Evening star., 1915-01-01

classic building erected IN Washing
ton, a number of those who had IA
vored the highway determined that 1t
| should be built as an additional me-
mortal, and Lincoln Highway Asso-
citation was organized less than eigh-
teen months ago for that purpose.
A considerable amount of work yet
remains to be accomplished before the
entire course of the great Lincoln
highway is finished up to the desired
standard, but much has been done.
The test made on November 2S covered
the entire distance with creditable
| time schedule. This test was made by
a relay of automobiles from selected
points which altogether covered 3,4oo
miles within twelve hours.
The first act of the association was to
announce publicly the exact route that
the Lincoln highway should take
the people of these states and the
many counties. townships and munich
palities on the route to aid in the
work by raising funds for improving
the roads, and remaining the streets
and roads Lincoln Highway" and by
marking the route for the guidance OF
tourists. Over $500 miles of the route,
or more than rs per cent of the entire
distance, has been marked with the OF
fcial red, white and blue marker or
the association. This means placing
from five to eight markers to the mile
according to the level of the road.
The trend of modern ideas regarding
highway construction is toward con-
tinuous inter-
Highway Forms state routes.
The L i n o n
important lrunk. highway now
forms the important trunk line which
will connect with all the other high
ways in transcontinental travel. The
route covers $3.50 miles. The greater
part of 1t has now been completed in
the standard of hard surface of ce-
ment, brick or other material desired
by the Lincoln Memorial Association.
The remainder is still ordinary public
road Of various grades, but work is
being rapidly pushed in all the states
toward a uniform standard. The COM
pletion of the entire route as planned
Is now absolutely assured within
much less period of time than had
been expected. This highway will
typify American road making as per-
manently as did the famous Appian
way built by the old Romans. which is
still regarded as one Of the finest high
ways in the world. The length of the
American route makes the undertake
ing one that Is worthy of the greatness
of the nation. 1t represents great gen.
erosity upon the part of all the peo-
pie of the country, upon whom rests
the patriotic duty of broadening,
Strengthening, beautifying and main
tanning the highway.
The route of the great highway was
not marked out at random. The found
0rc of ho hi irh mn m
took the greatest care to select the one
transcontinental route which would be
selected by the majority of tourists
because of its superiority in topog-
rectness even If its surface were not
improved. This selection was the nat
ural cross-country travel, the route
which had been standardized by the
OK team, the stage coach, the mail
route and the pony express. Expert
thousands of miles. viewed every foot
of the way before an announcement of
plan was made to the public.
After the route had been carefully
considered an active campaign was in
stituted which soon covered the entire
country. The good road advocates saw
in the Lincoln highway the real tan
gible good road" upon which effort
could be satisfactorily expended.
Through the cooperation of the public
The first Sunday In November was
designated as Lincoln memorial day.
In thousands of churches throughout
the country ministers took for their
sermon topic the life of Lincoln and
his interest in the common welfare OF
the people. The influence Of good road
in promoting the general welfare of
the nation was presented as forcibly as
possible. In rural communities espe-
cially this practical appeal from the
,1~if =,
church, and has already brought about
much interest in the great national
highway.
The Lincoln Highway Association
was formed for the purpose of crys-
tallizing the de-
Planned as Enduring sire of the peo-
,r, pie, who re-
AooAA &AevAAoA' vered the name