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Show Nevada Paper Gives Review Of Highway 6 (The folowing article is copied from the Fallon Standard, weekly newspaper at Fallon, Nevada. C. H. Smith, managing editor, was in Delta earlier this fall on his first strip over this portion of Highway High-way 6 gathering information for the article. His main effort, he said, is -to build up among business men and readership more interest in highway and travel development.) Nevada communities along three routes fanning out west and south of Ely are looking forward to a considerable increase in tourist travel as a result of completion next year of the last remaining link of U. S. 6 west of Delta, Utah. So are Delta and Spanish Fork, which have been denied benefits from west bound travel because Utah didn't want tourists to get out of the state before visiting Salt Lake City and towns to the south along U. S. 91 through Cedar City and St. George. For many years the more populous popu-lous portions of Utah have dictated dic-tated where the state's portion of founds for federal - aid highways should be spent. That wasn't on another route that would lead trav el west. Spanish Fork, Delta and intervening inter-vening communities, likewise central cen-tral Nevada towns, however, wanted wan-ted a share in the gas tax revenue and the average o'l $25 a day per car spent by tourists. With Utah dead-ending the high way 6 a few miles west of Delta, the only out was to get a special appropriation of federal funds on the premise that a single state should not be allowed to block completion of an important transcontinental trans-continental route. The fight for this accomplishment accomplish-ment to materialize in 1952 goes back many years. Many towns and many individuals have had a hand in it, but those in Ely, Delta and Spanish Fork, working through their Chambers of Commerce, stand out. One of the earliest pioneers in this effort was I. H. Kent of Fallon. Fal-lon. One of his main efforts was building up the old Lincoln high- ! way, but his choice of an outlet ! to the east was over the old Good- year cut-off. In later years he very reluctantly agreed to placing U. S. 50 signs between Salt Lake City and Wendover along with the U. S. 40 designation. The plan to extend U. S. 6 on west from Delta came up later. Delta pioneers were for it from the time that town was a railroad hamlet centering a new irrigation district just in the making. Ely was equally interested. Other Oth-er Nevada towns saw the possibilities. possib-ilities. Tourists headed for the San Francisco area would save 120 miles instead of going around by Salt Lake City by U. S. 50 from Ely west throueh Fallon and oast Lake Tahoe. Ohers with southern California their destination could save mileage by continuing on U. S. 6 through Tonopah to Bishop, Calif., and thence south, or they could head south on U. S. 93 from Ely and reach Los Angeles via Las Vegas. Of the three routes out of Ely, U. S. 50 would have the greater gains in travel. Fallon, Carson City, Austin and Eureka joined up to support Ely and Detla in the effort, ef-fort, as did Tonopah and towns south on, U. S. 9 3. The Pioneer i Highways Association was formed i with LeRoy Casady of Austin its president. Ely had a Chamber leader in Wayne Seacrist who really went to work. He made trips along the transcontinental route to its east- ! era terminal on Cape Cod, later i becoming national secretary of V. I S. 6 association. (The present Ely ! Chamber manager recently made a similar trip to help promote interest in-terest in travel development along ' the route.) After organization of the Chamber at Fallon, manager William Petherbridge added his efforts ef-forts and his influence through various connections. The federal appropriation to build 51 miles of new highway west of Delta was supported by the Nevada delegation In congress. Its completion was promised this year, but there was a slow start. Meanwhile 41 miles of the 92 between Delta and the Nevada state line had been built. Eighteen ; miles from the west end of the pavement was recently completed, j (Continued on back page) Highway 6 but this can't be traveled. It takes a course around the south of Saw Tooth mountain but the excellent roadway heads into miles of new construction. Ray Gillis, Utah State Road Engineer, En-gineer, recently reported to one of the early highway enthusiasts at Delta, former County Commissioner Commission-er Will Killpack. The Clyde Construction Con-struction Co., it was promised, would have the remaining 33 Vi miles graded, graveled and ready for travel by January 1, weather permitting. The company has until next sum mer to complete the job, but it is believed the plantmix asphalt will be applied as soon as weather permits in the spring. This will complete the remaining remain-ing link of one of America's most important transcontinental high -ways and the shortest from coast to coast. Recent improvements have stepped step-ped up travel during the past summer sum-mer despite the 51 miles of old roadway around the north of the mountains. Strangers who are. irritated ir-ritated unless they drive on boulevards, boule-vards, say the rocks tear their tires to pieces, wreck their springs. Others said the old road isn't so bad. A Fallon man, with some misgivings, mis-givings, recently tackled this stretch stret-ch starting ten miles west of Delta. Had he hit up to 50 to 60 mph he might have had tire trouble. Taking Tak-ing the 51 miles in stride he made It in 1 hour, 33 minutes - - a considerable time saving rather than the extra 120 miles way way of Salt Lake City. Instead of the barren desert wastes was-tes expected, the trip from the Delta alfalfa seed growing empire ' to the state line was scenic, in the grandeur of towering cliffs, spectacular geological formations and amazing distances. This area has been nationally publicized in magazine articles by Frank Beck- with, Sr., publisher of the Delta Chronicle who died three months ago. In anticipation of more travel with completion of U. S- 6, new motels are going up in towns along al-ong the route and others connecting connect-ing In Nevada. Spanish Fork has top-notch motor courts with more in prospect. Mr. Will Killpack in Delta has a hostelry for tourists that is equalled in but few larger centers in the West. Another motel there is due for early construction. Ely has a supply of hotels and motels to satisfy the most partic-, partic-, ular travelers. Charley Mc Kay of Fallon, Dixie Valley and Eureka is building a group of apartments for tourists. The King Motel at Austin, where there are two hotels, hot-els, has made some improvements and another motor court, it is reported, re-ported, is to be built later. Both Fallon and Carson City are well supplied to look after the comfort of travelers, but more may be need ed with the completion of the last link in U. S. 6 with motorists seeking seek-ing the shortest and the more scenic route to the California coast. |