for a change we have no choice but
to stay right and to keep faith with
our friends in Nevada, and indeed
also in Utah and all America. who
have worked so valiantly and under
such great odds towards he improve
ment of the Lincoln way during the
ten years past. We can see neither
logic, wisdom or justice in accepting
your suggestions, which would now
require us to abandon Il wise basic
principles, to abandon our coopera-
tors in Nevada and Utah, to repudiate
our chief supporters, the press and
public by asserting to the ~evanescent
and vacillating impulses CT those in
Utah whose road building policy, as
has been clearly demonstrated, has
no stability of purpose, but has
changed with a change Of state politi
cal administration.
Conflicting and Changing State
Policy
The present administration of the
state of Utah has withdrawn Utah's
support for the Lincoln way cordially
given by two preceding a~dninistra'
tions and favors the Wendover road,
so-called. and refuses to carry
through the completion of the Lin
coin way. 1t is not impossible that
the next administration may again
have a different viewpoint.
Nevada on the other hand has con-
sistently for ten years worked toward
the construction of the Lincoln way.
That state has carried out to the
letter it's contracts with this asso-
citation and will continue to follow
the policy, aiming at a perfected
highway through the heart of that
state, laid down ten years g under
the administration of now United
States Senator Tasker l.. Oddie, iE
cooperative accord with the Their
political powers Of Utah.
Cannot Abandon Principles for
Expediency.
We cannot agree with you that,
should II association adapt itself
to the consequences" as you express
it, and, as a measure of ex%pediency
only, route the Lincoln highway over
the non-existent road between Salt
Lake City and Wendover and via the
northern route to Reno. it would suf-
fer no loss Of prestige.
While we are not primarily inter-
ested in the establishment or main
tenance of prestige in the west or
elsewhere, being concerned only with
the right and justice Of the matter.
preferring to let thu matter of pres
tise take care of itself. w do feel
that the abandonment of our basic
principles and the abortion of a pol
icy of expediency could do nothing
less thsn result IN the complete loss
of the incidental prestige and stand
ing which our association now enjoys,
and which has been built up through
ten years as a result of the very
policies and principles which YOU
now suggest that we abandon.
The association is not seeking new
possibilities for routes between Sal.
Lake City and Ely, or between Salt
Lake City and Reno and Carson City.
All possible connections we have
long ago investigated and the es-
Establishment of the present Lincoln
way route and our large investments
heron we're made only alter, not