Coulee City dispatch. [volume] (Coulee City, Wash.) 19??-19??, 1937-02-11
ROAD BATTLE LAUNCHED
TO HOLD PRESENT ROUTE

A determined battle to retain
q. 8. highway No. 10 In Its present
course was launched here yester-
day, when representatives Of nine
commercial organizations met at
the Columbia cafe for a session
that lasted over four hours.
Lacey Murrow, OF the state high
way department. has indicated
that he will recommend the change
on the basis that 1t gives the short
est route across the state. His
statement. however. doesn't seem
to be based upon the fact as to the
best route, or maybe the fact that
Cheney is on the proposed new
course sways Mr.. Murrow's bet
ter judgment.
A general discussion was held az
to the merits Of th two different
thoroughfares. and w. p. Gray,
Wilbur, former state senator. was
puzzled as to why the state should
spend great deal OF money to adj
vertise the state and then turn
around and send visitors through
one OF the bleakest portions within
! It's boundaries merely to get tour
lists through 1t In hurry.
1t was pointed out that nearly
all the main state roads go through
the southern part OF the state and
/ Aho% <ho rnr<horu oor<ion hoo haou
badly neglected. Also many towns
along the present course are based
to q great extent upon the tourist
travel, depending in q large meas
ure upon this trade tor their ex-
istence. Many establishments and
Investments were made only be-
cause Of the knowledge that the
federal highway ran through these
communities, and why should they
be left high and dry for no appar-
ent good reason.
A novel feature Of the meeting
was that everyope present intro
duced himself and told from which
, town he came. A spirit Of close
harmony prevailed throughout the
entire session and do or die"
> attitude was wary evident
II One member from each town
!. was selected and this group Will be
3 a permanent organization until
{ the matter Is definitely settled one
4 way or another. Frank Mccain,
local president Of the chamber Of
commerce, was elected chairman.
and John Tucker. secretary.
Five men were selected to
frame q resolution condemning the
! proposed change and this was done
} and unanimously passed. Copies Of
this resolution will be mailed all
! commercial groups in northern
=. Washington. The signed copies, to-
gether with one containing the
9 signatures Of all groups. will be
sent to the state highway depart
;, men& at Olympia. another to the
representative Of public roads at
> Portland, and third set to the
bureau OF public roads at Wash
I
a ington. D. G.
= Reasons cited for the change
include q comparison Of the scenic
% merits of the two routes, which was
II really no comparison at all as the
y present course is the most scenic
!. In the state while the proposed
one runs through uncultivated ar.
n cas- OF sagebrush. sand and rocks.
It IL almost uninhabited from Ritz.
:. Vile to Ellensburg. distance Of
4 about one hundred miles.
{. The highway in its present To-
, cation serves areas that have many
:. times more population. wealth and
q tonnage than the area served by
"a the proposed new route. It servel
IL as connecting link with all high
2 ways coming In from the north
n and northeastern portion of the
4. state.
y Another point stressed was tn
y damage that would be done to
"A towns along No. 10 that have beef
m established for the reason that tn
g. federal thoroughfare brings them
,nl tourist trade without which som
,e Of them could not exist. Thes'
N places are entitled to more con
n sheraton than to have the roa'
Ia moved. 1t was stated.
2. In addition to the towns repre-
n. sented at yesterdays meeting 9th
to or towns over a wide area will b
e- urged to Join the organization. Del
b, egates attending yesterday cam
Nv from Davenport, Creston. Wilbur
re Almira, Grand Coulee, Hartlin'
Waterville, Wenatchee and Coule
to City.
ed
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