Evening journal., 1916-05-09
APPROVES features
Shields -SNALLACT
Secretary Bakers Views OF
Federal Participation in
Building Good Roads
SAYS PRELIMINARY
REPORT SAFE AND WISE

Special to THE EVENING JOURNAL
WASHINGTON. May 9.-secretary
Of War Newton d Baker. the baby
member OF the Wilson Cabinet. has
set forth some interesting views upon
the subject OF federal participation in
the building OF good roads i'm a letter
recently written to Senator George e.
Chamberlain. Of Oregon. a copy of
which was made public here today by
.he National Highways Association.
The letter is in response TO re-
quest from Senator Chamberlain for
the War Departments views upon the
Shields-Small bill providing for pre-
liminary investigation and report on
a system Of national highways. The
report" provided for in the bill is
really a survey to be prepared ac-
cording to recognized principles of en-
cheering" 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 suited
70 become focal points of communica-
tion," to be built and maintained 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 10. 1916
"Hon George f. Chamberlain.
Chairman. Committee on Military
Affairs.
Washington, d. e.
"My Dear Senator:
"I have the honor to present the fol-
lowing reply to your request Of the
18th ultimo.
"1f 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 tC
produce the facts necessary for such
a consideration. II proceeds upon the
safe and wise business principles OF
preliminary examination and report
thus giving Congress full information
collected by trained men and the data
so collected forms a definite and es.
sential basis on which to found con.
clusions as to what extent, II any, and
under what conditions the Federal
Government shall embark upon such
project.
at includes also the sound princi-
pies Of central control. thus insurme
standard and uniform results for al
sections OF the country. and OF COM
hitting expenditures TO officers direct
~ accountable to the Federal Govern
ment. and alive to the fact that the
largest possible outcome for the
money placed in their hands is eN-
pected OF them.
"In addition TO the advantages ol
the intelligent way OF going at the
matter. and Of the uniform and eco
nomical results to be expected from
the method in which appropriations
are 10 be applied the plan makes pos
sible a special military advantage In
time Of war through the fact that or
ficers Of the corps OF engineers. or
whom. in war time. the work OF map
ping out the theatre Of operations and
constructing roads therein. depend
would have a wide knowledge Of oul
national communications. and val
liable. practical experience in roaC
construction. While all the officers o.
the corps receive thorough Theoretical
instruction In the road making art. op
portunities are now lacking for givinl
them the practical experience essen
tial TO a quick and ready grasp Of thu