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Highway 61 correspondence and documents, 1968-1974

1968-03-07 Ft. Madison Evening Democrat: Letter to the Editor

Letter to Editor

3/7/68

Editor Evening Democrat
[Fert?] Madison,

I was quite amused with your editorial February 10 when you spoke about your trip to California. The funny part was when you said, "I just can't get used to driving 65 miles an hour with about two cars lengths between you and the guy ahead and a car in a lane on either side of you." You don't get around very much do you Mr. Editor. Those freeways out of Los Angles aren't anything most of the other big cities don't have. The only thing back east they c a 11 them "Expressways." Boston is all chopped up with them and so is New York. The only thing in New York they won't let you drive is 65.

Washington, D.C, don't like speeders and so they won't have to arrest anyone for speeding they've held back on the expressways. When the government offices are out you drive 10 miles an hour bumper to bumper. But for the ultra in big roads wait, New Jersey is coming up with a 12 laner. You have the best enhance of being run over by a truck on the Pennsylvania toll road. That is what that road is noted for now and often called the "Road of rearend collisions. 

For the best in the high speed roads take Interstate 70 into St. Louis. Those speed signs and yield right away won't have any meaning. They were put up because the road gang was out of work. They can't have police on the road because they would get killed writing out a ticket. I was going to St. Louise one time, I was pushing the "Flying Kate," but the three nuns in the wagon didn't like poking along at 85. They went by me but they were doing better than ninety.

But for a little town Ft. Madison doesn't do bad. Bid trucks often run (Truck Boulevard) Avenue H at night in speeds excess of 60. But the other speedway, the one for the kids, well, there you drive as the kids do. If they want to poke 10 miles an hour they do and if they want to drive 70 they do that too. We don;t pay any attention to 50 mile an hourers anymore. You have to drive that or get run over.

Two weeks ago I was the westend fire truck making a call east and the truck couldn't keep up with two of the cars and a truck tried to crowd the fire engine up on the sidewalk. The fire truck had to make a stop at the Anthes Hotel corner to keep fro hitting a car that wouldn't yield. A year ago the police were making a call east and two cars were within 5 feet of the police car. Work for the Police or Fire Department? A fellow takes his life in his own hands when they make the calls. And the sad part the Mayor and City Council doesn't do a thing about it. A fireman or policeman will have to get killed first, then the city will make an effort.

After the city gets the new highway won't they be in they running. The city wants to run more business up to Burlington. No parking on Avenue H with four lanes, won't it be lovely? You can drive from the cemetery to the west city limits in two minutes. But it will still take you a hour to make a left turn to get on Avenue H. The city never had exactly what would be a traffic problem. And how they wanted one so bad, alow but sure, they are succeeding. 
Two years after they get this super road the city will be a lot smarter than they are now. Now you have the whole thing, Mr. Editor. The boys right here can do anything they can do anywhere else. Drive just as fast and just as reckless. The only reason they can't kill as many as they do down at St. Louis or on the Los Angeles freeways is because we don't have as many cars. And even though we never will, we can make a lot of people set up and take notice. We have some pretty good records now, and one, 36 hit and runs right here in the 400 block since they made it a one way. But that won't be nothing wait 'till we got our new highway. We'll show 'em.

Thomas A. Williams
425 Avenue G
Ft. Madison.

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Letter to Editor 3/7/68 Editor Evening Democrat [Fert?] Madison, I was quite amused with your editorial February 10 when you spoke about your trip to California. The funny part was when you said, "I just can't get used to driving 65 miles an hour with about two cars lengths between you and the guy ahead and a car in a lane on either side of you." You don't get around very much do you Mr. Editor. Those freeways out of Los Angles aren't anything most of the other big cities don't have. The only thing back east they c a 11 them "Expressways." Boston is all chopped up with them and so is New York. The only thing in New York they won't let you drive is 65. Washington, D.C, don't like speeders and so they won't have to arrest anyone for speeding they've held back on the expressways. When the government offices are out you drive 10 miles an hour bumper to bumper. But for the ultra in big roads wait, New Jersey is coming up with a 12 laner. You have the best enhance of being run over by a truck on the Pennsylvania toll road. That is what that road is noted for now and often called the "Road of rearend collisions. For the best in the high speed roads take Interstate 70 into St. Louis. Those speed signs and yield right away won't have any meaning. They were put up because the road gang was out of work. They can't have police on the road because they would get killed writing out a ticket. I was going to St. Louise one time, I was pushing the "Flying Kate," but the three nuns in the wagon didn't like poking along at 85. They went by me but they were doing better than ninety. But for a little town Ft. Madison doesn't do bad. Bid trucks often run (Truck Boulevard) Avenue H at night in speeds excess of 60. But the other speedway, the one for the kids, well, there you drive as the kids do. If they want to poke 10 miles an hour they do and if they want to drive 70 they do that too. We don;t pay any attention to 50 mile an hourers anymore. You have to drive that or get run over. Two weeks ago I was the westend fire truck making a call east and the truck couldn't keep up with two of the cars and a truck tried to crowd the fire engine up on the sidewalk. The fire truck had to make a stop at the Anthes Hotel corner to keep fro hitting a car that wouldn't yield. A year ago the police were making a call east and two cars were within 5 feet of the police car. Work for the Police or Fire Department? A fellow takes his life in his own hands when they make the calls. And the sad part the Mayor and City Council doesn't do a thing about it. A fireman or policeman will have to get killed first, then the city will make an effort. After the city gets the new highway won't they be in they running. The city wants to run more business up to Burlington. No parking on Avenue H with four lanes, won't it be lovely? You can drive from the cemetery to the west city limits in two minutes. But it will still take you a hour to make a left turn to get on Avenue H. The city never had exactly what would be a traffic problem. And how they wanted one so bad, alow but sure, they are succeeding. Two years after they get this super road the city will be a lot smarter than they are now. Now you have the whole thing, Mr. Editor. The boys right here can do anything they can do anywhere else. Drive just as fast and just as reckless. The only reason they can't kill as many as they do down at St. Louis or on the Los Angeles freeways is because we don't have as many cars. And even though we never will, we can make a lot of people set up and take notice. We have some pretty good records now, and one, 36 hit and runs right here in the 400 block since they made it a one way. But that won't be nothing wait 'till we got our new highway. We'll show 'em. Thomas A. Williams 425 Avenue G Ft. Madison.