The Washington times., 1908-05-24
Forgotten Project for IT.
Mile Macadam Road to
Gettysburg.
LINCOLN MEMORIAL
HIGHWAY PROPOSED
Will Form Chief Topic of Dis
cussion at Buffalo Good Roads
Convention.

The discovery made last week by Rob
ert B. Cayerly, president Of the Wash
ington Auto Club, that Congress was
four years ago enough interested in a
project 10 construct a Lincoln memorial
boulevS-d from this city 70 Gettysburg
battlefield. but that the matter stin
hangs IRE through the failure OF Sec
oud Assistant Postmaster General Nc
Cleary. who made the trip, to render
a report. Is likely to be the chief topic
OF interest at the good roads and legis-
latIve convention of the A, A. A. at
Buffalo on July and Z.
The movement, started by a number
OF patriotic societies. after being lost
sight Of for nearly four years, win be
revived by autoisjs and others inter
ested in good roads and promises TO
attract national attention.
The fact that 1903 will be the ANN
versary OF the birth of Abraham Lin
coin" said Mr.. Caverly yesterday, "sug-
gested that next year would be a Mt
ting time TO pay some appropriate
tribute to his memory. Through the
efforts Of several patriotic organiza-
tions the matter was brought 70 the
attention OF the House Of Representa-
tives in 1904 Gnd was referred to the
Committee on Libraries. The matter
was thoroughly threshed out by that
committee and many suggestions were
considered. The proposal TO erect an
equestrian figure was rejected because
Lincoln was not a horseman. a shaft
had been erected for Washington and
a statue was not DISTINCTIVE enough.
Second Appian Way.
Finally the suggestion was made
that the one memorial in Europe which
has suffered less by the ravages Of time
and which is probably most widely
known and stands for a gigantic civic
achievement as well Is the Appian way,
that magnificent highway leading into
Rome which was commenced 800 years
+. c., and which is stiu traversed by
travellers going 10 and returning from
Italy.
.'The proposition met with unanimous
approval and the present Second As
sistant Postmaster General, VINO was at
that time a member OF the Library
Committee Of the House. was appointed
10 go abroad for the purpose of gather
ing suggestions on the construction OF
such a high w4y in this country.
"Details of the location Of the pro-
pressed highway we're taken UP by the
committee and on the floor OF the
House. That the route should lay from
President had presided, out sixteenth
street to the Gettysburg battle 1ielo,
where the army OF which he was the
commandments gained its memoir
able victory. was decided, for practical
as we'll as for sentimental reasons
For, It was claimed the Government
had already spent $Z,5o1O00 on the BAT
lie field, and from any means OF APP
proach except BY rail it was practical
" inaccessible
Failed to Report.
For some unaccountable reason Mr.
McCleary, upon his return from Eu-
rope, failed TO make any report so far
as we could determine With the cen
tennial OF the birth Of the savior OF
his country tut one year OF, the sub
iect OF a memorial still sleeps. The
representative Of the Washington Au-
to Club at the Buffalo convention VIII
be instructed to lay the particulars De
fore the delegates and If the A. A A.
succeeds in arousing enough interest IN
The project TO produce tangible results
It will have accomplished one OF the
most notable achievements OF It's career.
Of the road is ever laid out according
to the original plans it will be one OF
the most magnificent stretches or high
way In the world in point OF scenery
and EOuSITuGL4OIl- 4 ne 1leAcLlA+S 40 ~ ale
saventy-seven miles. and the proposed
WIDTH of The rOadbed is 80 feet. At the
uppet end of Sixteenth street II was
proposed to construct an arch and court
after the plans OF St. Peters, in Rome.
In the inches statues were to be placed,
and all along the line tea houses were
to be placed. II was 70 be known as
Lincoln Way
Autoists Aroused.
Naturally the automobiles are tax
ing an interest in the project from a
practical as well as from a patriotic
standpoint. Such a boulevard would
AFFORD an unparalleled possibility for mo-
toring as well as for a driveway. When
il is considered that the city is pTac-
tically without an outlet for an autoist
at the present time in winter OF after
rainy seasons, the necessity for such a
highway Is all the more apparent
"The committee also went carefully
into the matter of cost, and IL was
found that the price of construction per
mile would be about $4,000 This price
would cover the cost OF the best knCwn
macadam building and the bed would be
, va for years TO come