The Washington times., 1912-03-05
LINCOLN HIGHWAY
AS MEMORIAL, IS
STRONGLY URGED
Arguments in Favor of
Boulevard Presented to
House Committee.

Strong pleas in favor of building a
Lincoln memorial highway extending
from this city to Gettysburg, were made
today before the House Committee on
the Library.
The hearing was on the Borland bill
empowering the commission appointed
to secure plans and designs for monu-
ment or memorial in memory of Abra-
ham Lincoln TO determine a plan and
design for national highway from
Washington to the Gettysburg battle
field. Gen. John r. Black, chairman
of the Civil Service Commission. told
the committee it was the dream of the
members of the Grand Army of the
fEePuoilc fTGpS &c, , to see a highway extending
passing through the National Capital.
AT our annual encampments we have
unanimously indorsed the proposition to
nave nave the proposed Lincoln Memorial
take the form of a great boulevard
from Washington to Gettysburg, and
II II Is built, 1t will be only a question
of time before IT is extended to Rich
inond, binding the North and South"
declared General Black.
Building Opposed.
j. Fl. Ralston, counsel for the Ameri-
! can Federation of Labor said that or
ganization favored the highway as
against a Greek temple in Potomac
Park
Submitting a resolution unanimously
| adopted by the Brightwood Citizens
Association, declaring in favor of the
| highway, Louis Z. Shoemaker took oc-
casion to say he was particularly op-
posed to building Lincoln monument
| or temple on the Mall. He suggested
the highway start at Fort Stevens, be-
yond Brightwood, thence proceed TO Six
! tepnth street thaFn m fn
| tysburg.
Congressman Fred c. Talbot, of
| MARYLAND, declared no more fitting me-
mortal could be erected than a great
| boulevard linking Washington with
| Gettysburg.
| Congressman Borland os Missouri, au-
| thor of the measure, informed the COM
| mittee the highway proposition had also
been indorsed by the State Grange of
| Pennsylvania, representing 10000 farm
i, ers, and by the American Automobile
| Association.
Figures on Cost.
| Replying to statement that had been
made to the effect that the CO t of the
proposed highway would be $4,000 900
and that it would cost $3,OOO 900 annually
TO keep it in repair, George c. Diehl,
| chairman OF the good roads board of
| the American Automobile Association
| declared the statement to be wildly eX-
| traVagant, and not based on facts and
| figures.
| II have carefully gone into the sub
| ject of the cost of construction" said
| Mr.. Diehl, and 1 estimate the cost of
| a forty-foot road, with a 24-foot strip
| of macadam, treated with a biturninous
, binder, at $4,000 mile. This would make
| the cost of the seventy-two mile stretch
| about 81, ,5O0,0 ,0O0 and the cost of main
tenance would be $3.50 a mile, including
the renewal OF the surface of the road
| every ten years"
] The American Automobile Association
| was also represented by President r.
p. Hooper and A. G. Batchelder, chair
| man of the executive committee. Others
present at the hearing included Gen
| eral Hopkins, chairman of the Lincoln
| highway committee OF the Grand Army
| of the Republic; A. S. Worthington,
| Glenn Brown, Logan Waller Page, and
| Charles T.. Muir.