Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1915-07-21
TRAFFIC CENSUS
SHOWS ARMY Use
OF ROADSLIGHT
Proposition OF Federal Contri-
button to Highway Funds is
SheIved After Check
MILITARY ROAD NEEDED
MERELY AS PRECAUTI0l
If Constructed, Work of Build
ing and Upkeep Would Be
! in Hands Of Army

For several years past the construe-
tion Of q military road, to link the ISL
and forts and provide better trans
port for troops and field artillery, has
come up for consideration from time
to time. Recently the army engineers
have. at the direction OF the depart
ment commander, made an exhaustive
report on the whole question.
Members Of the congressional party
which recently visited Oahu were
spoken to regarding the matter, and
It is likely that they will have good
deal of firsthand information on the
subject, should It be brought up at the
next session.
However, there Is one point on
which there seems to be good deal
Of local misapprehension, that was
cleared up by the recent investigation.
1t has been claimed from time to time
that the army shopld make contribu-
tion to the building and upkeep of
Oahu roads because large proportion
of the traffic over them was military.
This proves TO be incorrect.
Some weeks ago" said General
Carter this morning. Il directed the
engineers to make careful and accu-
rate tally Of all traffic passing over
the main roads. Several stations were
established, and q check Of the milf
tary traffic was kept for one week.
The figures show that the proportion
Of service people using the roads is
very small. It would be a surprise to
those who think that a great portion
of the road use comes from the army
to see the actual figures"
According to Gen. Carter. any road
work done by the army on Oahu is
not likely to come as q contribution
to the territory. but will be actually
done BY the army engineers
1T is highly important to have q
well built road suitable for heavy
transportation, continued the depart.
ment commander. Broken bridges,
or caved-in roads, would be very detri.'
mental to any military operations. II
might be necessary to take heavy
siege artillery from one point on the
island to another, by the use Of trac.
tors, and the road must be heavy
enough to stand such a load
Assistant Secretary of the Interior
JOu6B HlduC al oAtCUucu Trip VI HIVES
tigation over the line of the proposed
military road with Gen. Carter, at the
time of the congressional party's visit.
II is understood that any move for fed
eral roads will come from the war de-
partment, and that the army would
have in charge the building of the
road, and its future control and up
keen
There is no chance Of a federal con.
tribution to territorial road funds, as
this, in the light Of the recent traffic
census. would not be either advisable
or JUSTIFIED. Any military road here
would be purely q war time precau-
tion and not a necessity for the peace
garrison Of the islands.
The traffic census affords a good
case of public misrepresentation Of
army activities. When the check was
being made the observing stations were
noted by many civilians, and the ru-
NOR spread broadcast that all automo-
biles were being listed by the army
so that they might be commandeered
IL needed In case of Intervention in
Mexico, or in the event that the Unit
ed States should become involved In
the European war.