Milford chronicle., 1917-07-27
GOOD ROADS FOR
NATIONAL DEFENSE
Better Highways Urgently Need
ed In Time Of War.
A new PUBLIC DEMAND

The Transportation Of Raw Materials
as Well as Finished Products Is Now
More Important Than Ever Before
Because Of War-Mllltary Roads =
Necessity
1nsistently the need Of roads IN con-
nection with comprehensive prepared
ness is being expressed all over the
country.
In California the first public utter
ance Of Governor William r. Stephens
called for federal, state and coun-
ty cooperation in the construction Of
military roads for coast protection and
for defense in other ways" Governor
Walter L. Edge OF New Jersey was an
impelling factor in the recent adoption
Of one mill tax for state road pur-
poses. The amount to be raised is S15.-
0O0,0O0 The plans also call for i'm
proved communication between New
Jersey and New York states through
the building of a bridge and a vehicle
tunnel under the Hudson. 1t was for
mer Governor Franklin Fort Of New
Jersey who suggested an ocean boule-
ward, the name Of which could now
easily be changed TO that of the Attain
tic defense highway. One Of the last
acts performed by President Woodrow
Wilson as chief executive Of New Jer-
sey was TO approve Of a law which
looked forward to the state built road
system which will become a reality
through the legislation obtained by
Governor Edge.
Under the direction Of Chairman
George c. Diehl Of the A. A. A. good
roads board a special edition Of the
A. A. a. transcOntinental map has been
prepared, containing the present main
travelable interstate and intrastate
roads which would fit into a country
wide system thdt would lend itself in
great degree for military purposes.
Highway authorities are facing a
new public demand which must re-
ceive at once the most careful study. |
Every resource Of the country must |
be utilized to the utmost, and all un-
productive expenditure of money and |
energy must lie stopped. The efficiency /
Of the American army and navy will |
be fostered by greater efficiency among |
those called upon to bear the financial |
strain on our resources and to furnish |
the labor and materials needed to sup. |
ply our armed forces. The products of |
the forest, mine, farm and factory |
must be supplied to both nation and
sonable cost in order that all may con
tribute their utmost. whether It be
small or large. to the national defense
The transportation of raw materials
and finished products becomes far more
important than ever before. for trans
DOrtation charges form a large part Of
the cost of many essentials. So the
road builders Of the United States must
see TO it that the largest return in pub.
lie service is o-ta.ued from the funds
they are author4ed to spend.
Utility must le given mere weight
than heretofore ia reaching decisions
IS to road improy ements. and mere en-
ioyment. ordinarily q legitimate object
FOR some expenditure of public funds,
must be relegajol to the background
for a time. Our roads lave acquired
IL importers zee as agencies in nat.onu,
wAich calls for mobiii- 4
sation Of orr road lliilors for the
Teatest efficiency in tae broad trans
problems O. tie cOuntry
programs develop with more {
'egard to the p.,lsore giving cap4bili-
les of the proposed Improvements than s
heir N1llue is part of our comhiae1
.arrying agencies and must be rcy .sed s
70 that taxpayers will contribute TO
,ublic works of real utility in ne cOun- :
rvs plans for maximum efficiency
railways and waterways 4,
mist he considered collectively. not as
Unrelated agencies, to the end thu
shall he conducted
be lowest cost.