Senator Earle's Good Roads Train

SENATOR EARLE'S GOOD ROADS TRAIN

May Pay a Visit to Pittsfield Township

AN ORIGINAL IDEA

Will Put Down Samples of Different Kinds -- Object Lesson for Farmers

The papers of the state have had much to say about Senator H.S. Earle's "Good Roads" movement. This spring he will make a tour with two engines, four dump cars, two sprinklers, a crusher and a grader. Short pieces of road about a furlong in length will be built as samples.

Henry DePue, of Pittsfield, became interested in the matter and the following correspondence ensued:

Ann Arbor, Mich., Feb. 18, 1902.

H.S. Earle, Detroit, Mich.

Dear Sir -- Having seen in the press items of your tour of the state with your good road train, I take the liberty to write you for information regarding your methods and what is required of the farmers along the route.

We have some good roads in our township (Pittsfield) and think we know something about building them, but are anxious to learn all we can and think your system would suit us. We can furnish the crowd to inspect your work and can give you any bill of fare you call for even to "yellow legged chickens or oxtail soup," and will have a press correspondent to write you up a good send-off.

Respectfully,

HENRY DEPUE,

Route 2, Ann Arbor.

Detroit, Mich., Feb. 26, 1902.

Mr. Henry Depue,

Route No. 2, Ann Arbor, Mich.

My Dear Sir -- On my return from a trip "Down East" I find your favor of the 18th, and I want to tell you, that I appreciate that kind of letters, that are not dressed up in so much formality as to freeze one, and so far as I am concerned you and I are friends hereafter, so shake.

Now as to my coming to Pittsfield, I have not made up my exact itinerary yet, but I will put Pittsfield down, and if possible to get there without going too far, I shall only be too glad to do so.

I do not pretend to know all about building roads, but am learning a bit every day, and my going around stirs up the people and makes everyone take an interest in bettering them.

What material have you got there, stone or gravel or both, and will the material be beside the road where we can easily get at it? I like to build a short sample of each, and the users the road see as they skip over these samples in mud times in the spring and fall the worth of better roads, and then can count the cost of bad roads.

As for "send-offs," I don't care a cent for them, but I do like to heave as much in the papers as possible about the needs and the benefits.

Yours very truly,

H.S. EARLE