Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1919-03-14
3 ~ Editor 81 me EveniuO Capital.

To the Editor Oh me EDemsstg e aieitot
Sometime ago the governor asked
nat returning soldiers submit ~ him
their suggestions as to what the pro-
posed soldiers and sailors memorial
should be. among these there we're
several that ii take form of a high
way, particular one Or which I ask
your permission to explain briefly IN
these columns.
This plan calls for q road system
connecting up all the county seats and
Baltimore city. Commencing at Snow
Hili the route would pass up the
Eastern Shore to Elkton, on TO Bel
Air and down through Towaon 70 Bal
timore thence south through Anna
polls on to the seats Of the southern
Maryland counties. Again, beginning
at Oakland the system would lead east
ward through Cumberland, the seats
#og washington and Frederick soun-
ties. to Westminster, and on TO Balti-
more. From BALTIMORE branch would
run 10 Eilicoft city and Rockville, and
On to the line from Oakland, Joining
up at any suitable point, say ct Fred
erick. From this description II Will
be seen that the system radiates from
Baltimore This Is as 1t should be,
since that city is not only the state
metropolis, but also the center Of
population FOR the state.
The character Of this road system
requires that the roadbed be Of greater
width than those constructed under
the State Roadd commission. The right
Of way on either side will be parked,
and In open country adorned with
rows Of trees, and stretches Of hedge.
Bridget will be made equally thing
oS beauty as means for crossing
water. They with the filestones will
carry inscriptions informing the trav-
cisr that this road memorial way
was built by Maryland IN memory Of
her sons who went to the great war
In the several county seats the
route could lead I'd Il plaza or square
wherein could be erected BY the re-
spectiye counties a shaft or statue or
other memorial as desired, dedicated
to her own men or to local war ac-
tIvities
The route as outlined covers some
$50, miles. Of which large part Is al
ready hard surfaced and first class
road. Such part will require only
widening and parking Perhaps 200
miles will have to be wholly con-
structed, either on new right Of way
or on existing dirt roads Allowing
an average of $4,000 per mile will
bring the total cost OF the complete
system to s7,70O, 900 AS this work
will necessarily extend over TWO or
three years the cost Is not at All pro-
hfbitive.
The idea Of highway as q men-
orial is not new one. We have the
Lincoln highway III Italy the Appian
way remains to this day monument
TO the Roman OF over 1000 years ago.
The Memorial way here proposed
gives us i state memorial that goes
into every part Of the state; II is q
memorial that goes 70 the people, not
one that the people must hunt. And
any memorial that the state builds in
Baltimore or Annapolis must be hunts
ed up BY the Eastonian or 0aklander2
The Memorial way will be travelled
daily hy increasing thousands, and as
they 30 along will often be reminded
that they pass on q road built by the
state OF Maryland in memory OF her
sons who went TO the great war.
That such memorial ID utilitarian
Ii no objection; rather is It the CON
trary. All the demands Of art as con-
corning memorials are satisfied. Pic
ture to yourself broad fighw bor-
dered BY bands Of grean adorned with
green, adorned with trees. and
stretches OF hedge denaarlxing the edge
of the fields. winding ever Maryland
hills and skirttng our lovely valleys.
Whose sense 0S beauty. whose love OF
the beautiful, would not be richly
gratiaed BY that picture. And 40 the
years pass and the trees grow more
stately and more wonderful, the more
beautiful becomes the Way Can that
be said oE any thing made of cold
marbIeg !.
Such memorial as / have briefly
described has permanency has eio-
Quence:: is i thing of beauty: Is avail
aOla ID the greatest number asd pos
sesaas value. even II utIlitaTian, that
goes with any means Of tnaerconman
cation, the measure Of whose influence
on the natfonal life Is not . matter
to Be reckOuad III doilaTs.
&. ID. DAVIS.
1908 q. St, Warrington, p, G. March
Z, 1878.
Emvezs EaaFsnn W@uaY