Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-12-02
MILITARY I Highway
NAY CIRCLE. G|(N)II .,.Y
GREAT PLAN BEING WORKED
OUT WITH SEVERAL Oh.
JEcTs IN VIEW.
WOULD GIVE TRAINING
AND WORK TO BUILDERS
Bill 70 Be introduced in consress Calls
For Highway Starting q Ios An.
sslss and Running Across Southern
States 70 Atlantic. Themes North and
West Thru Northern States.
Especial Correspondence ].

a a. I
Especial Correspondence.
Washington, Dec. 2.-Congress this
winter will be; flooded with good roads
bills but it; has remained for Repre-
sentative Stephens, Of California, to
prepare a measure of a comprehensive
Character In which is involved the
idea Of great military highway, the
good roads idea, a plan OF giving mill
tary training 70 the men employed. and
the purpose of helping TO provide
against unemployment.
Mr.. Stephens VIII present at the out
set Of the session a bin carrying an
authorization ot $l00,000.00O to defray
the cost OF constructing q great i'm
proved national highway, practically
encircling the United States. 1t would
be over 10000 miles in length and
would, as Mr.. Stephens describes it.
start from Los Angeles, Cal, run
across the southern part Of the coun-
try thru Arizona. New Mexico, Texas
and the Gulf states to the Atlantic
coast; thence north skirting the At
lantic to Portland, Me-: west thru New
York, Pennsylvania and other states to
Chicago; thence to st. Paul and
Seattle and down along the Pacific
coast. It would not be on the border
or any fixed distance from the border
or coast but close enough to the Dor
der and coast lines Of the country to
be Of strategic value.
Under Control Of President.
Under the bill Of Mr.. Stephens. this
road will be under the authority Of the
president. who will acquire the road
way, improve, construct and maintain
it. The work will be done under army
engineers. just as the Panama canal
has been done. But the men en-
ployed on the highway are to be citi-
zens OF the United States who are
mentally and physically qualified for
military duty ana not only are they to
be paid fair wages for their work but
they are to receive daily two hours of
military drill under army officers.
Mr.. Stephens estimates that 100000
men can be employed in the work of
improvement and construction. cover
ing a period OF some years. Moreover.
a large force will be required later on
for maintenance.
Back Of the plan IL the purpose to
give the utmost mobility to the mill
tary forces Of this country. and to
make Il practicable to defend the ma
tion from attempted invasion.
Great military Highway.
1T would be q great military high
way encircling the United States"
said Mr.. Stephens. Proper defense Of
the country will not be possible until
some such plan has been worked out.
It would be impossible to throw troops
and supplies to distant points within
any reasonable time under the present
system The railroads have not the
facilities. It Is absolutely necessary to
construct road Of this kind II the
military forces ofs the country are to
be given their needed mobility. Such
a road would be disable for autos,
trucks. heavy wagons. artillery and the
like. Primarily. AZ say. It would be
q military highway but in addition to
this It would provide employment for
q large number Of men Of military age
who would be required to take mill
tary training for two hours each day.
At least 100000 could be 80 employed.
In hard illness, q larger number of
men could be given work at good
wages. It has been proposed at times
to have the army build roads. This is
out Of the question. But roads can be
built by the plan propose and the de-
fenses Of the country at the same time
can be much strengthened. Under.
such 2 system. the coast defenses
would become something more than a
string of disconnected forts The,
physical betterment to the men who.
did the work would also be valuable
and would mean the making 5of better
citizens and better heads Of families.
I believe the states would gladly CO.:
operate with the general government.
In providing the route, which would be
made up in large part OF existing
roads. improved by the federal gov
eminent to meet the requirements