Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-01
PLANS NATIONAL ROAD
DR.. Chaplin Surveys Field Be-
tween New York and Chicago.
TO HAVE MANY BRANCHES
With One Great Road Thinks States
Will Add Others.
HOW LAND LIES FOR HIGHWAYS
Interesting Discussion of the Possibii-
ties-Some Of the Ideas Embodied
in the Scheme.
TO HAVE MANY BRANCHES
HOW LAND LIES FOR HIGHWAYS


bed and with their machine snorting and
wheeling as it was steered from the bril-
liantly lighted Broadway into 31st street
Dr. Gardiner s. Chaplin and H. Sargent
Michaels of Chicago were ready for her
at the hands of the bellboys of the Hotel
Wolcott when they stopped in front Of that
hostelry on Tuesday night They spent
Wednesday and Thursday resting
Deducting side trips and miles of city
and village streets. the two Chicagoans
covered 5000 miles seeking route for a
national highway between Chicago and
New York. They left their city on Septem-
Der Is, and since then have been surveying
roads, studying the soil of which they are
composed, photographing the surrounding
country, marking on their maps the loca-
ton of gravel pits and quarries and gath
ering material for presentation to Con-
gress of a proposition that the govern
ment place Its mark of approval on and
give it's aid to the construction of a ma
tional highway between the two cities.
DR.. Chaplin is young man of wealth
He is an enthusiastic automObilist who
does not believe in exceeding the speed
limit. He Is not interested in automobile
races, although he is much interested In
the development of the gasoline engine
and the storage battery He believes that
with highway that will furnish good
travelling across half the continent the
various states will then concentrate their
good-roads movement into providing feeders
travel by automobile will be common be-
tween distant points and that the farmers
will be able to assert their independence
of the railroads as gasoline and electric
vehicles become cheaper and more fitted
to the demands of farmers.
The Movement Scattered.
"Goodroads movements in the various
states said DR.. Chaplin last night at the
Wolcott, ''are scattered in their effort.
There are many struggles to finish this,
that and the other road stretch in this,
that and the other county. There should
be a beginning at the beginning. If we
get one stretch of road in each state put in
good shape and laid out SO that 1t will con-
meet with a stretch laid out and properly
built by the two adjoining states we will
have a highway established which will be
worth while tapping with feeding roads.
1t is on the same principle as the big rail-
road that l am working.
I'VE came from Chicago through a coun-
try which is fertile and which needs Just
such a highway and such eventual feeding
roads. 1t will enable the farmers to reach
the cities and towns with their produce in
dependent of the railroads. Once that ma
tional highway is started there will be a
general concentration of the good roads
movement toward connecting with 1t in all
of the states it traverses. The road Will be
really an avenue over which traffic will
flow constantly. The man or boy in the
country will not be isolated. He will have
an avenue running before his farm house
and his farm"
DR.. Chaplin said that his first idea in max
ing this trip of observation was to popular
lie what he thought would eventually prove
the best route for a highway between New
York and Chicago. The popularization of
this route he did not intend for automo-
h orl Lists I,,k Coz
ers, who needed a means of getting their
produce and crops to the centers where
they could be disposed of and distributed.
Toll for Autos.
Zone of my ideas is" he said, that au-
tomobilists be charged q toll over this high
way and that 1t be given without cost to
the farmers. / am even in favor of laying
out the road so that Automobiles will be
compelled to keep to their own side. ii
necessary, providing low fence which will
compel this separation Of traffic.
ION the trip we sought to obtain the
moral support of the farmers In our move.
ment, which is just starting. We talked
with the most influential men in every
community and between villages. At first
when we were In the country surrounding
Chicago-we met many people who said
that they don't want any such highway, as
they had enough Of the id automobiles
But tniS 1eelln8 was not shared by others
further in the country and further away
from the market centers. On the other
hand we were received with unusual hospi.
tally. and would have been kept for days
in various communities and country houses
II we could have afforded the time.
II am not altogether satisfied with the
first survey, and will make the trip bach
to Chicago, checking up the survey as We
proceed. 1 expect to start with Mr.. Michaels
in two weeks, and. although we will have
bad weather. we will make the trip and tot
down our second series of observations"
Dr. Chapin's trip to New York has pro-
vided him with a set of field notes so com
plete that he believes Congress cannot fail
to be interested In them. They include con.
ditions Of soil, grade. percentages, location
of gravel pits, stone quarries, stone depos-
It's, suggestions for roads that will feed the
main highway. and much general informa-
ton that will be valuable to road construc
ton experts.
in New York start has been made al.
ready" he said. Estate Engineer and Sur
veyor Henry A. Van Alstyne told US that II
the fall of 1908 the New York road i'm
provements shall have advanced SO fal
that New York's part of the highway will
be ready for service. 1 believe that l car
claim the distinction Of making the frs
real survey between state and state for tn,
purpose of bringing about a road highway
that will be national, and that will meaI
much for the development of the good road
movements in the various commonwealths