The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-06-12
ASTOR PLANS ROAD
 ACROSS CONTINENT
Great Automobile Highway
 From Coast to Coast
KEEP MONEY AT HOME
New York Multi-Millionaire Says Such Roads Would Keep Tourists at Home Instead of Their
 Going to Europe

l London, June 11.-(Special.)-A great
 automobile highway across the unitel States from the Atlantic to the -Pa'ci9-
 and another from the lakes to the gulf Shat is the dream of Col. John Jacol
 Astor, the noted American multi-million- aire, which he hopes to turn into realty before many years.
 l In fact he is even now at work on a scheme for the coast to coast road, and upon his return to the United States ex- poets to have his plans sufficiently ad- vaneed to take the initial steps toward securing the cooperation of the wealthy automobile owners, municipalities. states and national government for building the roads.
 While the route of course, has not even been tentatively laid out, Astor's idea is to have the road start from New York and tapping the principal cities, go through to some point on the coast ana then to build similar road along the coast from Los Angeles to Seattle.
 The road is to be primarily for the use of automobiles and is to be divided, so as to permit not only leisurely touring but by setting side a portion of the road <. cling at express speed between the larger cities
 In discussing his plan today Colonel As- tor said:
 .Perfectly built roads between the Att lsntic and Pacific and between the lakes and gulf would mean millions of dollars saved to the government yearly. It would | be difficult to tell just how many mil | liens of American money are drawn to France alone by her splendid automo-
 bile roads. The automobile has become necessity to the man of wealth, and as
 he is able to go where he can get the most enjoyment. No country in the world has more beautiful scenery An the United States or more to atti.~~ d man of leisure, but the roads at home. prevent the enjoyment of these attraA tions by the automobilist. If these roaG interesting the country were built their tremendous influence in developing the sections they traverse in attracting tour ists with money and bringing fin new cap itai for the development of their re- sources, would result in a comparatively short time in the extension of the good roads system until every section of the country was covered.
 This work must be inaugurated by wealthy Americans who love their coun- try and who takes pleasure in automobil- ing. I shall contribute literally to the movement. and there are many others who will join. When Americans make up their minds that a thing is worth having they are not backward about f1ourishing the cash. Witness the way in which San Francisco raised millions for her expo- stion
 q am not ready yet to talk definite plans, but in a broad way my idea would be to divide the country into sections. having strong men who are willing to spend their own money as an earnest proof of their intention to take charge in their section. l have no doubt state aid would be forthcoming when properly pre- scented and at the right time I believe the interest of the national government could be secured. With the work being pushed with vigor in all sections 1t would not take long to complete the linking of the various sections of the country by splen- did roads which would have almost, if not quite, as far-reaching effect on the national progres sof the United Stat46
 as the building of the first lines of trunk railway