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Show MAKING A NATIONAL ROAD. Wo of Utah are a good deal interested in this trans-continental auto road, wo are just that much interested that wo want tho road to bo through Utah. And it doesn't have to. Wo all ought to recognize that fact. They can go to the north of us, and they can go to tho south. And whorovor they go with thoir Lincoln highway high-way or whatever name is applied to tho rock road across this beautiful republic, inoy will oarry blessings for all tho years of tho measureless, limitless, beautiful future. Now, so far as this state is concornod, tho one BHHHBHBHi motive should bo to give assistance to tho plan, in such a way as will make that highway most usable for the tourist and most advantageous to the people of Utah. That means that wo should let them put thoir road where their best judgment judg-ment dictates, boing careful to lot them judge intelligently. in-telligently. By no means should thoy tako a bad route if thero bo a better available. By no moans should thoy go over ono foot mor.e of desert than Ihoy have to. Tho people who dttvo these transcontinental trans-continental curs are of prominence in their several homes. What they say about a certain state, or a certain sebtion of. it," will be believed. It will fix the status of tho state in tho minds of tho people of thoso communities, and Utah can not afford to have many communities call this a state to bo avoided. No commonwealth can afford af-ford that. If tho route "to tho south of the Great Salt Lake goes through a difficult, an unlovely and a repollant country, and tho route to tho north of Groat Salt Lake goes through a better country, then it is tho duty of all Utah to point those reputation-making tourists to tho bettor way. It is our duty to them, and it is our duty to Utah. No consideration of laying foundation for a highway of local helpfulness will compensate for a bum steer now in the days of formation. It might serve somo local man's personal interest, but it would bo at an expense which in fairness wo cannot justly lay on either tho tourists or the state. Thero is more verdant country for tourists who go west of Salt Lake if thoy go through Salt Lake, Davis, Weber and Box Elder counties than if thoy go through Salt Lake and Tooolo counties to the Nevada line. And ho who writes these perilous words owns a thousand beautiful acres in tho good county of Tooele. Thero is less desert on tho northern route. Thero are farms and gardens and orchards beautiful on this northern north-ern route; and after you get past my land in Tooolo county thoro is only salt beds and a wilderness wild-erness unreclaimablo on tho southern route. It is a northern Paradiso or a southern Sodom. It is green fields and pasturos now on tho north against tho abomination of desolation on tho south. It is mountain scenery and a land that will blossom with an increasing number of homes every year to tho north, and a region repellant through all the years to como on tho south. You sec, it is a question of tho good name of Utah that wo of tho stato aro deciding as wo build the transcontinental highway. Lets's give them the best we have for their interest, and for our own. |