100 years ago: Will new interstate ‘auto road’ go through Lawrence?

From the Lawrence Daily Journal-World for Nov. 14, 1911:

  • “President C. B. Hosford, of the Lawrence commercial club, is in receipt of a letter from Mr. J. Keeley, secretary of the commercial club of Topeka, asking the Lawrence club to assist in bringing the proposed auto road across Kansas through Lawrence and Topeka. Following is the letter: ‘My Dear Sir: You are no doubt aware that there is a concerted effort being made to construct a continuous automobile route from Kansas City west through the state of Kansas to Denver and from there on west to the coast. The agitation has resulted in practically a continuous route from Kansas City to the east coast and there is a great deal of interest in this state at this time…. Recently the cities of Ottawa, Osage City, Council Grove and Herrington have been holding conferences, with a view of establishing a drive from Kansas City… and at a meeting this week they are undertaking to make this drive as the Old Santa Fe Trail thus changing the old historic trail from its proper location which should be from Kansas City through Lawrence, Topeka, Burlingame and Osage City and thence southwest.”
  • “‘There isn’t a better restaurant in Kansas than Ed Anderson’s right here. There is nothing wrong at all there. It is right up to the mark.’ That is what a pure food inspector here recently had to say about Ed Anderson’s restaurant. That wasn’t much news for every one knew that already.”