One of their principle grievances was related to transportation, which Neal Gamm constantly talked about in interviews. As he was reported saying early in September of 1973, as well as throughout the entire movement, despite the 16-county region having a, “larger population than two existing states and a larger land mass than six states,” it had no interstate highways to connect it to the rest of the state and country.[1] Such population and land resources were the reason Gamm frequently described the region as having, “assets without access.” It was extremely isolated and the whole area suffered as a result. Compounded to this grievance, as reported in the Ft. Madison Democrat in 1973, “Gamm said that the voters of ‘this forgotten region overwhelmingly approved the 1970 Transportation Bond Program, and in so doing voted to increase their gasoline taxes and license fees to pay for a system of supplemental freeways to serve Western Illinois, a well as other parts of Illinois.”[2] Gamm continued, saying, “we have been dutifully paying these increased taxes, but have no new freeways to show for our increased taxes.”[3] If there is one way to make an American angry, it is to raise taxes for no benefit. Western Illinois was an area plagued with broken political promises, and they felt the gravity of that every time they left their property. As reported by the Canton Daily Ledger in 1973 when discussing Forogtonia’s grievances, Governor Walker, “vetoed bills by the Illinois House and Senate for funding freeways in the area recommended by the Illinois Highway Study Commission and the Federal Department of Transportation.” [4] No politician stating that they are acting in the best interest of the people would turn down such a highly endorsed proposal, not unless they simply thought the denial of it would not result in any political backlash and that it would be easier to save the money. But, Governor Walker did not foresee the Forgotonia movement.
The transportation complaints went further, as, not only were there not enough major roads, but regional municipal roads were in extremely poor condition. Gamm joked about Forgotonia’s surrender (quoted beneath the above picture) in their non-violent, single-shot-fired-into-the-air war in Concord, Illinois. Similarly, Gamm’s vehicle of choice, an orange Bronco donated to him by a, “loyal Forgotonian,” (not pictured above), was a direct representation of the poor road quality.[5] Although he at first thought this to be a funny symbolic thing to do, he later said in speech that it, “was no hyperbole.”[6] He traveled around western Illinois proudly in the large vehicle, it being one of his many characteristic features. Huge infrastructural oversight was a major reason for the disgruntlement, and this is also why (pictured above) one of Gamm’s many stunts included setting up a toll sign at all small bridge the region. Although out of jest and not enforced, it demonstrated the idea that Forgotonia felt it would have to take matters into its own hands to improve its roads. That particular picture was highly publicized and was picked up by many newspapers across the country.
[1] Canton Daily Ledger, September 11th, 1973, Western Illinois University Archive, “Neal Gamm Collection.”
[2] Ft. Madison, Iowa Democrat, September 10, 1973, Western Illinois University Archive, “Neal Gamm Collection.”
[3] Ibid.
[4] Canton Daily, Sept. 11, 1973, WIU Archive, “Neal Gamm.”
[5] Transcript of Speech by Neal Gamm, Western Illinois University Archive, “Neal Gamm Collection.”
[6] Ibid.