Omaha daily bee., 1896-02-22
PLEA MADE Fur GOOD ROADS
Paper Read by Captain Turner Before Fort
Omaha Lyoeum.
MEAN MUCH IN MOVEMENTS OF AN ARMY
III Thoroughfnrcs Were ncttcr, They
Would lie the Means of Adding
to the Prosperity of the
Whole Country.

| organized lyceum and since then two
meetings have been held each week, with
current topics taken up for discussion at each
session. At the meeting Of February Cap
! tain w. j. Turner read paper upon the
| subject of Good Reads and Other Military
Thoroughfares." The paper was as follows;
: ut is well known that a shrewd system of
espionage has been practiccd upon the United
States by several European nations for some
time past. Our harbors, rivers, roads and
everything Of military interest to an enemy
has been thoroughly searched into; every
| thing has been done by the British govern
ment to weaken our merchant marine and
reduce the number of our sailors, that
the greatest highway, the sea. is literally
| blocked to us. The policy on the part Of
/ the United States government which per-
mitted this is now under question, as to
| whether 1t was a policy or a wanton neglect
| with possible war with England staring
| us in the face we, who should be master Of
| the sea- are In no condition to carry the
! war into the enemy's country, but must
| attend to our defenses and prepare for in
vasion and all the suffering and horrors en-
tailed by strife on our shores. Canada would
naturally be the scene of conflict as we'll
| and this country would suffer more than it
| should, but, had our merchant marine and
| our gallant navy been kept up abreast with
| the best. this deplorable condition of affairs
| would be reversed.
However. finely equipped transports
| should be looked for and the government
| should be kept informed of their where
abouts and condition, and if sufficient suit
able vessels could not be found, then an
| ample number should be procured at once for
sea, lake and river use.
CARS FOR MILITRAY USE.
Railroads are sufficiently under the con-
troll Of the government, but the quantity and
kind of rolling stock is woefully deficient
for military purposes The general govern
ment should cause to be built, by the com
bined railroad companies, an ample number
of suitable cars for military transportation
purposes, in every way fitted with the latest
devices for convenience, comfort and cook
ing rations, including best facilities for the
unloading of wagons, animals, artillery etc.
ut is said that the four trunk lines lead
ing to New York City from the west, could
provide railroad transportation for nearly
900 trops of all arms, fully equipped. and
enable the concentration OF that number in
and about New York City, from western
points alone in less than thirty hours.
wonder If the troops would be packed in
cattle and box cars as they were 80 many
times during the late war of secession. Flat
cars should be provided for artillery guns
and army wagon transportation, so that they
could be worked on a pivot and canted to
either side, that guns and wagons could be
quickly and safely rolled off to the road or
platform, ready for the animals to be hitched
to them and Immediately take the field.
Troops could thereupon. arriving at the ter
minus of their journey by railroad. promptly
take the field, fresh and fit for any duty or
necessity that might arise.
"The general public sentiment, at this
time, is alive to the great Importance Of
active military and naval preparations for
defence and is camoring for further prepara |
tuns' with n view to aggressive measures; |
and now IL the time to inspire cur patriotic |
PEOPLE with confidence and enthusiasm and |
fill q threatening nation with dismay at the |
military progress made both on land and sea.
In my mind no wiser and economic course
could be pursued, as great preventive OF
expensive war and means OF demanding |
more favorable commercial relations from
ether great nations, that have been so free
to impose upon us by unfair discrimination
Of late
ROADS AND TURNPIKES.
What had intended to be the main fea
ture of this paper, the common county roads
and turnpikes of the northern part of the
United States and contiguous sections OF
Canada has been relegated to the last place,
not because Of less importance, but because
| have been unable to procure certain papers
and maps that were necessary to the more
satisfactory treating of this very important
subject, from military, as well as from
civil, standpoint.
League of American Wheelmen is doing a
great amount of good road mapping Of the
whole of the United States and particularly
the sections referred to, Canada included.
In New York, Pennsylvania New Jersey and
the New England states, several editions of
these state road books have been issued and
am told by members of the league in the
west, that the itineraries are graphic in de-
scription and that the road maps are very
clear, practical and up to date in every
fhacp tnir tbn xraltt la
described, giving grades of and
conditions of roads in the different seasons,
and are kept up to date, they would be most
invaluable guides to the condition and direc-
tion of all country roads and turnpikes that
might be used in military operations. and
render the greatest assistance in facilitating
the mobility of the different arms and be of
oarvica in the tactical and strategic military
of troops generally
Notwithstanding the absolute necessity of
"ailroad transportation for military purposes
whenever it can be used, yet transportation |
)ver wagon roads is indispensable to sustain
military operations, whether the operations
DO Of an offensive or defensive nature. The
number CT good roads leading in the desired
liTection whether, separated by obstacles j.,
ruch as swamps, mountain ranges rivers, =
axes, ETC.. the numt ar Of inteTcommunicat-
ng roads, their position in regard TO ad-
yance or retreat. their probable service in
he depoyment of columns, forwarding rein =
,
conducting military operations, !,
ROADS AND THE ARMY
THE student is expected to acquire the a
labt of thinking Of an army, not. as capable s
II being anywhere in the theater of war 8
,ut as dependent for its efficiency on a line h
it with points in its rear, the
inc being along good practicable roads and I,
he point being secure. He is also to con- =
ider the army, not in general collected =
N one road, but as distributed In parts on a
everal roads, while on the march, and dis :
ributed so as to admit of prompt and COM
,lete concentration for battle.
THE length Of the columns in the order =
+ march is at all times a subject of anxiety .
nd depends upon the condition and number =
4 the roads available for the march. IL the e
Dads be good the columns with their full y
ombat trains for infantry, cavalry and ar h
illery with their guns, will be compact and =
apidly moved. While II the reads are bad
n account Of heavy grades, little work and :
ven worse, deep mud, the passage of the
rain will cost precious time and keep the
roops constantly chafed and weary from the
ediousness of the slow march, to say nothing
4 the extra work Of helping the train out
I difficulties into which 1t would be con-
family falling, and the fatigues Of guarding
long strung-out line of supply wagons and
rtillery |