Jasper County Democrat, Volume 18, Number 23, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 June 1915 — THE "DUSTLESS AIK ROUTE” [ARTICLE]

THE "DUSTLESS AIK ROUTE”

Was “Built” Up Through North Ja-s----per and Lake County Saturday. Several autombbite loads of enthusiasts from Frankfort and Lafayette, joined at Rensselaer by Mayor Spitler, E. P. Honan and several others, including the Rensselaer band, went over the proposed line of theformer “Dixie Highway,’’ now to be known as the “Dustless Air Line Route,” from Rensselaer uP through Lake county, Saturday. Speaking of the trip the Lafayette Journal says: __—■ . f ■’ “The Dustless Air Line is the name of the great automobile route from Chicago to Indianapolis by way of Lafayette. Within the next sixty days it is expected that every foot of this highway will have been oiled, making it the longest single stretch of oiled roadway in the United States. The distance is 194 miles as the Ford rambles. “The completion of the work will be celebrated by a tour of the road in which scores of machines will bo in line and a celebration will be held from one end of the road to the other. A number of automobile manufacturers and others interested in road improvement will participate in the great parade. “Interest in the project is constantly increasing and every counry interested is pledged to complete the work at the earliest possible moment. A splendid meeting was held at Cedar Lake, Saturday. A fish dinner was served by the Commercial Club of Crown Point, and plans discussed after which the entir.e party made a tour of Lake county, visiting Crown Point, Hammond, East Chicago, Indiana Harbor, Gary and other points. More than forty machines made the trip from Cedar Lake. “At the Cedar Lake meeting Prof. George E. Martin made a. talk on “Good Roads.” Committees in each county were appointed to oversee the work of improving the roads and Prof. Martin was chosen chairman of this general committee. “The Rensselaer band accompanied the boosters from that city and played concerts in each of the cities visited. Many of the county commissioners from the various counties were in attendance. Boone county was not represented, but sent word that they were to be counted in on any action which was taken and that they were ready to do their part. “Lafayette was represented by Albert V. Weigel, Peter .1. Wa .1. C. F. Redinbo, David Boyle, Thomas Follen, Ed Watson, Daniel Harrington, George D. Franklin, George Barton, Prof. George E. Martin, Thomas J. Gwin and James Withrow. Frankfort was represented by Mayor Oliver Bard, city surveyor Robert Boynton, County Surveyor Guy L. Brewer, Commissioner Robert Gable, Charles McQuinn and John Shank, Frank Coulter, Frank Davis, Albert Ayers and E. B. Stroup, secretary of the Frankfort Chamber of Commerce. The Frankfort men came here early by automobile and joined the Lafayette boosters, the party leaving here about 9 o’clock. “Those who made the trip from this city covered about 250 miles and received a splendid reception at every stop. The Dustless Air Line is to be the finest stretch of roadway in the middle west. The route has been recommended to those \Vho will make the trip to the Chicago speedway Saturday from Indianapolis and points south, which is sufficient evidence that it is not only the shortest but best route regardless of the decision of the Dixie highway commission. Indianapolis and Chicago papers give detailed descriptions of the distances and turns to be followed between every city and town.”