Show 179 as long as the line was in general use Not until the con- in 1903 did the lake cease to struction of the Lucin Cut-o- ff be a real barrier to westward travelers The southern route— Hastings Cut-o- ff was abandoned entirely until relatively recent times In 1907 the Western Pacific Railroad completed its line to Wendover straight Salt Desert About the same time the automobile beginning to play an important role in American life across the was Soon as autos were edging their way over the old emigrant trails Would the wagons had done many years before ox-dra- wn the long detour to the north? construction on the salt flats proved unOrdinary road-b- ed satisfactory because water filtered through the porous material undermining its surface It was eventually decided automobile be forced to make to dig a trench along the center of the roadbed deep enough to cut through the salt deposit into solid earth below By filling this trench with earth an effective dam stopped all filtering and a solid permanent highway This was not completed ceased to be a 23 Salt until Great Salt Lake then 1925 barrier to travelers Lake Telegram June was constructed 7 1925 |