Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1903-04-23
A BOULEVARD
ACROSS CONTINENT
1t Will SurpaSS' anything in the World
Of its Nature.
FROM new YORK TO San FRANCISCO.
A Highway That Will Reach From Ocean
to Ocean has Long Been the Dream OF
Progressive Americans.

Washington, April, 2O-An energetic
movement has been started that it is
hoped by its advocates will result in
magnificent boulevard stretching from the
Atlantic to the Pacific ocean, the plans
being we'll laid to obtain the cooperation
Sf Congress at the next session, and pro-
Snoters are already scattered through a
eeore of states, where they are actively at
work. 1t is the aim of the advocates of
the plan to get from Congress an appro-
priation large enough to have the immense
project we'll started, and every state
through which the highway will pass will
be expected to contribute its quota to the
Anal cost. A nominal toll will probably
be charged on all vehicles using the road
way the proceeds being used to defray repair
expenses, but the federal government will
be the custodian of the highway. Mr.. q.
Russell Doane, of Omaha, is at present in
Washington in behalfof the project and to a
reporter Of a newspaper here outlined the
plans for the continental boulevard that
will, when built, outrival anything in
Europe, where magnificent roads are the
rule rather than the exception.
1T has long been the dream of pro-
gressive Americans" said Mr.. Doane, "to
have built highway that will connect the
great oceans, but not until the perfection of
automobiles did the dreams begin to shape
themselves into such form as could be
called plans. We were long time con-
nectingthe Atlantic with the Pacific by rail,
but after the opening of the Pacific railroad
the growth of the western country was
marvellous. And now we are about to cut
the North and South Americans in two
and save 10, 900 miles of hazardous sailing
round the perilous Cape Horn.
''It is the hope of the gentlemen with
whom l am interested to demonstrate to
the national lawmakers that macadaml-
zed highway such as have suggested
would be of immense benefit to the coun-
try at large and to the government itself
In innumerable ways.
sit is proposed to grade and macadam
a broad highway from New York city to
San Francisco so that the leetest automo'
bile can make its best speed over the
course. AS the speed of these latest in
ventions of the age is constantly being in
creased it will be but short time before
the trip from coast to coast could be made
over such a road as we propose in week.
The day is almost here when one can jump
into his ten-horse-power moter car on
Monday morning in New Work and dine
in San Francisco on the following Saturday
evening
"The success of the governments boule-
ward would prove to be the impetus to
states to connect their principal cities and
towns with it by feeders, and in a CON-
paratively short time this country would
have a system of roads that would eclipse
anything on earth.
''The boulevard must be not less than
thirty feet wide along its entire length,
and every safeguard must be instituted to
guard against accidents. The rules OF the
mad will be rigidly adhered to and ex-
Sneme penalties imposed for their infringe
Ment.
"a roadway thnty feet wide would
enable three of the largest cars now made
to pass each other at the same point at
high speed in perfect safety, or troop OF
cavalry could pass on the gallop an auto
mobile going in the opposite direction
at the rate of a mile q minute. There
should be no limit to speed on the road,
for it is this that is the principal object OF
the advocates of the innovation. Bui
every person operating an automobile
should be required to pass rigid examin-
alton as to bis ability to handle such ma
chine before being permitted to use the
road Upon passing such an examination
he should be issued a license covering the
entire line, for which a nominal fee should
he charged, his later expenses being con
fined 10 the distance he covers. Toll gates
should be established at regular intervals
of about one hundred miles, and the
charges should be such as not to be pro
hibitiye for any sort of traffic.