The Washington herald., 1919-07-20
ARMY FAVORS
ROAD PLANS
War Department Has Come
To an Understanding Of
Highways Situation.

%~@&S S<&A-tStAs S1<A %%~-
ssd with the American Expeditionary
Forces abroad. favors a comprehen-
sive Federal road plan. is becoming
increasingly apparent Those high In
the councils Of the War Department
have accumulated complete under
standing of the highways situation
and are deeply interested In any leg
islative plan In Congress which seeks
countrywide roads communication
and Includes consideration of possible
military needs.
Preceding the departure from the
Eliipse south OF the White House Of
the motor convoy Of the U. s. Army
Motor Transport Corps. on its long
journey from Washington to san
Francisco. the Secretary Of War ded-
ieated the zero milestone with an
address which contained pronounced
comment as to the wisdom of estab-
fishing q nationwide >foad system
Mr.. Baker referred to the departure
Of the army motor train. with its
sixty trucks and two hundred odo
soldiers as the beginning of a new
era He designated the world war
as "a war OF motor transports" In
authorized publicity there Is included
as among the purposes of the trip. =.
The War Departments contribution
to the good roads movement for the
purpose Of developing the construc-
ton Of through-route and transcon-
tinental highways as a military and
economic asset
That the expeditionary forces are
giving the American highways situa-
ton positive attention. is set Iortn
TO Chairman Diehl Of the A. A. A.
Good Roads Board in a communica-
don from the editor OF the "Amaroc
News" now printed at Coblenz, Ger
many. This publication is devoting
much space to good roads matters
and q recent article by Capt. A. NJ
Flint. of Indianapolis. contains these
pertinent paragraphs
The most urgent necessity of our
country in the immediate future Is
good roads. permanent roads thar
can be used twelve months in each
year.
The roads of America today are
absolutely inadequate, inefficient and
antiauated. They are not designed to
carry the heavy trafi1c now. What
viii become OF them in the future?
1T Is vital problem, this question
of roads. one that reaches down into
the very foundation OF our social and
economic scheme of life. for roads are
the clearing houses for the various
states and the only means of free
travel.
In no small measure the success
OF the allies is~ due to the great ar
teries of travel. which the farsighted
Frenehmen had constructed in times
OF peace Subjected to a constant
stream of heavy traffic for over four
years. such as Is largely beyond the
Imagination Of those who have not
'seen for themselves. these roads
stood the test. summer and winter.
spring and fall. and made possible
those victories which resulted in driv-
ing the Hun back across the Rhine.
Whether those who are opposed to
the building OF highways are purpose
ly blind to these facts is not known.
In the true sense they are obstruc-
tiohists- They are a drawback to
any community. They are uncivil-
lied America, because OF her gov
eminent. permits these creatures to
hibernate and live among Us.
Since the time is approaching
when all Of the expeditionary forces
will return across the seas. il Is in
evitable that their thoughts should
be more and more Of home, their
minds relieved OF the worry Of war
q. America has made a wonderful
record during the war; her fame has
spread far and wide by the manner
in which her men responded to the
call to arms Are we to show less
foresight or less determination in
meeting the problems Of peace?
We are faced again with a great
problem, for our national prosperity,
education and social intercourse OF
the immediate future demand that
this disadvantage of roads be over
come This can only be done by
honest legislators making laws, the
enforcement of which shall be placed
in-the hands OF men who have passed
ne test. by service in the construc-
ton and maintenance Of highways
Good roads mean extended prosperity
to America