Williston graphic., 1916-05-18
War SECRETARY BAKER
DISCUSSES HIGHWAYS

DISCUSSES Highway
SHIELDS.SMALL BILL PROVIDE!
FOR PRELIMINARY SURVEYS
BY GOVERNMENT
Washington, May 7.-secretary o
War Newton D. Baker, the "baby
member of the Wilson Cabinet, ha
set forth some interesting views up
on the subject of federal participation
in the building of good roads in ;
letter recently written to Senator
George E. Chamberlain, of Oregon, ;
copy Of which was made public her,
today by the National Highways AS
sociation.
The letter is in repsonse to a re
quest from Senator Chamberlain fol
the War Departments views upon thu
Shields s-Small bill providing for pre-
liminary investigation and report or
system of national highways. The
"report" provided for in the bill is
really a survey to be prepared &C.
cording to recognized principles of en-.
gineering' and to describe highways
to extend into or through all the
States of the United States" Such
highways are to be "main or trunk
line highways connecting principal
centers of population, or places suit.
ed to become focal points of COM
munication," to be built and main
tanned by the Federal Government.
Commenting upon this legislation,
Secretary Baker supports both the
"safe and wise business principle of
preliminary examination and report"
and "the sound principles of central
control" His letter to Senator Cham
berlain reads as follows:
"War Department.
Washington, March 13, 1916.
"Hon. George E. Chamberlain,
chairman, Committee on Military
Affairs,
"Washington, D. C.
my Dear Senator:
81 have the honor to present the fol-
lowing reply to your request Of the
10th ultimo.
IF Congress desires to enter upon
the construction of a system of ma
tional highways, the general features
of the plan presented in the bill are,
in my judgment, admirably adapted
to produce the facts necessary for
such a consideration. 1t proceeds up
on the safe and wise business prin-
ciples of preliminary examination and
report, thus giving Congress full in
formation collected by trained men
and data so collected forms definite
and essential basis on which to found
as to what extent, if any,
and under what conditions the Federal
shall embark upon such
q project.
s'It includes also the sound prin-
ciples of central control, thus insur-
ing standard and uniform results for
all sections of the country, and of
expenditures to officers
directly accountable to the Federal
and alive to the fact
that the largest possible outcome for
the money placed in their hands is ex-
pected of them. H..
"In addition to the advantages of
the intelligent way Of going at the
matter, and of the uniform and econ
omical results to be expected from the
method in which appropriations are to
be applied, the plan makes possible
\ special military advantage in time
Of war through the fact that officers
Of the corps Of engineers, on whom, in
war time, the work Of mapping out
the theater of operations and con-
roads therein, depend,
would have a wide knowledge Of our
national communications, and . VAL
liable, practical experience in road
While all the officers of
he corps receive thorough theoretical
in the road making art, op-
are now lacking for giving
hem the practical experience essen
;ial to quick and ready grasp of
;he emergencies which would arise at
The outbreak of hostilities.
"For these reasons, if Congress de.
his character, there will be many ad-
7antages in conducting the work
1nder the engineering corps of the
United States Army.
with reference to the sum pro-
,osed for defraying expenses, the in
formation available in the Depart
nent is insufficient to permit a posi-
i've expression of views as to wheth-
r. $250,OOO will suffice to prepare a
complete preliminary plan for the
whole United States or not. The
ecent highway work for various stat
IS has provided considerable mileage
which will be available for connec-
ion between principal centers. It has
,een computed, however, that the to-
al length of roads in the United
states is something over 100000
niles, and considering the wide ex-
ent of the national, domain, and the
act that in so many instances alter
lative routes between centers are
it will be seen that the plan
involves the consideration of thou ,
ands of miles of highways. The sum {
mentioned, however, will doubtless
nit the preparation of preliminary
'lans for a large proportion of the
rincipal routes. every Respectfully, |
(Signed) "Newton D. Baker,
"Secretary of War;"
Z aiSor nocOr9fQs