Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-12-18

to the Pacific oceans, was intro
duced last week in the House of Repre-
sentatives by Representative James A.
Hamill Of New Jersey and will doubtless
be of interest not only to the motorists
Of this city, but the country at large as
well. The interest in the new project
should be greater at this time, especially
in view of the recent transcOntfnental
tours, one of which is now in progress
and another one which was finished a few
days ago at San Francisco. In both cases
the start of the cars. one by the Touring
Club of America and the other promi-
nent auto manufacturing, firm. was at
New York city, the terminus being at
San Francisco
The plan, as outlined by the intrOdUcer
of the bill. provides for the appointment
of a commission to consist of two COM
missioners from each of the following
states and territories. namely. Month
Carolina, South Carolina. Georgia, Texas,
New Mexico, Tennessee, Alabama, Mis-
sssippi, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Texas. Ari-
IONA. Nevada and California, and two
from the District of Columbia. and two
commissioners at large. to be designated
1.-The national auto highway commission.
The members of the commission from
the states are to be appointed by the
President of the United States, on the
nomination OF the governors OF the states
named, and by the President two COM
missioners from the District of Columbia
and two commissioners at large. The
commissioners so appointed are to be call
ed together by the Secretary of State OF
the United States in the city Of Newborn.
n. c.. within thirty days after the pas
sage of the bill.
*
The bill further provides that the COM
mission. as soon as it has been establish
ed, shall send out at least fifteen survey
ing and rOad-n!aking corps to locate and
make a preliminary line and path ten
feet wide, on the thirty-fftf parallel. up
hill and down dale, in order to best and
quickly to study the topography and re-
sources of that parallel, from ocean to
ocean, and to have with the least delay
and expense base for supplies and COM
If the surveyors find a city
that cannot well be passed through, or an
that cannot be tunneled or
bridged within reasonable cost. they shall
offset their line to the north or south
until they have passed the city or OBJ
structiOn. after which they shall again
follow the thirty-f1fth parallel. AS soon
as the route has been approved by the
President of the United States. the COM
mission is to proceed with all speed to
Duy AT private sale OF Uy CONDEMNATION
proceedings the right of way and the
necessary garden sites: to construct
macadam road twenty feet wide from
ocean to ocean: to run wires for tele-
graph, telephone and multiphone services,
etc. The right of way is to be one mile
wide: the auto highway proper to be
!. 400 feet wide and within this width
and running, wherever practical, parallel
one with the other. there is to be two
roads, each twenty
loot yxyf6 onh IN hoU
tracks for electric cars. two tracks to be
used for passengers and two tracks to be
used for freights; two macadam-sur-
faced roads. each twenty feet wide. each
road to have steel-plate track for fast
automobiles; two macadam roads. each
twenty feet wide. each road to have two
cement ways for automobiles going
twenty-five miles or less an hour; two
each road to have eight cement paths for
bicycles. motorcycles. tricycles and other
cycles, and one cement way ten feet wide
for use of roller skates.
In addition there are TO be two zones.
each thirty feet wide. for water. sewer
and oil pipes. electric wires and cables
and pneumatic tubes. etc. six zones each
100 feet wide. for factories. public build
ings and dwellings; two park areas, each
100 feet wide: four lawn and flower zones.
each twenty feet wide: sixteen shade tree
zones each two feet wide. and two foot
ways, each ten feet wide.
The same act calls upon the commission
to select and buy. or condemn. on or
near the twenty-third meridian west from
Washington. D. c.. and lay out a national
villa site. thirty miles square. to be called
Columbus Villa City" A similar city Is
to be laid out as garden city site at the
Atlantic END Of the national auto high
way, to be called Meridian City, the
same to be two. three or four miles
square. On the Pacific end of the high
way is also to be located a garden site to
be called Eureka City, The sum of
81 COO, 900 is to be expended to start each
city. The cities and highway are to be
paid for through a bond issue, to be paid
for after forty and before fifty years. The
bond issue of S06, 600 600 Is to defray the
cost Of the construction of terminals, villa
sites bridges, etc, which are only some of
the principal items referred to in the bill.
Each Of the commissioners Is to receive
500 a month salary, and Is required with
in one year from his appointment to build
a home and live on the highway or some
one of it's reservations or city sites. After
fifty years from the passage Of the act
the commission is to sell to the various
cities and townships it's interests in all
the factories. stores. etc. and in every
business and property which is not part
of the highway proper.
In addition to the construction OF the
national auto highway, the bill provides
for the construction of branch highway,
south to q point about two miles north Of
the boundary line Of Lower California,
and thence directly west to the harbor Of
San Diego. The buying Of land for specu-
lative purposes within 100 miles of the ma
tional auto highway proper or of it's
branches Is strictly forbidden by the pro-
visions of the bill. The bill has been re-
ferred to the committee on post offices and
post roads.
At it's annual meeting last week the
board of governors of the Automobile
Club Of Washington, D. c., decided that
in view of the unexpectedly early and Sc
we're winter weather it would be advisable
| to close the clubhouse on Georgia avenue
from December ID to April 1, 1911. In
| the meantime the club has secured &C
| Communications in the Grafton Hotel, Con-
necticut avenue and De Sales street, to
| which the members are invited. Should
| favorable weather set in the clubhouse
NAV be opened before April I. in which
| event each member will be notified.
Now that many motorists are laying up
| their cars for the winter, information as
Ia the proper care Of tires during this
period Is timely. The following advice, II
Followed, will amply repay by extra tire
| ho fronh1e