Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1916-02-18

L & y
ployment be drilled and instructed fol
two hours daily, except Sundays ant
national holidays, by United States
| army officers, in accordance with
United States army regulations.
In support Of his bill, Represents
tive Stephens urges the following
provisions:
A national highway circling the
United states, within it's borders, and
running strategically near the Allan
tic, Pacific and Gulf. coasts, as well
as our northern and southern bound
airy lines
i "a national highway, to be used in
times of peace by automobiles, auto
trucks and other vehicles for com
mercial and healthful purposes.
A national highway extraordinarily
useful when war threatens or we are
attacked. Over it men in greatest
numbers and munitions and supplies
can be transported quickly to any
point north, south. east or west.
A national highway, 10000 miles
long, that will give work at good
wages for many years to at least 100,-
600 American citizens, in good times,
and to several times that number in
"hard tinres." The employment of
new men periodically will add greatly
to our trained reserves.
A national highway providing phys
ical and mental drill for all manual
and clerical employes-thus fitting
hundreds OF Thousands of young men
for national defense and to- be bet
ter heads of families.
Little hope is entertained locally
that Mr.. Stephens bill will receive
serious consideration. The Shackel-
ford bill, providing. for an appropri-
alton Of $25 ,000G00 for federal aid in
building military and post roads,. HAS
been before congress several ses-
sions. and has never got past the
senate, although itdid pass the house
at the last session.. 'Inaslnuch as
the Shackelford bill would provide
federal aid for the building Of good
roads in all the states, and since the
Stephens measure contemplates as
sistance only for those located upon
our coasts or frontiers, it is not
thought that the latter bill, however
worthy it may appear, can muster a
majority in either house 7AT ,t'
Should the Stephens bill become a
law, it would have an important bear
ing locally: Bismarck, strategically
located on the Red Trail, and guard
ing the only britge Which spans the
Missouri river in North Dakota,
would, as a proposed site for a regi-
mental post, command much consid-
Grafton from the war department. I'm
doubtedly immediate attention wOuld
be given to the needs of the Red
Trail, which more closely parallels
our Canadian boundary than any 9TH
er transcontinental highway; and the
of a. wagon bridge across
the Missouri would receive recegni.
ton. ~ -.yts'- ~ ram4.
The Stephens idea o"Iginatad with
some California good roads boosters,
and it's prime object is the .constuc.
zion of transcontincrtal. highway
through the great soul, lwestern des.
ert. Strategists generally will, locc!
good roads and military enthusiasts
predict, recognize the merits of the
plan, but they will at the same time
perceive the utter impossibility OF
procuring general support for an en-,
terprise which promises pork 70 /,
comparative few Of the sovereign
commemorative, even, though. the
Trainer of this bill has wisely seen to
it that the states included should com.
prise the. greatest .centers OF popula.
tom and swealtlT.ir the nation