Albuquerque evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1911-1914, 1912-03-22
ROAD MAP FEATURES
ALBUQUERQUE
National Highways AssOcia-
tiOn Issues Outline of Pro.
posed Great National Road
System.

Fifty Thousand Miles OF National
Highways proposed By the National
Highways association. Is the title Ol
handsome and complete map OF
present and proposed national roads
In the United states. q copy OF which
has been received hy the bureau OF
immigration from Charles Henry ia.
Wis, president Of the association. Mr..
Davis asks the bureau for any COM
ments and suggestions on the pro-
posed vast network of national roads.
Albuquerque appears as q prominent
junction point and main station on
two through routes TO tho Pacific; tho
Mtssouri-Arlzona route through Amar.
lilo and Albuquerque 20 phoeniX and
the santa Fc Trail route" following
the Santa Fc all the way circular
accompanying the map says In part:
There are more than two million
miles Of highways In the United
states. Or these. not one mile can
truly be called q national highway.
II exception Is made OF the roads in
the national parks and The District OF
Columbia To propose the building
OF nifty Thousand miles OF national
highways seem TO the minimizing a
revolutionary idea, yet fifty Thousand
miles OF highways is but little more
than TWO per cent of the total road
mileage IN this country And what IA
that compared to the magnificent
showing of France, aud the much
greater need OF our own enormous
territory for first class roads 20 con.
nect It's several parts?
Wen realizing that nothing was
ever accomplished without begin.
ming being made somewhere. the Ma
honal Highways association. formed
by men Interested In the subject OF
good roads In general and national
highways IN particular, hiss worked
out tentative plan for series of
national highways which cross ana
recross the United States from east
Ia west, from north 10 south con
Meeting and inteFconnecting an states.
and designed 90 furnish the maximum
OF convenience and utility. while serv-
ing the largest possible proportion OF
the population OF the territory through
which the highways pass.
These highways ave not been mere
~ drawn upon a map with a peach
IN the hands Of a theorist who De.
cidod "it would be good thing 10
have road herei" They have been
accurately and carefully located by
trained and experienced road en-
ginoers, working with a large and
complete Office and drafting force for
more than four months
II Is the desire OF The National
Highways association 10 emphasize
the fact that these highways on the
map which shows them arc suggested
only that a start may be made Ia the
endeaVor 10 secure iOr this country
the good road benefits Il needs may.
must have--ll It's development is not
10 tall behind that OF other nations.
Undoubtedly the engineers who have
mapped these highways have made
errors OF Judgment. unquestionably
much information from various local
tiles Affected which will DC later
forthcoming, win after these tentative
The important thing is not tnat this
particular system or collection Of
road systems be adopted and worked
Tor bat That a concerted effort be
made for national highways. Not
state highways national aid or
without it-but a broad and comprc-
honsive system of national highways,
built, owned and maintained by the
national government, IN the same way
that the government of France makes,
owns and maintains us national road
system. the best IN the world
The highways suggested by the Ma.
tionai Highways association are either
the best present rOadwayB from point
10 point, or In the Judgment OF the
engineers who evolved the system,
the best possible ROADWAY locations
between point and pOnt They are
not straight lines. 1ney do not iol-
low a ruler across the map, and IN
cidentally go through mountains ana
across lakes with the ease and GER
tainty certain proposed roads have
been made 60 appear TO go But this
system, as published on the National
Highways association map OF January
", 1912, does serve the entire coun-
Try, does ceniralize where centrali2a-
ton Is obviously necessary, does touch