Evening Republican, Volume 23, Number 29, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 February 1920 — ROAD MEETING HELD SUNDAY [ARTICLE]

ROAD MEETING HELD SUNDAY

L. H. WRIGHT, HIGHWAY COMMISSIONER, GAVE OUTLINE OF STATE’SPLANS. At an impromptu meeting held at the Van Rensselaer club rooms Sunday afternoon, which was attended by taxpayers of Lake, Newton and Jasper counties, L. H. Wright, state highway commissioner, briefly outlined the plans of the commission in the constructing of the state highway which the state of Indiana is to build. Mr. Wright and several others interested in the Snapping out of the best route for the road had passed over the proposed west” route, which goes by the way of Mt. Ayr, after reaching this city, in the forenoon. After a lunch at the Makeever hotel at noon, the party adjourned 'bo the Van Rensselaer club for a short meeting before starting out to view the proposed northern route,, which gives Jasper county much more mileage than does the proposed route by the way of Mt. Ayr. w-Mr. Wright in his brief summary to those gathered for the occasion stated the policies of the commission in the establishing of the route, the approximate cost per mite for the buildihg of the v road and the probable time that would be consumed in constructing it. Mr. Wright declared that politics would play no part in the building of the road and that the highway commission was composed of thorough, conservative men —men lif whom the public could 'place their utmost confidence for a thorough administration. To date, according to Mr. Wright’s statement, there, have*been enough contracts let on the new roads to carry the work well into November, and which will more than dse up the money so far appropriated. It is thought that the cost of construction will exceed the $20,000 which was first estimated, but Mr. Wright stated that money was the Ipst consideration with the taxpayers and that they wanted the road no matter what the cost. In every . section of the state where the road is to pass through, the people are clamoring to Ihave their part of the highway built first. However, the members of the commission will use their own judgment ip the matter of priority. But one hundred and thirty-five ■miles of road will be built this year is the opinion of Mr. Wright, who states that it is hoped to be able to construct the road within five or six years. However, in order to do so the appropriation by the state will have to be raised if such hopse are realized. Following Mr. Wright’s talk, the meeting adjourned and Mr. Wright, accompanied by C. W. Hanley, W. L. Wood, A. Halleck and Ed Nesbitt, of this city, and several from Lake county, including C. P. Fate, Senator Brown, and Representative Otto Fifield, and a few from Newton county, left for-a trip over the northern route which leads to Crown Point. From Rensselaer the party proceeded north to Kersey, west to DeMotte, crossing the river and continuing to a point two miles south of Hebron and then straight west to Orchard Grove, continuing thence to Crown Point. The Rensselaer gentlemen accompanied the party only as far as Orchard Grove. It is not known • which of the routes Mr. Wright was the more impressed with, as he did not commit himself. However, there is some apprehension in local circles and' there are many who feel that ■the commission will lean toward the Mt. Ayr. route. srNewton county was well represented at the meeting and their delegation is working hard to swing the route by the way of. Mt. Ayr. Others feel that neither route as now laid out will be selected but That”there will be a sort of a compromise which will equally distribute the amount of mileage in the two counties. However, no matter what the decision of the commission is, it is felt by aU. that each and every county will be dealt fairly with And and that all will be greatly benefited no matter what route is selected.