Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-06-17
MEASURE INTRODUCED
FOR MARGINAL HIGHWAY
Chairman Chamberlain Of Senate
Military Affairs Committee Is
Sponsor for Proposed Law.

What will be known as the military
marginal highway bill has been intro
duced in the United States Senate by
Chairman George E. Chamberlain of
the committee on military affairs. This
measure is the result of various confer
ences participated in by representatives
of national organizations which have
been much concerned in highways i'm
provement matters.
Recently committee created as a re-
suit of these conferences consulted
with Senator Chamberlain as to the
tlmellness OF roads legislation in con-
nection with comprehensive military
preparation for any situation which
might arise. This committee was made
up Of John a. Wilson, chairman of the
military preparedness committee of the
American Automobile Association; State
Highway Commissioner George P. Cole
man. president of the Pacific Highway
Association, and Commissioner John
Craft of the Alabama highways depart
ment.
George c. Diehl. chairman of the A. A.
A. good roads board; Henry G. Shirley.
executive chairman Of the American
Association of State Highway officials.
and Osborne 1. YeIlott, chairman of the
A A. A. legislative board, were in
trusted with the preliminary draft of
the bill, which was subjected to some
slight changes as a result the WISH
to Senator Chamberlain, who at once
expressed his belief in such action and
agreed to introduce the proposed meas
ure in the upper branch of Congress.
Senator Bankhead a Supporter.
Senator John H. Bankhead. chairman
of the committee on post Offices and
post roads and sponsor OF the federal
aid road act. is strong supporter of
| the plan to include military needs here
after in highways progress
Briefly. the military highway bill
authorizes the Secretary Of War to di-
rect the chief Of engineers of the War
Department to prepare "comprehen-
sive plan of improved highways
, throughout the United States designed
primarily with view to facilitating
the movement of military troops. equip
ment. munitions and supplies in time
of peace and in time of war. but. so far
az reasonably compatible with said
primary purposes, with further view
to accomm odating the postal service
facilitating interstate and foreign com
merce, aiding agricultural and manu-
featuring pursuits and promoting the
general welfare of the people of the
United States"
Furthermore. it is set forth that ITO
these ends the Secretary of War shall
confer with the authorities having in
charge the construction of roads in the
several states, and in such conferences
ticable the outlines of his plans for
roads designed for military purposes. to
the end that unnecessary duplication of
roads may be avoided. and that roads
constructed for other than military pur-
poses may be in strategic locations
wherever reasonably possible"
Provides Continuous Construction.
1t is provided that the plan may be
undertaken in such installments or di-
visions as may seem to the Secretary
Of War expedient and desirable. The
plan provides for "a continuous main
national highway to be constructed
and maintained at the national expense
along or near the Atlantic seaboard:
thence along or near the southernmost
boundaries of the United States, and
thence along or near the Pacific coast
to a point at or near the Canadian line,
with a further view to such marginal
highway being extended ultimately
along the Canadian boundary Of the
United States"
Provision is made for a supplement-
airy plan Of main radial roads inter-
secting the military marginal highway
"at points and of locations and routes
best calculated to best serve military
requirements" These radial highways
constructed by the states, or as may
hereafter be constructed by them inde-
pendently or with federal aid"
Bearing in mind the vital Importance
OF roads capable of withstanding
heavy military usage. which feature
has been accentuated in the conflict
now raging in Europe, those who have
given Of their time and thought to
roads progress in this country are con-
WINGED that the United States should
no longer delay the fullest attention to
this phase of transportation needs.