Highways

The 1895 Hudson Law called for construction of a system of roads and highways in southwest Missouri. A special road district, managed by three commissioners, built and repaired roads using revenue from saloon licenses, poll taxes, and donations. John Malang, superintendent of the Joplin Special Road District, had the novel idea of using discarded mining chat to build Missouri’s first concrete highway, which ran from Galena through Joplin to Webb City and Carterville.

In fact, Joplin’s roads were the talk of the state, even the country, since no one else had concrete roads at that time. Malang was also instrumental in developing the first unified Missouri road plan. In 1919, he was appointed the first state superintendent of Missouri highways. He authored the historic Morgan-McCullough Law of 1919, which inaugurated a state highway development program and coined the popular phrase “Lift Missouri Out of the Mud.” Malang also advocated the first two-cent state gasoline tax and vehicle registration system, with proceeds earmarked for highway construction and maintenance.