El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1917-06-30
MILITARY ROAD
BILL IN SENATE.
Chamberlain Plans for
Highway Along U. S.
Boundaries.
BOundarleS.

Washington. D. c. June 30.-What
will be known as the military high
way bill has been introduced in the
United States senate by chairman
George L. Chamberlain, Of the com
mittee Of military affairs This meas
ure is the result of various confer
ences participated in by representa-
tives Of national organizations which
have been much concerned in high
ways Improvement matters.
Recently a committee created as
result of these conferences consulted
with senator Chamberlain as TO the
tfmeliness Of roads legislation in con-
nection with comprehensive military
preparation for any situation which
might arise.
Briefly, the military highway bill
authorizes the secretary OF war TO
direct the chief engineers of the war
department TO prepare a "cOmprehen-
sive plan of improved highways
throughout the United States designed
primarily with a view to facilitating
the movement OF military troops,
equipment, munitions and supplies, IN
time of peace and in time of war, but,
sa far as reasonably compatible with
said primary purposes, with further
view TO accommodating the postal
service. facilitating interstate and
foreign commerce, aiding agricultural
and manufacturing pursuits, and pro-
noting the general welfare of the
people of the United States" Further
more, IL is set forth that ito these
ends the secretary OF war shall con-
fer with the authorities having charge
Of the construction of roads in the
several states, and in such confer
ences shall disclose so far as reason
ably practicable the outlines of his
plans for roads designed for military
purposes, TO the end that unneces-
sary duplication OF roads may be
avoided, and that roads constructed
for other than military purposes may
be in strategic locations wherever
reasonably possible"
1t is provided that the plan may be
undertaken in such instaiment or di
visions as may seem to the secretary
OF war. eXpidient and desirable. The
plan provides for a continuous main
national highway TO be constructed
and maintained at the national ex-
pense along or near the Atlantic sea-
board: thence along or near the south
ermOst boundaries of the United
States, and thence along or near the
Pacific coast 10 a point at or near
the Canadian line, with a further view
70 such marginal highway being ex-
tended along the Canadian boundary
OF the United States"
Provision is made for a supple
mentary plan Of main radial roads
intersecting The military marginal
highway at points and Of locations
and routes best calculated TO best
serve military requirements" These
radial highways are 10 be such as
have heretofore been constructed by
the states. or as may hereafter be
constructed by them Independently or
with federal aid"
Bearing in mind the vital impor-
lance Of roads capable OF withstand
ing heavy military usage. which fea-
ture has been accenSuated in the con-
flict now raging in Europe. those who
have given OF their time and thought
TO roads progress in this country are
convinced that the United States
should no longer delay the fullest at
tention to this phase OF transporta-
ton needs