St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1918-03-30
President Crawford H. Ellis
Writes Protfer To
Government.
RECEIVES LETTER OF
THANKS, ACCEPTANCE
list of All Motor Cars and
Capacity Will Be
Prepared.

The Motor League Of Louisiana
~,th campaign headquarters at Ho-
tel Grunewald, New Orleans, which
!. conducting statewide campaign
for good roads for Louisiana, and
for this purpose is endeavoring to
en,ist the active support and COOP
GRAFTON Of all the business men and
car owners OF the state is mobillz-
ing motorists for emergency war
service.
President Crawford H. Ellis has
vritten the War and Navy Depart
ments as follows:
.'The Motor League Of Louisiana
composed of representative business
men OF this city and state is organ
ising a Motor Corps for the purpose
4 Of cooperating with the Government
n the transportation Of men and
supplies or in any such other way
% you or your Department may sug-
Eest from time to time, as the oc-
casion demands.
"The plan we have in mind and
the line along which we are working
briefly is to register all our car own
sers, together with all data tabulatei,
yxiving the name and address, telc'
Sphone number, carrying capacity OF
ear or truck, and such other infor-
nation as would enable us to mObil-
Ire on short notice the largest
possible number of cars, trucks and
drivers capable Of functioning in
such capacity as the work to be per-
termed might require.
'sWe are writing this letter with
the hope that the experience OF your
department with similar movements
In other cities or communities may
Ne utilized by our organization ana
also with the further object Of secur-
Ing from you your opinion as to ho"
We can best cooperate"
President Ellis has received reply
i from the Department of War in an
Bwer to the above communication ad-
dressed to Secretary of War Baker
from which the following is quoted:
Receipt is acknowledged Of your
letter Of the Goth instant, addressed
7 70 the Secretary Of War, in reference
to the organizing Of motor corps
TOR the purpose of cooperating with
the Government in the tranSpOrta-
ton OF men and supplies.
sym 0ro oivico1 tho work
you are doing is along entirely prop
Or lines and it may be of value in
DAcing the country on the basis OF
complete preparedness.
This office will have ready for
Issue In a short time complete man.
nails for the organization and opera
u0n OF motor vehicle companies, in
ending motor trucks, automobiles
I ana motorcycles, and copies of this
Vublicatioin will be forwarded to YOU
= soon as they are available"
secretary of the Navy, Josephus
ueniels, in replying writes as fol-
lows:
am pleased to acknowledge re-
sceapt OF your letter of Feb. 20, Offer
ing to cooperate with the Govern
Ment In the transportation OF men
md supplies.
@ The patriotic spirit which pro-
notes you and other Americans to
.0lunteer for service in case of need,
~ highly appreciated.
-FOUR letter will be recorded in
stae Bureau of Supplies and Ac-
counts and forwarded to the Chief
oI Naval Operations, so that you may
e called upon in case your organiza-
ton can be of service"
IN commenting on this movement
on the part Of the League, Mr.. Ellis
.id: The nations's war prepara-
t'ons have resulted in a marked i'm
pFovement in the road systems of the
sntire country. The volume of traf-
>uc over roads has been greatly in
creased by the movement of Govern
Ient motor trucks which has neces-
sasated not only new routes but has
maze imperative the improvement
q roads already in existence to meet
sne requirements of this additional
.!amc. Mr.. Ellis said that he be-
'asved that this war had given the
sreatest impetus to road building
snd proper road maintenance of any
condftlon that has confronted the
sountry during the past fifty years.
ne pointed out that the actual con-
uilton was contrary t. some local
opinion in certain communities to
tne eject, that because we are in a
state OF war road building and road
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