The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1919-08-02

finally dropping down the Sierra Nevada to Sac
ramentO, CAL, and then to San Francisco.
This train consists of 60 motOr-vehcles of the
types employed, by the motor transport corps Ia
the conduct of the winning of the In addition,
accompanying this train are several other
branches Of the United States army service In
Guiding representatives Of the engineer CORPS
with antiarcraft defense trucks and searchlights
and certain specially detailed observers who will
make an intensive study and report to the war
department on road conditions.
The trim Is being made for both military and
educational purposes, including: An extended
performance test Of the several standardized
types of motorized army equipment used for
TRANSPORTATION of troops and cargo and for other
special military purposes; the war departments
contribution to good roads movement; demOnstra-
ton of the practicabty of lOng-distanCe motor
post and commercial transportation and the need
for iudicous. expenditure Of federal governmental
appropriations in providing the necessary high
ways
So much for the Lincoln highway as a means
of tranSI rtation-a transcOntinental road link
ing the United States by states. Consider now
the Lincoln way as beauty spot-and a me-
mortal not only to the Great Emancipation, but to
the heroes who followed his example and won
the freedom of the world in the great war
The roadside planting of the Lincoln way is in
charge of the General Federation Of Womens
Clubs. This organization has a membership of
25OO0OO members. 1t has a state federation In
everv state in the Union. Mary K Sherman,
chairman of the conservation department of the
general federation has secured comprehensive
nlanting plan for the way. This plan has been
worked out by Jens Jensen, a noted landscape
engineer Of Chicago In general it provides for
the planting of trees, shrubs and flowers inSSGe-
mons to the locality. For example, blue prints
have been made for the planting of the way
through the 1870 miles of Illinois. These prints
Give all necessary detas-kinds OF trees, shrubs
and flowers for each locality; suggestions for
orouninp each The clubs of the several states
through which the way passes will see to 1t that
thn nIanfng is done. Many clubs in other states
wiI, nlant memorial miles on the way and In
addition carry out the same plan in application
n lincoln way feeders in their own states.
Enatnres of this roadside planting Of the Lin
colin way by the general federation are memorial
+raas in honor of individual heroes; groves, foun-
tains. camping places along the road; fruit and
mt trees for the birds and bird sanctuary from
ocean to ocean.
Tor TON years America has been spending from
sooo 100000 to $300,000000 a year for highway
construction and maintenance-without national
rIor-without relation to the broad needs of the
no,,n+rv as a whole and with little coordination
~ effort between states. After spending over
60 oOoOOOO0O in decade, we are, broadly speak
inc as far from a proper connecting system of
rod;ating highways in the United States ever.
The latest government figures show total
highway mileage in the United States of 2,457
oo1 and of this total even after the tremendous
expenditures noted but Il per cent, or some 1885,
ono miles. have received any attention whatever
and these improvements are scattered in 4S states
in loose and utterly ineffective way, over va
rions sections of our entire 100000 miles.