A Road to Riches?

Ever since colonial times, the economic links between upstate New York and northern New England have been tenuous. Mountain ranges and rivers cleave the two regions; no major highway has ever been built to run between the far northeastern segment of the U.S., west and south across New York. Now, a volunteer group of business and government executives from New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine is working hard to fill that need. Among the leaders of this unusual bit of interstate cooperation are Bartlett Cram, industrial consultant; Hamilton South, a former Marine brigadier general who is now a vice president of Albany's National Commercial Bank and Trust Co.; and Clifford Barnes, executive vice president of the Rutland, Vt., Chamber of Commerce. Their plan: tie the "Appalachia of New England" together with a 367-mile superexpressway from Amsterdam, N.Y., to Calais, Me.

At its eastern end, the road would provide a gateway into Canada and a link to deepwater ports. At its other end, it would connect with highways leading to New York City and the Middle West. It would offer faster and cheaper oil deliveries to the communities it served, and should spur business and employment by hurrying the flow of raw materials from New England to other industrial areas. Winding through long stretches of spectacular scenery, the new road could also stimulate tourism. It would reduce driving time from New York City to northern New England resort areas by as much as ten hours.

Satisfied that their plans provide an economic boon to an area that has long been needlessly depressed, the sponsors hope to persuade Washington to incorporate the road into the Interstate

Highway System, thus getting the Federal Government to pay 90% of the bill, which is estimated to be from $650 million to $1 billion. The highway's boosters, carrying endorsements from their four state Governors, recently took their case to Transportation Secretary John Volpe. If the Government approves funding, construction could begin in two years. "There will be a road there one day," insists General South, "but if we don't do it now, it won't be done properly. Instead, a lot of crummy small highways will be built. That would be a tragedy."

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