|
December 2010 Feature
The Relay: Tourists On Time
Spent a Short Time in Harrisonville
Following the Jefferson Highway
“The Jefferson Highway Double Relay Sociability Run,” the first division of which was to arrive in Harrisonville at 10:44 o’clock last Monday morning, was only about one-half hour late on the schedule arranged when the “Run” left Winnipeg, Canada, Monday, May 14.
The local business houses were decorated with flags and bunting and the American and French Flags were run up on the courthouse flagstaff. Bunting was stretched across the street from the south steps of the courthouse to designate the halting place for the “Run”.
 The first motor car contained D. N. Fink of Muskogee, Okla., and E. J. Kling of Nevada, Mo. It was driven by Miss Esther Fields of near Lee’s Summit. The downpour of rain, which had been continuing for some three hours, compelled the crowd to gather in the circuit court room to hear Mr. Fink. He is one of the most enthusiastic good roads “boosters” of Oklahoma. He reminded his listeners that it would require concerted action on the part of those interested and an expenditure of money to get good roads, but that they were the most profitable investments that a community could make.
E. J. Kling, one of the four Missouri Jefferson Highway directors, followed Mr. Fink. He told of the troubles of counties having township organization in getting roads and the vast benefits to be gained by such roads. Messers. Fink and Kling and Miss Fields came from Kansas City by what is known as the “short route” the one between Harrisonville and Lee’s Summit.
The two other official cars came by the way of Pleasant Hill. The one containing the Honorable T. C. Norris, Premier of the Province of Manitoba, Canada, suffered a blow-out near Ore, and the Premier was obliged to take the train to Butler, where a lunch had been arranged for the “Run”.
J. D. Clarkson of Des Moines, Iowa, General Manager of the Jefferson Highway, was in the third car. He was accompanied by the Honorable Frederick H. Davidson, mayor of Winnipeg, Canada. On account of the break in the schedule, the last two official cars made only a few minutes stop, and proceeded to Butler. The whole party was due in Joplin on Monday evening for dinner, and the members were confident they would be there on time.
 The “Run” was very beneficial in keeping alive interest in the Jefferson Highway. In the absence of W. B. Scruggs, president of the Cass County Good Roads Association, Colonel Richard S. Wooldridge, vice-president of the Association, superintended of the town’s decoration and the reception of the guests. Among those of Pleasant Hill accompanying the visitors were:
Mr. And Mrs. George A. Bond, Mrs. A. H. Baldwin, Claude Headen, Roy T. Cloud, William C. Knorpp, R. R. Stillwell, Wirt C. Woodmancy, and Mrs. Ranning of Wichita, Kans. The Pleasant Hill delegation brought bouquets of beautiful roses and carnations which were placed on the speakers’ stand.
Section of Jefferson Highway between Rich Hill and Butler, Missouri, along the route traveled by the Sociability Run of 1917.
Taken from
Cass County Democrat
May 24, 1917
|
