The Washington herald., 1909-02-07
Editor he washinrton Herald:

all the plans proposed one only seems IN
character and keeping with the man and
with his work, and the entire people Of
the United States to-day recognize that
that work was for the benefit Of the
North and the South. the East and the
West Slowly feeling his way into the
hearts OF the common people, Indifferent
20 praise. unmindfuI OF abuse. he worked
out the problem which he believed God
had given him 10 solve.
What would t-lumphal arches or monu-
ments mean 10 a man Of this kind2 He
more nearly than any other American
represents the Christ-like character; that
same voice spoke through him which
spoke from the cross. the gentlest and
the sweetest voice that ever spoke on
earth. said; Father. forgive them; they
know not what they do
Washington and Gettysburg
The two places with which the popular
mind OF to-day most nearly associates
Lincoln are Washington and Gettysburg
IN the one his sorrows well-nigh over
Wbelmed him and IN the other ne spoke
OF the virtues, valor. and the patriotism
Of those who had rallied 10 the supreme
test and given their nves for Ihsir native
land Did I say for their native lan61
For something greater and grander still
for those principles and for those virtues
recognized alike by al men in all lands
who love their honor. their felIow-men,
and their God
K Is suggested that Washington and
= = =
Lincoln Way. a grand national highway,
built not for display. not for marching
armies, but that those who pass over Il
and those who read of It may be filed
with q lofjSer conception Of human re-
sponsibIlity and with the virtue of patri-
otism which time cannot enace
believe such work rightly planned.
rightly executed and carried out VIII
meet with the approval Of the whole
American. people We have no memorial
highways II America we have almost
no roads IN America around our Ma
tional Capital there Is not one mile Of
properly constructed road IN no direc-
ton in the great city OF Washington can
you ride for one mile over a properly
paved street
Just before Christmas last one Of the
South American countries directed its
representatives IN Washington 10 prepare
a magnificent wreath and on Christmas
Dav 10 lay Il on the tomb OF George
Washington at Mount Vernon. Mindful
Df the injunction, q proper wreath was
prepared, ard the representative started
On their erraud. Within few miles OF
the National Capital by reason Of the
bad roads, the vehicle carrying the mes
sengers was overturned, the three occu-
pants injured. and the men and the
wreath were carried TO a Washington
And Yet so far are We sunk IN
ignorance Of the art and science Of road
building that what should have been
on as a national shame and
disgrace was passed over with scanI
notice Lincoln freed four millions but
the ninety millions Of the United States
still remain IN the slavery Of King Mud
King Chooses Road Builders.
King Edward was called upon 10 select
two portraits for the national gallery Of
Great Britain that the faces Of the two
men who had done most for the better
ment ana the welfare Of England during
the century last past might be better
known 70 their fellows, and the portraits
he selected were those Of two simple men
with short. bobbed wigs. TelfOrd and
MaCadam the Two great road builders
who had transformed England from a
condition Of barbarism 70 a civilization
which to-day boasts. and justly So the
best highways IN the world
In South America to-day are the rem
nants Of a road constructed more than
? 90 years ago, marked with stone posts
erected az every league. a road cut
through solid rock. over mountain passes. I
with buildings here and there for those I
who tended and cared for the road The
nation which built this road and the
civilization which It marked has crum- [
bled 10 decay. but its monument remains (
In this wonderful highway We are in /
our infancy in road building.
The State university OF the state OF
has established the first /
chair devoted exclusively 10 highway /
building ever established in the United 4
States, and under IFS direction 900 young +
men are fitting themselves 10 be road 4
builders.
Would Be Fitting Memorial.
A highway fo-ty-fiye miles in length I
from Washington to Gettysburg would 4
not only the virtues OF the
great emancipator and give expression TO 4
the feelings Of q generous, rsverent. de-
voted, and united people. but would serve
IS an object lesson and q type 10 be fol-
lowed by other great highways through
put the United States
Such q highway beside three rows Of
trees, with which Napoleon lined on
either side the great national highways
of France. should provide for all kinds
u transportation that each citizen,
whether walking, riding, driving. OF no
toring, should find his place. The money
and the material 10 construct such a
highway are not hard TO find. but the
ne-l TO undertake this work and TO real
ze the conception from an artistic and a
practical point Of view may be hard 10
ind
Men Who Gould Build II.
As men competent TO undertake such
work there occurs 10 my mind Mcdonald.
Y Connecticut; Parker. OF Massachu-
setts: Richardson, Of New York: Crosby.
II Maryland; LOeder. OF California. and
Thompson and Lancaster, OF Washing
on. But whoever be selected for the
YORK. the fact Of the object which It
the people who give it,
md the permanence Of the mark pro
,Osed 70 be put forever on this strip Of
.arth should not be lost sight Of.
To commemorate the deeds Of a great
'mDeror n Japan many hundred years Il
-go an assemblage Of the people was
leld- One rich man proposed to give.
no did give. q great temple in com
nemoratiOn Of the deeds Of their hero;
mother gave a great monumental shaft I
! third statue, and a fourth said: 81
m not so rich as those who have made
hese great gifts, but win build q road
rom the city TO the spot which marks J
Is burial place, and win line this road
nth trees that their beauty and their
hade may be enjoyed by those pilgrims
rho visit his shrine