The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1913-08-03
TRUNK Highway
SYSTEM PLA|VNED
A. E. BatcheIder of A. A. A.
Says Federal Aid Needed
for Promotion Work
Congress Has Appointed
Members From Both
Houses to Investigate

Federal aid for the promotion Of an
interstate trunk highway system that
will link all of the larger cities and
states Of the union was discussed re-
Gently at q sparkling after dinner talk
given by A. E. Batche1der, chairman OF
the executive committee OF the Ameri-
can Automobile association, before the
Indiana tourists and commercial bod
les
"A plan is now in progress that Will
give the United States the greatest
system OF roads OF any civilized coun-
try said Mr. Batchelder. 1T consists
OF rock highway extending all the
way across every state from North to
south and east to west and connect-
ing with corresponding roads In the adj
joining states.
Congress already has appointedSsa
committee OF six members each from
the senate and house OF representa-
tiyes to prepare data fora bill au-
thorizing federal aid for the building
Of these roads.
I'm importance, this movement takes
the lead over anything in the way OF
progress In good roads building that
country has shown a tremendous In
terest in the activities Of the Indiana
makers on their annual tour across the
continent to prove that a cross c0un-
try highway really exists at tho pres
ent time. The rock highway from New
York to the coast Is already assured
through the work that has been done
by CarleG. Fisher, originator of the
rock highway plan. Equally great
.pressure Is being brought to bear on
the senators and congressman from
every state in favor of the interstate
highway plan.
THE bulk of the data gathered by
the field representative OF the Ameri-
can Automobile association and United
States government ONCE of good roads
in the Indianapolis made Pathfinder
40 last summer, when three new trans
continental trails were blazed from
coast to coast, gave us something tam
gible to base our efforts on. We are
now following this up with a campaign
that is even more pretentious and vital
to the interstate highway project.
wv o. L. Westsard is travelling with
the Indiana makers en- tour making q
real survey OF the route taken on their
trip from Indianapolis to the coast and
at the completion Of this expedition to
Los Angeles he will move back to
Washington, d. c.. on similar mis-
sion in the same Pathfinder 40 car
that did such yeomen service In 1912.
This trip will be the fifth trans
continental journey for the old car and
will practically complete pathfinding
activities for the A. A. A. as practically
all OF the known routes across the
country have been blazed In this car.
That the A. A. A. Is thoroughly
cognixAnt of the benefits that are to
be derived from the Indiana makers
tour is evidenced by the number OF
A. A. A. officials that are making the
trip with the Hoosiers.
president Laurens Enos of Buffalo.
accompanied by myself. joined the tour
at Lake Tahoe and will continue with
the party to Los Angeles. Mr.. Enos
has expressed great interest in the
rock highway plan originated by Mr.
Fisher. The real survey Of the route
taken by the Hoosiers Is being sur
veyed by Pathfinder Westgard In an
Indiana made car in spite OF the fact
that practically all of these roads have
been previously surveyed in the same
Pathfinder 40 on the triple trans
continental trek last summer. Senator
w. J. Morgan, editor and business
manager OF the American Motorist, Is
also accompanying the tourists gath
ering material for articles in the Of
| fetal publication of the A. A. A.. ex-
plotting the scenic and commercial ad-
vantages of the several sections Of
country adjoining the route.
"California with it's paradise Of good
roads and splendid natural advantages
ought to reap rich reward on Its pres.
ent investment in good highways ant
benefit by the coming investments as
we'll"