1957-01-03; Clare Sentinel

              Established 1878
$2.50 ;:Y<?»r in Clare,, Isabella Counties
CLARE, MlOHIQA.N> f HURSDAY JANUARY 3,1957
Teh Cents Copy-
New Series, Vol. 85, No. 16
Scores of business associates and
friends of Alfred J. Doherty from
throughout Mchigan joined his
family arid fellow townsmen to pay
last respects at funeral services for
him here Wednesday. Mr, Doherty
died last Saturday in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, where he und Mrs.
Doherty were vacationing.
Mourning crowds filled the Congregational Church in silent respect to the memory of one of
Clare's leading men, and one widely known and respected' in Michigan business and political circles.
Mr, ahd Mrs, Doherty had arrived in Florida in mid-December,
but he entered a hospital soon afterwards for treatment of a. recurring heart condition. Complications
proved fatal.
Mr, Doherty was a member of
one of Clare's older families and
was a co-partner in the hotel ownership firm. In past years he had
been active and influential in Michigan Republican politics.
State hotel men honored Mr.
Doherty in the 1930s with their
choice of him for their association
president for two years, the only
time this office was given to one
man for succeeding terms.
Earl Johnson, of Houghton Lake,
president of the Michigan Hotel
Association led a group of members in that group who attended
the rite for Mr. Doherty,
Two brothers and one sister preceded Mr. Doherty in death. They
were Floyd, Frank, and Mrs. William H. Bieknell.
Surviving are his widow, Mrs,
Doherty, one son A. J, Doherty,
3rd., three  daughters, Mrs. Harry
Urge Fees
For Use Of
State Parks
The Michigan Tourist Council at
its December meeting in Lansing
urged consideration of "reasonable lees" to help provide funds
for an adequate and sustained
parks program.
"The need is obvious," said Robert W. Budd of Detroit, "* Council
chairman. "Michigan's parks are
an essential part of the state's
tourist business. If we are to
continue selling our state as a recreation and vacation wonderland
our product must measure up to
those  of other states and areas."
"Our parks are part and parcel
of our vacation package," Mr.
Budd said, "and no group is. more
aware than tlie Tourist Council of
the need for more and improved
recreational areas. A means must
be found to increase the effective
maintenance and continued development of existing parks, and to
acquire additional park land if
we are to keep abreast of the
steady rise in competition for the
tourist dollar.
"If state monies are not available, urgency dictates that other
avenues must be explored. If this
is the case, a reasonable visitors'
fee should be considered."
Tlie Tourist Council also gave its
support to the $30,000 historic
sites registration and marking
program of the Michigan Historical Commission.
At the same time, the Council
urged the expansion of the tourist
and resort extension service offered by Michigan State University,
recommending the addition ot
eight field men to the university
staff.
During an afternoon hearing on
the proposed closing of the Council's tourist information offices in
Detroit and Chicago, representatives of the West Michigan Tourist association urged that the&e
/offices be maintained permanently ... or at least until the new program is in effect.
Closing of the metropolitan centers is part of the Council's plan-
to change the emphasis of its information program from service to
selling.
The Council agreed to maintain
the offices until its new program
is in operation.
Under the new information distribution plan, the intent of which,
was endorsed by the WMTRA- delegation, the Chicago and Detroit
offices would be replaced by two
"vacation salesmen" who will
contact industrial employers, labor groups, transportation companies, travel bureaus, editors and
ether groups and agencies with
distribution facilities for Michigan's vacation sales material.
Wehrly, of Midland, Mrs, Donald
Mcltinnon, of Detroit, and Mrs.
William Moore, of Detroit, There
arei". twelve grandchildren and ■ one
great-grandchild, "
High este'em. of'Clare people for
Mr, .'Doherty was bespoken by floral tributes which filled the church.
Services wei'e conducted by Rev.
H. B. Johnson, a former pastor of
the Claris... Congregational Church.
Pallbearer's were Stuart Bieknell,
Arthur Da'moth, Tim Cotter, James
Olson, Harold- Fleming, and O. D.
Bayes,   - .,
The DOlierty Funeral Home was
in charge; of arrangements, and
burial was in Cherry Grove "cemetery*. -   . "    ■■,.      . >
For "B" Lead
After a holiday rest of two weeks
in basketball competition, the six
schools of the Mid-Michigan "B"
Conference will launch an all out
attack to determine who will take
over first place in the standings.
The :Clare-Shepherd game, which
will be played at. Clare, .Friday,
January 4 will- over-shadow all
other-conference games, These two
teams which are tied for first
place in the standings are undefeated in conference play.
The Clare Pioneers have the
material of a great team, but they
need the snpOrt of a huge crowd
to pep them up. Fans are urged to
mark Friday evening as a time to
come and watch CHS battle Shepherd for undisputed possession of
the league lead.
Admitted To
State Bar
Donald B. Holbrpok, Jr., was- admitted to the practice of law in a
ceremony Monday before a packed
courtroom audience of close relatives and friends, and 30 distinguished members of the legal fraternity from Clare, Isabella aud
Midland counties.. He had recently
passed liis Bar examination aftei
earning his law degree from Wayne State University.
The swearing-in ceremony was
an event of very special pleasure
for Circuit Judge. .Donald E. Holbrook, who presided on the bench
to receive the motion of admittance delivered by his brother, and
the uncle of the applicant, T. Carl
Holbrook, Grand Ledge attorney,
on the staff of Michigan's Attorney
General.
The younger Mr. Holbrook stood
with upraised , hand; before his
father to repeat his -oath and then
was seated again as the Court listened to speeches of congratulations and welcome from selected
spokesmen from Bar Associations
in Clare, Isabella^ and Midland
counties, comprising the Twenty-
First Judicial District of. Michigan. Harold Hughes represented
the Clare County Bar.
Congratulatory remarks were also offered by District State Bar
Commissioner Edward N. Lynch, of
Mt. Pleasant, and by Attorney Don
Connor, of Midl&nd representing
the legal staff of Dow corporation.
First to congratulate her husband after the ceremonies in his
honor, was the young attorney's
wife, Mrs, Pat Holbrook. She witnessed the ceremony along with
Mrs, Donald E. Holbrook Sr., Don's
riiother, Mr. and Mrs. Lester Cox,
parents of the younger Mr. Hol-
brook's wife, and Mrs. Ruth. Hach-
muth, Mr. Holbrook's grandmother.
His grandmother Holbrook was unable to attend on account of illness.
Seventy guests attended a luncheon at the Doherty Hotel in honor
of the newly admitted lawyer,
REPORT from LANSING
by
RUSSELL H.
STRANGE
JUNIOR
STATE REPRESENTATIVE
Beginning this Week I will have
the privilege of making a series of
weekly reports to you concerning
our state government with emphasis on the legislative branch.
The scope of these articles will be
broad, touching on some of our
state problems, discussing the pros
and cons of various proposed solution and the occasional interjection of a personal note relative to
the life of .your Sta,te Representative while in Lansing,
This space has been contributed
by the editor of this paper as a
public service. Their intent is to
bring about a better understanding
and knowledge of our state government.
So as not to abuse privilege
granted by this newspaper, this
column will avoid the discussion
of partisan issues and personalities. Although at times it may be
difficult to distinguish between
partisan and rural-urban issues, no
deliberate attempt will be made to
take unfair advantage of the opposition.
There will be times when this
-M
To Feature
Quartette
At Herriek
Sunday evening, January 6, will
tie a time for Singing at the Herriek Church, 3 miles east from
Clare, Good old fashioneel country
style gospel singing.
Also Special Music will be given
by a Male Quartet from Pigeon,
Michigan.
Service begins at 8 p.m. Every
body welcome.
|  On Inside Pages   j
The swish of arrows passing
does not frighten the steady-nerved
snowshoe hare, so archers hunting
them have a chance for several
shots, a. U of M specialist says.
Story page 8.
Increasing creel limits on blue-
gills is recommended by the Michigan Conservation people to reduce
the overcrowding problem in many
Michigan lakes. Story page S.
Farming is an accident-prone
business for owner and hired man
alike, and farmers should know
their liability in case of accident.
See page 9.
Christmas was a time for big
family gatherings in many Farwell
homes. See story oil page 7.
The Harrison Study Club heard
Uta Schweyer tell of- Christmas
customs in lier Austrian homeland
at a recent meeting. Page- 2.
Several Lake families had family
Christmas celebrations made complete by servicemen home on leave.
Page 2.
Mr. Dalton Clark, of Canada, a
Christmas dinner guest at the Ro-
binette home, commented that
there had been' a few changes in
Clare since' he saw it last fifty
years ago. Story page 5.
The Clare Study Club will elect
officers at its dinner meeting at
the Methodist Church .January 8.
Story page 3,
writer will feel that it is necessary to clarify his party's stand
on certain partisan issues. These
messages, however, will appear outside of this column and will be
presented iu the form of "Letters
to the Editor".
Constructive suggestions pertaining to these articles and my actions in the House of Representatives will always be welcome. And
it is sincerely hoped that this
column will be of value to you in
discussing Michigan's state government and its problems.
Present Film,
Revivals Start
At UB Church
The Rev. Galen Colclesser, Assistant to the president of Huntington College, Huntington, Indiana will present a Bible Lands
travelogue at Brown Corners United Brethren In Christ Church on
Sunday, January 6,. 1957 at S:00
p.m.
Revival meetings Will begin at
the Brown Corners United Brethren Church, January 7, at S:00
p.m. Rev. W. 0. Season of Lansing will be the Evangelist.
Rev. Beason is a very successful
pastor in Lansing aild has served
as Camp meeting evangelist several times.
i^^^^i
Harrison News
2
Lake Ne\vs
2
Society News
3
Supervisors proe'dgs,
4-9
City Breifs-
5
Farwell News
7
Want Ads v Notices
S-9
Comics .
9
Vernon City
10
Three members of Clare's
four man city police force
came on duty New Year's Eve,
girded for trouble. But with all
three on the job all night,
there were no arrests to make,
and no accidents to police, on
slippery Clare streets during
the usually high-keyed holiday
evening. The officers allow it
must be some kind of record of
motorist good-conduct.
Local bowlers finished off the
first half of their season this week
Teams leading their respective leagues are O'Laughlin Funeral Home,
K of C No. 1, Scliaeffer's Dairy,
Dunlop's, Ford-o-Matics, and Gateway Lanes, City bowling tournament entry deadline is midnight
on Monday, January 7, Entries may
be turned in at either Gateway
Lanes, or Clare Alleys, or to Association Secretary Paul Schroeder,
Baby Susart
Is Little    4
Little Miss -1957, for jth'e Clftrg
area- is baby Susan. , Elizabethj.
Myers, who checked in at Clare
General Hospital, at 12:35,a,ni.>0n
New Year'.s Day.     „ .<?. -
Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Myers,: of
R-4, Clare, are Susan's proud parents, A preliminary check of IlW
pitai nearby showed that the baby
is apparently the first child born in
the New Year for' this, immediate
Central Michigan area.
Baby Susan was given a $25 .savings bond by the "Clare Hospital-
She and her mother were reported
doing very, very nicely.
Question-
Answer Time
At Farm Week
Visitors" to the 1957 Farmers'
Week at Michigan State University will be able to use the.ir time
efficiently in learning the latest
tips and views on farm, production, marketing and many* other
subjects.
The event will be held frgm
January 28 through February 1
on the MSU campus at East Lansing.
General sessions lasting about
a half-hour will begin at 1 p.m.
on Tuesday, Wednesday and
Thursday. In all other sessions,
extension and research specialists
from the University will speak
about and answer questions oil
current problems and developments in agriculture.
At Thursday's general session,
three outstanding leaders of Michigan agriculture will receive a
"Distinguished Service to Agriculture"- award.
These leaders are Stanley M.
Powell, Ionia, who is legislative
lepresentative for the Michigan
Farm Bureau and a member of
the executive committee of the
Michigan State Grange; Harry E.
Rohlfs, Akron, certified seed
grower and active in many agricultural organizations; and Erich
Kerlikowske, Coloma, fruit grower who has been a leader in many
Michigan horticultural groups, >•  ;
John A. Hannah, president of
MSU, will preside at the Thurs*
day session and Gov. G. Mennen
Williams-will deliver the main address.
At the general sessions on Tuesday and Wednesday, the theme of
Farmers' Week, "Blueprint for
Tomorrow's Agriculture," will-.be
dramatized in a special pageant.
All programs during the week
will be built around that theme as
a joint effort with the plans recently developed by the state's
farm organizations to make Michigan agriculture one of the most
progressive and prosperous in the
nation.
Visitors will be able to buy a"
box lunch in the new Anthony
Hall during each noon hour before
attending the general sessions in
the  building's  auditorium.
In a new animal husbandry presentation, MSU specialists will
demonstrate how to judge carcass
desirability of beef cattle and
hogs  through   on-foot   appearance.
Many departmental exhibits will
be displayed in Macklin stadium
and the auditorium visitors will
also have a choice to inspect the
universty's   livestock   facilities.
parley Sowle
itedAs
See Driver
Training As
Hopeful Sign
Fifty-one per cent of the public
high schools in' the United States
now prp.vide driver education,
which the National Safety Council
declares is one of the most promising methods to reduce the traffic accident toll.
At the end of the 1948-49 school
year, only 29 per cent of the nation's public high schools offered
driver education, according to the
Council. -
Recognition of the importance of
driver education has been gowing
among educators and parents, the
Council states, with many women's
club and parent-teacher organizations taking the lead.
Good Driver
Harley Sowle, of Clare, familial'
for over thirty years to rural
route mail patrons .out of Clare,
Was cited for safe driving in a
ceremony held at the Clare post
office; Friday  afternoon
The ceremony, where gifts
were presented to Mr, Sowle
from local merchants in recognition of his years of careful, courteous driving, came as a complete
surprise to the. popular Clare post
office employee.
Michigan State Police from the
Mt. Pleasant post, Clare Police
Chief William Cook, and coworkers at the Post Office saw
Mr. Sowle receive gifts from local
merchants.
' Lee Sowle, son of the, honored
driver, was present to take pictures. Mt. Pleasant radio tape
recorded the interview with Mr.
Sowle for broadcast this" week".
Postmaster Frank Jackson, Chiei
Cook, and the State Troopers, all.
praised Mr. Sowle's good driving
iit the interview. '   '
From a. gold embossed album,'
enclosing pictures of Mr. Sovvle
at all stages of bis career, a brief
story of his life was recalled. The
album was presented to Mr. Sowle
along with the rest of the gifts.
j Among Mr. Sowle's other gifts,
"given him by Clare merchants,
were an occasional chair, a complete ; first aid kjjt, a basket of
fruit, "and dinner, motel and gasoline certificates.
Postmaster Jackson has annouc-
ed that twelve postal vehicle
drivers in Clare will begin the New
Year with a fresh look toward
highway safety.
All Clare postal drivers have
qualified for the- new U. S. Government Vehicle Operator's Identification Card which is required by a
Law passed by Congress last
Spring.
Road tests, physical examinations, and safe driver training culminated the intensive safety program in the Post Office Department, All postal drivers in the
Chicago Region, which embraces
the States of Illinois and Michigan,
including rural carriers, now have
qualified by taking the comprehensive tests.
When the program is completed
nationwide, all of the Postal Department's 96,000 vehicle operators,
largest fleet of automobile drivers
in the land, will have taken the
exams. Collectively it is the biggest
safety campaign ever accomplished
in America.
Clare postal drivers have learned
to appreciate that safety consciousness is being recognized by compliments rather than by complaints, lodged by patrons. The
drivers are instructed that courtesy is contagious and that postal
vehicles have -no special traffic
privileges but must conform to
local, county, state and federal
laws.
The program toward controlling
needless accidents has had a favorable effect on the traffic toll.
Art Students
To Begin Work
Mrs. Virginia Seitz will organize
a new adult art class for beginners
starting the second week in January. Classes will meet either Wednesday or Friday afternoons from-
1:30 to 3:30 for" a ten week series.
Classes are limited to six students so that each^person may receive adequate individual training..
Anyone interested in the new class
should call Mrs. Seitz before Saturday, January 5, and specify which
afternoon they prefer.
Mrs, Seitz also said she would
like to see a men's art group, activated locally. Generally speaking,
she said, men turn out to be more
successful artists than women because they tend to select subject
matter more imaginatively and to
render it less traditionally.
Business and professional men
interested in forming an evening
class to meet once a week for ten
weeks should also call Mrs. Seitz
at her home.
For the past four years, Mrs.
Seitz has been directing classes for
local artists. Work by her students
has been entered and won recognition in Saginaw, Ann Arbor and
Detroit exhibits. The local Fall exhibit in Clare draws hundreds of
spectators annually.
Committee Okays Plans
And Site For School Unit
Boy Killed
As Dad's Car
Overturns
Twelve-year-old Allen Deger of
St. Johns, was killed Sunday afternoon when the car in which he was
riding with his parents hii; a patch
of.ice on the Cranberry Lake road,
near Harrison and overturned in a
ditch,
The boy's father, Dennis Deger.
a St. Johns implement dealer, was
driving when the accident occurred
twp miles north of Harrison, and
one mile east, at about 4:30 pan.
The Degers were returning home
to St, Johns after spending the day
at their family cottage on Cranberry Lake. New Clare County
Sheriff James Darling investigated
the accident.
Continue Study This Week Of High Schooj;
Other Items In Proposed Building Progratti
Citizens School Advisory Committee members gave their unanimous approval last-week to a proposal for building a small elementary school at Clare's northwest
edge. Specific advice to the school
board was to purchase ten acres
available in the city's now Brook-
wood subdivision.
Construction of the early elementary school unit was an original idea contained in Mr. Clark
Ackley's architect survey report
to the Clare School Board early
in December. The plot of land likely to become the site of the school
is now held under 60-day option by
the Board, and is located just off
John R street a distance of about
four blocks straight west of US-27,
Owners of the land, William and
Tom McConica have set the price
at $1,000, per acre.
The new school unit for kindergarten-through-fourth grade pupils
is the answer to the nrgent necessity for classroom space.
City Manager Rates
Off-Street Parking
As Top 1957 Goal
A 1957 work program for the
city of Clare, along with operating
and expansion recommendations
for the year were offered to members of the Clare City Commission
this week, in a letter submitted to
them by City Manager Willard
Wedge.
In outlining projects for 1957,
Mr, Wedge put further work on off-
street parking at the head of the
list, mentioning also the enlargement of the city's parking lot opposite City Hall, Widening US-10
east aufl west from McEwan Street
was also listed.
Also to receive attention in the
coming year are replacement of defective sidewalks throughout the
city, and construction of the extension of BeaVerton Road, from Cedar Street to North US-27.
Mr, Wedge reminded in his letter to the commission that the present fire hall is inadequate to properly house fire equipment and
that office space for city employees
is crowded. He urged that additional space be provided for both in
the coming year.
- The city manager also suggested
that another patrolman be added
to the Clare City Police department, and that its headquarters
space be enlarged.
In other areas, he recommended
the purchase and installation of a
pump and construction of housing
for it at the new Water Well number 4.
He also put extension of water
mains from the new well to US-27
and to Seventh Street on this
year's work list, along with replacement of wooden water mains
on West Seventh aud West Second
Streets. The city's elevated water
tank in the park should be cleaned,
painted and repaired too, Mr.
Wedge said.
Sanitary sewer construction on
US-27 to Wilcox Parkway and on
Wilcox Parkway east as well as in
proposed Vandewarker and Foell
subdivisions will be requested in
1957.
In addition, a storm sewer will
be necessary to service proposed
high school grounds and athletic
field, the city manager said. He recommended purchase of sewer
cleaning equipment, and proposed
cleaning of both storm and -sanitary sewers.
Among the city's heavy equipment, the big hoe used for ditch
digging, and the dirt loader are
both ready for extensive overhaul
and possible replacement this year,
Mr. Wedge said.
Another recommendation was for
a charter amendment to provide
pay for city commissioners to be
submitted to the voters. He also
urged that city ordinances be revised and brought up to date, and
extra copies provided.
.In the same report, work com
pleted and new equipment purchased during the 1956 by the City
of Clare were reviewed for the city
commission.
New equipment purchased included a dump truck,, a new police
car, a street sweeper, a steam
cleaner, two voting machines, an
addressograph machine and plates
for it.
During 1956, nearly a mile of new
curb and gutter.was installed. 24,
000 square yards of seal coat were
applied to streets, and,, several
other streets were widened; aw
graveled, ready for seal coat.
New storm, sewers were constructed on Dunlop Road, Glendale
and Rainbow Drive, John R. and
Mary Streets, and six inch storm
sewer on Pine Street was replaced
with ten inch.
Wa*er mains were extended on
Prairie and Eastwood Drive, and
old mains were replaced on East
First, East Seventh, East Sixth,
and East US-10.
A new, 12-inch water well was
drilled on city property on Beaverton Road, and 2,000 feet of eight
inch transit pipe was purchased to
connect the new well with existing
mains.
Sanitary sewers were constructed on East US-10, and Eastwood
Drive. Brine was spread on all
gravel streets to lay the dust.
Space for Clare to grow in was
acquired when the city commission
accepted Brookwood Subdivision
and an assessors plat of the Dwyer
property, besides annexing a piece
of city owned property. Two other
plats are under consideration.
Fifty building permits, issued for
residences, commercial buildings
and alterations, repairs and minor
buildings, were valued at $812,500.
Work on securing property for
off street parking was started, and
one new ordinance was adopted,
besides an amendment to existing
ordinance No. 22.
To consider and transact the
year's business 24 regular and
three special meetings of the City
Commission were held in 1956.
New Office Hours
For Revenue Agent
U. S. Internal Revenue Agent
Marvin Gray, of the field office in
Mt. Pleasant has announced a new
work schedule there. The office
will be open three days each week
Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays
from S a.m. until 4 p.m. The Office
is closed on Saturdays.
Special schedule changes for the
last week before income tax deadline in April, will be announced.
Mr. Gray said.
The office is now located at 115
E. Illinois street, aud the phone
number is SP 31-171. >
Not   so   willing,   however,   was
committee acceptance of the architect's ideas for high school puildj.
ing construction. r
After four hours of group discussion in .which Mr. Ackley took the
floor to explain main points 'of ^a
tentative buildjng plan, the com4
mittee postponed action on the program pending further study. Another meeting has been called.for
tonight (Thursday) at 8 o'clock
in the school, ,
Chief among questions raised last
week were the seeming -disregard
for .specific recommendations from
a Building plan subcommittee and,
details of how layouts of the original 600-student high school would
be altered to fit revised planning
for a 450-student school plant,    '_
Committee members were sho^'n
first-draft layout plans of the n&w
schools along with artist's sketches
of finished appearance, and an
area map on which was located
more of the proposed early elementary schools to be considered in the
future.
A kindergarten - through - fourth
grade unit school of the kind recommended for de - centralizing
Clare's system, contains classrooms and a. multi-purpose, room,
office space and heating plant. It
is described as a "core" unit' because it is self contained at the
first as well as easily expanded
when the need arises.
Such a unit, built of modern fireproof brick, and finished and equipped equal to the present school's
elementary wing is said to cost
around $150,000., including land
cost.
Some Advisory Committee members are reported ready to initiate
action in a separate project for
financing and construction of this
northwest elementary school unit
if progress is held up on the larger
total school construction program.
It has been pointed out that division of the program into two separate projects does not mean abandonment of the high school building plan, but may be a means of
avoiding delay for the elementary
unit during time' required* for fur"
ther study of the high school construction project.
A picture of what the modern,
new high school for thiB district
Would be like was given the com
mittee by sketches, architect's
drawings, and explanatory remarks
by Mr. Ackley.
Located in a rather angling
"crescent" position on a leveled
ridge of land, the building is given
the advantage of natural ground
elevation, it is of bi-level construction. ,
Classrooms are grouped in areas
according to related subjects offered for s'tudy. In one such class
area, students learn English languages, social studies. Slightly separated in a different group of roOnis,
science, mathematics and related
subjects are taught. In yet aubther
classroom area, students are offered domestic science courses in
homemakiug, shop classes, agriculture.
Committee members were quick
to recognize the value of new ideas
in building layout .which allows
class grouping for efficient use of
library space, project areas ,and
convenience in between-class traffic.
Allowances were made in the
preliminary plans, for parking
areas.
The proposed auditorium, gymnasium, aud swim pool are located
near together at ope end of the
building.
Estimating the cost of the district's proposed building program,
the following item-by-item breakdown is given by the architect:
New Elementary
Building $ 110,000.00
Land Cost 33,000.00
Remodel Present High
School 20,000.00
New HS Building 850,006.06- .
Equipment 50,000 J.0/
Fees 60$#6.00
Landscaping &
Contingencies 25,000.00
$1,148,000.00
Swimming Pool ' 100,000.00
Auditorium 126,000.00
$1/368,000,00
Straits Span On Schedule; '57 Opening Planned
The conclusion of the third yeai
jf construction finds the Mackinac
Bridge on or ahead schedule on all
counts, it was announced recently
by Prentiss M. Brown, chairman of
the Mackinac Bridge Authority.
"We are pleased to tell the p'eo
pie of Michigan and the midwest
that we have accomplished all the
objectives aimed for since the day
the bonds were sold, Barring unforeseen circumstances, Mackinac
Bridge should be opened for traffic
next November in time to acconi:
modate the annual hunting season
rush," said Brown.
"All in all, we -are ahead of sche*-
duie on construction, and what is
just as important, or mofe important to me, is that we are well on
the way toward completing the project with the proceeds of the bond
issue despite the fact that we have
already encountered three years of
inflationary pressure."
He then added that the objectives for next year are as follows:
Letting contracts for the administration building which will be
completed by fall, and the contract
for the electrical woi'k on the
bridge which includes roadway
lighting, aids to navigation, traffic
control signs, and possibly the
lighting of the cables so that the
Mackinac Bridge will be just as attractive at night as it will be during the day.
The American Bridge Division
Will complete the truss spans and
begin the erection of the suspended
span. Work on assembling pieces
of the latter will go on all winter
at St. ignacfr.  •
The portlahd cement concrete
deck will be completed and covered
with asphaltic concrete.
The toll plaza will be completed
aud toll collection equipment and
booths, which will be the most up-
to-date available, will be installed,
Merritt-Chapman & Scott Corporation, contractor for the foundations, will be back on the job in
midl957\to complete the concreting of the anchor blocks, once the
suspended spans have been' erected.
While all this construction work
is going on the Authority will be
faced with a number of knotty decisions, the most far-reaching of
Which will be the establishment of
tolls. The Authority has two primary objectives; -First, to keep the
average toll per passenger car less
than the average toll per passenger
car ,on the ferries: and second, to
eliminiate charges for passengers
for whom a 25c fee, including the
driver, is now levied.
Another matter affecting the public-will be the establishment of
traffic controls, especially speed
limits. It was indicated htat experts from the traffic safety center
at Michigan State University will
counsel the Authority on these
matters.
The Authority has received innumerable suggestions for how the
dedication of the' bridge should be
carried out. These will be incorporated into plans which the Authority will devise to cover both a
limited ceremony wheii the bridge
is opened in November 1957 and
for a gala, festive, several-day
event when the 'bridge is dedicated in June, of 195S.
The- Authority, at a recent meet
ing, decided that it would observe
the decision of the supreme Court'
and the ruling of the Attorney
General that the Authority need
not operate under Ciyll Service,
This policy will begin January I,
1957, However, the Authority was
unanimous in Its policy of l00c/«
cooperation with the Civil Service
Department in transferring individuals now working on the Straits
ferries service to employment on
the bridge. The Authority Will also
follow the same wage scales, and
fringe benefits applicable to Civil
Service employees.
The Authority offices Will move
from Lansing to St, Iguace on Jan-
nary 2, 1957 and- all administrative
operations will 1>e carried on at
this point, I